Social issue songs strike me as being highly political, and may have a longer "shelf life" (Tom Paxton's term) than songs about an individual or specific situation.

Lou and Peter Berryman Convention Center, Why am I Painting the Living Room - only a couple of their sly, yet serious songs pointing out flaws in the way things work. They have also participated in:
         The Wisconsin Solidarity Sing Along began 3/11/2011, and has taken place at the state Capitol every weekday from noon to 1 pm in the 5 years since then. They have their own songbook, and have some very good singers participating. What started out as a protest against the governor has politicized some who never thought of themselves as political, just traditional singers.

Jez Lowe's album The Parish Notices particularly the title song, is a good example of his take in social ills, but not the only one of his.

Ian Robb's They're Taking It Away is one of many highly political songs included in the "Rise Again" lyric book, which is a good resource for seeing who is writing political/protest songs now. Ian Robb & his band mate Grit Laskin have done more songs in this genre.

Peggy Seeger continues to come up with topical songs, and has a lifetime of doing so.

Charlie King, Magpie, Sally Rogers all come to mind for political/ecology/social justice songs

Though "Protest Singer" is far from the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Deb Cowan, her coverage of Deborah VanCleef's song about a fast food worker's strike (very local to me) shows her strong union feelings.

Artisan's Brian Bedford has plenty of good songs - This is the Way the World Ends, NIMBY, Lest We Forget, Dream Home

Yep, folk are writing political songs today.

Joanne in Cleveland


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