The political songs of today?

Subject: The political songs of today?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 10:34 AM

The US has its dustbowl era protest songs (and their fine chroniclers Guthrie and Seeger). The 60s had a good crop of protest songs with some good examples from Dylan (even if a lot of it was somewhat teen-angst protest). The 80s produced some excellent anti-Thatcher songs (Hilda's Cabinet Bend, A living Wage, Lamb to the Slaughter (Coope Boyes and Simpson)).

Where are the protest songs of now against the austerity measures imposed to save the bankers from the consequences of their own overweening pride? The protests over the hospital bed dying in their own shit because of insufficient nurse staffing levels, the ten thousand who have died (some by suicide in despair) within 6 weeks of being declared "fit to work", the suicides of those driven from their homes by the bedroom tax, even the destruction of the planet to extract (and as a result of the consequent warming by) fossil fuels?

So far I can think of about one - "Arrogance Ignorance and Greed". I'm on the verge of re-creating KirkPatrick's "Monster Science".   

I'd love more examples - preferably with links to words and chords and performances so that I may learn and perform such songs.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 10:50 AM

Why not contact Brighton poet/singer Robb Johnson - I gather that he sings very contemporary, anti-establishment material of his own making. He may help you to go further.

http://www.robbjohnson.co.uk/

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Jim McLean
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 01:19 PM

Bedroom tax

Try this

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Ged Fox
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 01:49 PM

There's no politics any more - just irresponsible, blatently corrupt and conscienceless men in suits.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 04:58 PM

There are some from Occupy Wall Street, now dispersed into other means of protests.

One reason is the demise of the Left in America. Most of the earlier protest songs emanated from a time of "The Popular Front", no longer operative.

Still, they are out there. Just not on mainstream media. You have to search for them.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 07:15 PM

Ithink I ahve some recorded stuff from Robb Johnson.

I've heard that Bedroom tax song before - it' heart in in the right place but it ain't great song is it?

I've been directed to Grace Petrie - views?

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 03:50 AM

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 03:50 AM

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 03:51 AM

Third time lucky:-

http://www.attilathestockbroker.com/

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 04:07 AM

Thank you Acorn. I was vaguely aware of Attila the Stock Broker. Amusing words, but hardly exciting melodies. Some Tom Robinson Band is good too although 70s/80s rather than current.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 06:24 AM

Richard, there are plenty of people out there writing good radical stuff. The trouble is you won't hear most of it in folkclubs. You would probably be better off trying a few acoustic nights. Also of course socialist choirs etc on demos.

Also, I gather that the anti-capitalist road show will be at the Lewes folk festival this year. Definitely worth checking out. For individual singers, Alun Parry from Liverpool, is for my money the best person writing political stuff at the moment. http://parrysongs.co.uk/go/ . Also, Claire Mooney in Manchester has written some good stuff. And there's Kevin Littlewood in Southport and Janet Russell and Jim Wooodland who are now based in Derbyshire. Sorry about the concentration on the north west, but that's the part of the country I know most about. Of course there's Robb Johnson, who's conveniently down your way, and who I believe runs a radical singing club (in Lewes ?). I find him a bit obscurantist, but that's probably personal taste.

On top of all that, there's the wonderful Sisters Unlimited, who combine radical and feminist songs with an indomitable sense of fun! Who said that fighting the system has to be all doom and gloom and broken pit props?

Plus there's quite a lot of stuff on Youtube. In fact I hope to get some of my own songs on there in the next few days. I'll post the URLs on Mudcat when I finally acheive the breakthrough.

Subject: Lyr Add: UNDEFEATED (Robb Johnson)
From: GUEST,Scabby Douglas
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 06:55 AM

Robb Johnson has wonderful political songs, some very specific, and others more general.

Here's one of my favourites:

Undefeated
Robb Johnson

What will they say of us, one hundred years from now,
When they look back on these unhappy days?
They'll shake their heads at how so many swallowed lies;
That dog eat dog so long went undefeated

Will they curse us then, that so much death crept in?
There was so little left to build again.
Or will their smiles salute, and like a song recall
The ones who through it all, went undefeated?

I'm tired of wearing thin these same old words of rage
Some days the bad guys win, but nothing's changed
For though the language fail and the nerves of love grow numb
Somehow we carry on, undefeated.

Holding all people's lives to be of equal worth
More dear than the money talk, or the tricks of the state
The hands that work no wrong, the breath that lifts the song
The hearts that hold each other, undefeated.

The hands that work no wrong, the breath that lifts the song
The hearts that hold each other
The hearts that hold each other
The hearts that hold each other, undefeated.

Youtube video for "Undefeated"

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 06:57 AM

I could refer you to Paul Openshaw (now based in Dorset) and http://paulopenshaw.com/fred-the-shred.html. He's had a go at modern farming methods too, with I can't not believe it's not butter ....

Kitty

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:06 AM

Not sure what happened to the second link, for Fred the Shred

so I'm trying again...

Kitty

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:16 AM

Kieran Halpin has various political songs. One example is Letter To America. This was filmed at my club.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Bp3_HAYeg


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 08:48 AM

Alun Parry from Liverpool http://parrysongs.co.uk/go/

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 04:15 PM

There is one song that comes to mind. I can't find it on YouTube. "Custer's Last Stand in Iraq" by Dale and Marilyn Barcellos. Great tune, exciting lyrics/ anti-war.

Political songs are not being widely disseminated today. Steve Earle, Gil Scott-Herrin,
and surprisingly 94 Year old Pete Seeger are offering interesting new pieces to reflect today's political climate. Some like Billy Bragg and David Rovics. I'm sure there are many songs coming from the Mid-East, South and Central America. I bet there are followers of Victor Jara, there. I'd also like to know more of contemporary political songs. I'm writing some myself. The Islands, Trinidad, Barbados, etc. have a rich tradition of contemporary political songs.

Please let us know when you find some.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:16 PM

I really like this writer - bit of 'edge'.

Will Varley

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:19 PM

Acorn4 - you're being too modest about your own songs, really....

K

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stewie
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 09:28 PM

Tom Morello.

James McMurtry.

David Olney.

Tom Pacheco.

Tom Russell.

Chris Smither.

--Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: YE GREEDY BASTARDS ALL
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 05:27 AM

Kitty - I think most of my songs are more social comment than overtly political, although the current shower in power have pulled me a bit in that direction. As explained at Sidmouth the "everyman" is a historical ref and can be taken as gender inclusive as in the American ""you guys".

Not got round to recording this yet:-

Ye Greedy Bastards All!
1.Oh come ye greedy bastards all, oh let your tale be told,
Of how ye came into the land, in far off days of old,
To build your castles strong, and hide behind their walls,
To take the best, to feather the nests of greedy bastards all.

2. We worked upon your stubborn soil, to plough and sow and reap,
You stole the forests and the fields, and made them yours to keep,
Like cattle we were bought and sold, while you grew fat and tall,
Our purpose but to fill the gut of greedy bastards all.

Ye greedy bastards all, ye greedy bastards all,
Time to sing of Captain Swing, Wat Tyler and Jack Straw,
And when will everyman be invited to the ball,
And cease his toil and share the spoils with greedy bastards all.

3. You took us from the land, and put us on your mighty wheels,
Eternity upon the treadmill of your wretched mills,
With political economy to demonise the poor,
Who pay the dues and turn the screws for greedy bastards all.

4. Now revolutions came and went, our hopes are all but passed,
Yet still that hydra grows its heads behind its walls of glass,
High up on your balcony, your pride will stand no fall,
Still pissing on the peasants, ye greedy bastards all!

Ye greedy bastards all, ye greedy bastards all,
Time to sing of Captain Swing, Wat Tyler and Jack Straw,
And when will everyman be invited to the ball,
And cease his toil to share the spoils with greedy bastards all.

5. Now dressed up in your finest suits, you stand in serried ranks,
Your judges call for prison walls for the man who robs the bank,
But the banks that rob the man are protected by your laws,
All hail the global mafia of greedy bastards all!

6. We all vote for that rainbow's end, with its pot of gold,
Yet still the markets call the tune, as dreams are bought and sold,
And those starlings in the garden fly away before the fall,
And Robin Hood drowns in the flood of greedy bastards all.

Ye greedy bastards all, ye greedy bastards all,
Time to sing of Captain Swing, King Arthur and Jack Straw,
And when will everyman be invited to the ball,
And cease his toil to share the spoils with greedy bastards all.

Subject: Lyr Add: TRUER SHADE OF BLUE
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 05:35 AM

..and there's this - to tune of "Whiter Shade of Pale":-

TRUER SHADE OF BLUE

When you were young and in your prime, your belly full of rage and fire,
You stood out with Trotsky on the barricades, that Little Red Book there to inspire you,
And that poster of Che Guevara, it hung on your wall for years,
You thought you were going to change the world and watch it all come crashing down around their ears,
But the years have flown past so quickly, and it's strange but oh, so true,
That flag once red with the workers' blood now flies a truer shade of blue.

You were the young icon of the left, you argued deep, deep into the night,
No clouds to block your vision, the truth was there in black and white,
And you wore Fidel Castro's cap, it sat squarely on your head,
Now you talk in hushed voices along the corridors of power, one day soon you'll be a minister it's said..
And now Maggie Thatcher's knickers, they seem the perfect fit for you,
AS they hang out on your washing line, in a truer shade of blue.

You've gotten wealth, you've gotten image, you've protected and survived alright,
And now you worry about those demons, and things that might go bump in the night,
You want a good school for your children, you want investments that will grow,
As you drifted into the middle of the road and onto the other side, safe within that comfort zone..
And as you find yourself saying the things you said you'd never say, just like your parents used to do,
And the political litmus paper has turned a truer shade of blue.

Your feet are firmly on the ladder, you're a winner in the game,
You joined the congregation, you even sing in the choir, that revolution never came anyway,
But sometimes through the opium you catch a glimpse in the mirror, reflecting those far off long gone days,
You try telling yourself it was a natural progression, just a passing phase,
And as you contemplate power dressing for that important interview,
Glad that you've been born again in a truer shade of blue.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 08:29 AM

I already suggested Grace Petrie on Richard's Facebook, so I thought I would share here as well.

Farewell to Welfare

She has quite a few political rants in her repertoire.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 08:42 AM

Also, of course, John Conolly's Big Society Blues on his new CD...

Kitty

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 09:11 AM

Proud to say that Grace hails from Leicester - great to see her gaining wide recognition.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 01:15 PM

Tom Paxton is still writing. Also, Tim Minchen, a brilliant writer and satirist.

"Let us both not eat pork together".

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 06:51 AM

I've written a few contemporary songs about Mr Blair, ISIS and our glorious leaders, which have recently hit the No 1 folk spot on Soundclick.com (for what that's worth) and I sing them regularly at local sessions here in SW Wales. 'Fading Flowers - Falling Stars' is the latest offering but I need to become more proficient at the recording side of things! http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13338949

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 06:55 AM

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13338949

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 07:50 AM

two attempts at making a link (Blue Clicky) - doesn't seem to work, can't 'cut and paste' what am I doing wrong anyone?

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 09:43 AM

Copy the address the"blue clicky maker" produces for you then click it into your post. http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13338949

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 10:03 AM

"The US has its dustbowl era protest songs (and their fine chroniclers Guthrie and Seeger). "

And how good those songs were, making their points not by firing exocets at specific targets and grabbing us by the lapels, but by telling the people's stories, powerful enough messages on their own without the polemic. Some of my very favourite contemporary singers get up my nose occasionally by pushing their politics (which are usually my politics too) down my throat. No names, no pack drill!

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:16 PM

Acorn
Greedy Bastards All.

Inspired. I love it. Very well written. Nice and simple and straight to the point. A great composition. Does it go to a well-known tune or have you written one?

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:24 PM

Not all political songs have to be protestations. Here is a decidedly "political" song that expresses the view that there is much to be celebrated in our modern world.
https://soundcloud.com/johnhhills/envy-view-from-the-other-side

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:27 PM

I`m with you AlbertsLion. I`ve tried till I`m blue in the face but nothing seems to work.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:59 PM

Joe Solo from Scarborough is one of our finest political songwriters and raconteurs - he also puts his money where his mouth is and organised the incredible 'We Shall Overcome' festival last October which saw 250 gigs across 3 continents take place over a week raising the equivalent in cash of £125,000 worth of donation to food banks etc. He also frequently donates the proceeds of sales of his music to support homeless people

'We Shall Overcome' will be repeated this October and will hopefully be an annual event

Joe Solo website

Amongst others I can also highly recommmend Plumhall, Gary Kaye and Jon Palmer Acoustic Band who all feature protest and political songs in their repertoire

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 01:51 PM

Leon Rosselson - one of the greatest writer of social and political songs. billy Bragg and others.

Leon

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 02:35 PM

Thanks GeoffLawes - it still doesn't come out blue when I do it! But thanks for posting the link - which does work! :-)

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Anne Neilson
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 05:26 PM

The OP may wish to contact the Janey Buchan Political Song Collection at Glasgow University (sorry I can't do the link!).
This is a collection of political songs, both historic and current, from all over the globe and presented without bias.

Please feel free to submit!

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 06:29 AM

Steve:- "Greedy Bastards" with choon:-


https://soundcloud.com/acorn4/ye-greedy-bastards-all-1

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 11:38 AM

To my money here's the best political song I have heard in a long time;

Behind the Barricades - (David Rovics)

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 11:46 AM

This seems to work Anne
Janie Buchan Political Song Collection
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 11:53 AM

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


.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 12:30 PM

Too Big to Fail

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Anne Neilson
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 12:43 PM

Thanks to Jim Carroll for the clicky link to the political song collection at Glasgow University (post at 11.46am)

Recent gatherings of material include songs from the Scottish referendum campaign, the current anti-fracking movement -- and the net is out for EU referendum songs… (Many of these efforts are decidedly ephemeral, but taken together they provide a fuller picture than e.g. statistical analysis of voting can do on its own.)

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 03:09 AM

There are a lot of songs posted on POLITICAL FOLK MUSIC DOT ORG

LINK to POLITICAL FOLK MUSIC DOT ORG

Subject: RE: making a clicky
From: Mo the caller
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 09:16 AM

The instructions for clicky making say 'cut and paste'. But it only works for my if I COPY and paste.
???

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 09:38 AM

Canada faced a political crisis back in October, 2015. Many of the songs at the following link were written to get the Conservatives led by Stephen Harper out of power. Protest is still alive. The Canadian people voted the Conservatives out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brs6Xr9yzOY&list=PL5QgoDJ6aONSddoCzX6vTgIB5y3OWqHPB

I don't attribute Harper's loss to the songs, but like chicken soup, even if they didn't help, at least they didn't hurt. The shelf-life of most of the songs expired October 20, 2015, but they serve to show that people with voices who don't back down can influence small pockets of people and collectively help make a difference.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 10:04 AM

If you can't make the hotlink work post the link text anyway and a moderator may turn it into a link for you.

Subject: Lyr Add: CARRY IT ON (Buffy Sainte-Marie)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 12:53 PM

The following lyrics are from

https://opherworld.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/buffy-st-marie-carry-it-on-lyrics-of-defiance-with-hope/

CARRY IT ON
© Words & Music Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Hold your head up
Lift the top of your mind
Put your eyes on the Earth
Lift your heart to your own home planet
What do you see?
What is your attitude
Are you here to improve or damn it
Look right now and you will see
we're only here by the skin of our teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with Life and

Oh carry it on ? We're saying
Oh carry it on ? Keep playing
Oh carry it on ? And praying

It ain't money that makes the world go round
That's only temporary confusion
It ain't governments that make the people strong
It's the opposite illusion
Look right now and you will see
they're only here by the skin of their teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with Life

Oh carry it on ? Keep saying
Oh carry it on ? And playing
Oh carry it on ? And praying

Look right now and you will see
we're only here by the skin of our teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with

Life it's beautiful
if you got the sense to take care of your source of perfection
Mother Nature She's the daughter of God and the source of all protection

Look right now
and you will see she's only here by the skin of her teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with Life

Oh carry it on ? Keep saying
Oh carry it on ? And playing
Oh carry it on ? Keep on praying

You can hear the song that was released by Buffy at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsQaIOML05k

The album won a Polaris prize, and deservedly so. I love the lyrics and the take, although there is a bit too much compression imo.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: voyager
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 12:57 PM

Repost -

Seeger Family Concert - March 2007

voyager