"I Hate the Capitalist System" was written by Aunt Molly Jackson, who had good reason to be angry over the coal bosses in her part of Appalachia. Aunt Molly rarely gets the attention or credit she deserves. If she were still alive I am sure she would be royally pissed if someone named Mary Cliff claimed to be the composer.

Aunt Molly is one of the finest political singer-songwriters that I have ever heard, as well as a fine singer of traditional ballads. She is an extremely powerful and moving singer. She made a few trips to New York City to gather support for the National Mineworkers Union (NMU) and the CIO and I believe she performed at Madison Square Garden on one of these trips, but in general her work received little notice, especially outside of left-wing circles.

Upon re-reading Ferrara's posting, perhaps I misunderstood and Mary Cliff simply played Aunt Molly's recording for the gathering. If so, Ms. Cliff should be praised rather than damned. It probably was not a field recording, however. I believe Aunt Molly recorded "I Hate the Capitalist System" at the Library of Congress, probably for Alan Lomax.

Rounder published an excellent L.P. of Aunt Molly Jackson, which included "I Hate the Capitalist System." I don't know if they have published it as a cd. If not, they certainly should, and probably will, as part of their ongoing Alan Lomax project.