political and protest songs today?

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 29 Oct 18 - 04:38 PM

Jack Campin just posted this on Facebook.

I wondered if anyone had put it, or the Kahlil Gibran poem, to music?
"PITY THE NATION" Lawrence Ferlinghetti
(After Khalil Gibran)

Pity the nation whose people are sheep
   And whose shepherds mislead them
 Pity the nation whose leaders are liars
            Whose sages are silenced
  And whose bigots haunt the airwaves
 Pity the nation that raises not its voice
          Except  to praise conquerers
       And acclaim the bully as hero
          And aims to rule the world
              By force and by torture
          Pity the nation that knows
        No other language but its own
      And no other culture but its own
 Pity the nation whose breath is money
 And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed
      Pity the nation oh pity the people
        who allow their rights to  erode
   and their freedoms to be washed away
               My country, tears of thee
                   Sweet land of liberty!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion.
Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave,
eats a bread it does not harvest,
and drinks a wine that flows not from its own wine-press.
Pity the nation that acclaims the bully as hero,
and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful.
Pity a nation that despises a passion in its dream,
yet submits in its awakening.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice
save when it walks in a funeral,
boasts not except among its ruins,
and will rebel not save when its neck is laid
between the sword and the block.
Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox,
whose philosopher is a juggler,
and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking.
Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpeting,
and farewells him with hooting,
only to welcome another with trumpeting again.
Pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years
and whose strong men are yet in the cradle.
Pity the nation divided into into fragments,
each fragment deeming itself a nation

- Kahlil Gibran

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 17 Oct 18 - 04:25 AM

A group of Leicester songwriters have produced a compilation CD "The Peasants are Revolting" contributions from Pete Morton, Grace Petrie, Steve Cartwright, Phil Riley, Tim Garland, Sheila Mosley, Acorn4.

All proceeds to the Leicestershire branch of Momentum.

£5.00 plus £1 p and p in UK.

Also a "Peasants are Revolting Book of Revolting Verse" - an anthology with contributions from five Leicestershire poets.

£4.00 plus £1 p and p in UK.

So some of us are still at it!

Msg if interested.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,JoeG
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 09:53 AM

Just think yourself fortunate that you don't have to depend on food banks Jim. What an unpleasant post. Universal Credit is ruining many people's lives. Keep reading the Daily Mail and insulting those who are worse off than yourself

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Ake
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 08:59 AM

:0)....Good job Jim....thought you was banned mate!

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 15 Oct 18 - 06:19 AM

I `ad one of them protest singers in my cab the other day. `e`d just done a stint on the Earls Court tube station. Lovely Martin guitar, shame about the voice.
I said, "Morning Woody. What`ave you been banging on about this morning, then?"
`e said, " It`s this Universal Credit, Jim. Now I don`t get paid anything by the government for nine weeks. `ow the `ell am I going to get by. A blooming stitch up."
I said, "What about a job? . That`s one way round it. Try Tescos` They`re always looking for staff."
E said, "Not a chance, Jim. I was dissing them last month for not putting enough in food banks. They wouldn`t touch me with a barge pole. Besides, I need the time to write something about stopping fracking, whatever that is!!!"


Whaddam I Like??

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Pseudonymous
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 07:26 AM

Attila the Stockbroker and Barnstormer 1649?

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 06:37 AM

Don't know what happened there, but my auld freen Davie Robertson(scourge of all things PC), has taken up the cudgel in defence of Scottish Independence......Don't know what he's gonnae dae aboot "Bloody Nicola" Heres Davies latest

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 06:20 AM

Please excuse me Sandman, I was not inferring that you were any kind of Philistine.   Ake.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 06:02 AM

Jim McLean
Nancy Nicolson

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 05:55 AM

Apologies....forgot to sign in.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 05:54 AM

Life is only wonderful if we understand it and embrace it, living in a dreamworld is not living at all. That is surely the point being so eloquently made. It is an ironical piece, about those of us who find the real world too taxing and who prefer to exist swathed in their own particular ideology.

Loudon sings many kinds of songs. Dead Skunk and Swimming song appeal to many of his listeners.....in a way they relate to the old chorus songs which I'm sure you remember? He uses them to warm up audiences, promote a feel-good togetherness.....it works.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 05:35 AM

life is wonderful, we will be long enough dead.
I agree that song is better than anything else that i have heard such as dead skunk and swimming song

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 04:03 AM

"I'd rather be dreaming"

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 04:01 AM

Loudon Wainwright is magic.

"I'd rather be dreaming"........Mudcat theme song.
"white winos".....beautiful observation

Hundreds more, only a Philistine would dis this guy.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 03:44 AM

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll , is in my opinion badly written although it is good subject matter.
I would not take any opinion of loudin wainwright seriously in my opinion he sings rubbish material

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 02:38 AM

On October 12, 2018, the New York Times published an article by Lodon Wainwright III titled Them's Fightin' Words: 10 Great Protest Songs. He wisely didn't say "10 greatest protest songs," so he's my kinda guy. His list (not necessarily in order of anything in particular):

1. We Shall Overcome
   
2. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (Dylan)
   
3. We Will All Go Together When We Go (Tom Lehrer)
   
4. Little Boxes (Malvina Reynolds)
   
5. Okie from Muskogee
   
6. My Old Man (Ewan MacColl)
   
7. Arthur McBride
   
8. If It Were Up to Me (Cheryl Wheeler)
   
9. Don't Call Me Buckwheat (Garland Jeffreys)
   
10. America the Beautiful (Katharine Lee Bates)

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 10:02 AM

Let's not overlook Ralph McTell still turning out stunning songs such as Care In The Community, The Enemy Within, Red Sky and possibly his masterpiece Peppers And Tomatoes.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 05:45 AM

Look out! Here`s one coming from the other direction!

https://soundcloud.com/#john-hills/envy-10

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Jan 14 - 05:20 AM

In the meantime listen to The Young Uns - great songs sung well

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 07:24 AM

Richard. I never mentioned tautological. The point I was getting at was that Soviets, in the sense of workers taking control of their own workplaces etc., are not things which can be imposed from above. Either the workers do it themselves or they are not Soviets.

That of course ignores the fact that the word soviet is simply Russian for council. But that's another question and another can of worms.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Richard from Liverpool
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 07:07 AM

Well in the history of the USSR, for example, there were many centrally organised 'Soviets', though one might well question whether they could really be called Soviets in the strict sense. It is, I suppose, similar process to what we might call "astroturfing" (the creation and funding of pseudo-grassroots organisations) today!

And aaaaaaaaaaaanyway Fred, just because something's tautological doesn't make it untrue! A great deal of song construction requires tautology in order to make the words scan!

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Eldergirl
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 06:43 AM

Maggie Holland's song 'Salt of the Earth'. Or is that too old, now? Still a bloody good song which makes a point.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 10:19 AM

Joe Solo. His new album "No Pasaran" is crammed full of the type of thing you are looking for. The title track is a corker.

http://www.joesolo.co.uk/

Forget David Rovics - brilliant as he is, he's most definitely American!

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,OldNicKilby
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 10:11 AM

Try and find a lass called Grace Petrie. Very sharp word smith, even I think that she is pretty damned good and extremely political. I think that she is on all the usual sites, sorry I am a luddite when it comes to the blue clickies

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 09:53 AM

I'd definitely second that. Alun Parry is a bloody good lad and a bloody good and highly prolific songwriter. To Richard's list I'd add I Want Rosa To Stay. http://parrysongs.co.uk/go/songs/i-want-rosa-to-stay/. Also Union Hall.

Sorry about the lack of blue clickies and stuff, but my computer is playing up something rotten at the moment.

BTW., Richard. How can you have a Soviet which isn't self-declared?

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 09:49 AM

Rhiannon Giddens, "The Bottom 99", at Occupy Wall Street:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh36PkhmN4U

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Richard from Liverpool
Date: 22 Jan 14 - 08:42 AM

Alun Parry, from Liverpool, is definitely worth looking up. Formerly awarded the prize of "Busker of the year" by the Liverpool Echo newspaper, he does a lot of gigging for Trade Union events and other rallies. He also used to run the Woody Guthrie folk club at the Ship and Mitre in Liverpool (currently on haitus). He's a skilled songwriter, and although because I find a lot of the political narratives he weaves into his songs to be gross oversimplifications, I do admire the fact that he keeps the memories going of important figures and events in the history of the labour movement, and I also admire his capacity to draw together a political crowd through folk music.

His website is http://parrysongs.co.uk/ - some of his songs are more inspired by traditional folk than others, but I'd particularly flag up his songs "If Harry Don't Go", about the London dockworker and union activist Harry Constable, "The Limerick Soviet", about a self-declared Soviet in the City of Limerick in April 1919 during the Irish war of independence, and the music-hall inspired song "Oh Mr Cameron" (actually mostly by Alun's mum Norma Parry), which has been picked up by the Liverpool Socialist singers and others as a protest song.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: raredance
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 06:19 PM

David Rovics has written and recorded a few

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,ollaimh
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 11:05 PM

the iww reissued a collection of all their versions of the little red song book a few years ago--i snapped one up. the modern edition lacks some of my favourites, like "they go wild simply wild over me". now i got em all.

bruce cockburn has written many modern political songs like "if i had rocket launcher" and "lovers in a dangerous time"

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Stu Martin
Date: 22 Jun 11 - 10:29 PM

Try checking out "Flowers in the guns" by The Lovebombs (2006)

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,maire-aine, cookieless
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 01:18 PM

Check out Damien Rice & Christy Moore's song recent song called Lonely Soldier. Can't do a blue clicky right now, but you can find them with a search.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:50 AM

I saw Damien Dempsey at Celtic Connections this year.
He was support act to good old Billy Bragg.
Damien was very, very powerful - phew, still recovering.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Cats
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 04:26 PM

Jon Heslop

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 04:18 PM

I suppose by today (that is a bit of a loose term to use!) I mean the past 15 years or so...This is great, everyone has such different ideas and influences of political and protest in terms of song....

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 07:35 PM

Coope Boyes and Simpson - Didn't I go (Like a lamb to the slaughter). About the miners' strike, Thatcher period.

A lot of Tom Robinson - Glad to be Gay, Liddle Towers song, Winter of '79.

Levellers

But I suppose that may no longer be "today".

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: yrlancslad
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 02:54 PM

Some I like: The Manchester Rambler (new version) and Working Chap, both on Patterson Jordan and Dipper, " Flat Earth" CD, Davie Robertsons song about Bush and Blair-the chimp and the poodle. A more subtle anti-war song Old men sing love songs on Fletcher and Whaley's CD Less Sprightly.
Malcolm

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 07:49 AM

this australian site also includes songs from other countries

Oz union songs site

sandra

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Teresa
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 02:39 AM

Leon rosselson, eric bogle, and Roy Bailey.

Teresa

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 01 Feb 05 - 02:12 AM

A song by a German, but in English and written in Barrow upon Humber:

Iraqi War Song. Note that PC in the 4th stanza should read CP.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Folkiefrank
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 09:27 PM

Not forgetting Harvey Andrews!

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,eddie cochranovich
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 08:59 PM

Red Smed and the Hot Trot Smash the System Boogie Band


http://www.midnightmango.co.uk/bands/redsmed/redsmed.html

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 08:44 PM

Billy Bragg

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 08:29 PM

Robb Johnson, Dick Gaughan, Brian McNeill, Alistair Hulett come to mind.

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 08:25 PM

also several by another well-known name here - Lorcan Otway

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 08:18 PM

AHem - two of my songs on the Glasgow Caledonian Uni Political song site.. ( he said modestly)

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Peace
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 06:52 PM

Here is the link to The Center for Political Song at Glasgow University

http://polsong.gcal.ac.uk/

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: Peace
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 06:48 PM

This link works.


http://www.unionsongs.com/

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: breezy
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 06:29 PM

George Papavgeris has also written

'What life for a Soldier'

'Caligulas and Neros' Heroes lead by zeros


'The Price of Two Cannon Balls'



'Thieves of Innocence' about child soldiers

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: breezy
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 06:16 PM

Look at George Papavgeris

www.folk4all.net

'Flowers in the Guns'

Vin Garbutt added this song to his repertoire in 2003

another is 'Remember Joe Turner'

'Langemarck'

for starters

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 05:59 PM

You could always try www.unionsongs.com (not sure if the clicky will work. It may be mostly older songs but for more topical material try The Cebtre for Political Song a Glasgow caledonian University. Sorry but I'm not sure of the URL. I found by googling the name... Hope that helps

Andy

Subject: RE: political and protest songs today?
From: just john
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 04:09 PM

There's always Chumbawamba.

Subject: political and protest songs today?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 04:03 PM

Hi, I'm doing a project on political and protest songs and am looking for some more leads to people writing them in the u.k today from the folk genre...I'm not to sure which vein I am going down yet, I need to listen to somemore people and hear some more influences..
Thanks, Sarah,
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