Sing Along, (Resist the Draft), End the War

Alice’s Restaurant is Arlo Guthrie’s most famous work. Often referred to as a musical monologue the song is based on a true story that began on Thanksgiving Day in 1965. Guthrie’s song is a satirical, deadpan protest against the draft and the Vietnam War and recounts a true but comically exaggerated Thanksgiving adventure. “Alice” was restaurant-owner Alice M. Brock, who in 1964, bought a deconsecrated church in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where Alice and her husband Ray would live. It was here rather than at the restaurant, which came later, where the song’s Thanksgiving dinners were actually held. On that Thanksgiving, November 25, 1965, the 18-year-old Guthrie and his friend Richard Robbins, 19, were hauled into jail for illegally dumping some of Alice’s garbage after discovering that the dump was closed for the holiday. Two days later they pleaded guilty in court before a blind judge, James E. Hannon; the song describes to ironic effect the arresting officer’s frustration at the judge being unable to see the “27 8-by-10 color glossy photographs with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us.” In the end, Guthrie and Robbins were fined $50 and told to pick up their garbage. The song goes on to describe Guthrie’s being called up for the draft, and the surreal bureaucracy at the New York City induction center on Whitehall Street. The punchline of the story is that because of Guthrie’s criminal record for littering, he is first sent to the Group W Bench (where convicts wait) then outright rejected as unfit for military service. The final part of the song is where Arlo tells the audience that should they find themselves facing the draft they should walk into the military psychiatrist’s office and sing, “Shrink, You can get anything you want, at Alice’s restaurant,” and walk out. “Alice’s Restaurant” is regularly played on Thanksgiving by many WXPN 88.5. The album rose to #17 on Billboard chart. The movie version of “Alice’s Restaurant” was released on August 19, 1969, a few days after Guthrie appeared at the Woodstock Festival.

Kelley Abraham of Merion, Pa. tells how Alice’s Restaurant is a part of her Thanksgiving
Joe of Gilbertsville, PA talks about his tradition