Come you masters of war

An interesting blog over at Politico gives several good reasons why protest songs have not resonated widely in our culture during this long war in Iraq - fragmentation of our listening experience, a volunteer army, a culture obsessed with a "reality" that is not a reality.

Reading the comments attached to the blog, and it's something you must do, it's clear that there are still as many brain-dead Americans as there ever have been who are willing to say, "it's because the songs suck and the singers are traitors"

Well, that's just not true. There were songs which resonated through our culture at the height of the civil rights and anti-war movement of the sixties and seventies: Blowin' In the Wind, Who Will Stop the Rain, Eve of Destruction, Where Have All The Flowers Gone, What's Going On, For What It's Worth, Fortunate Son, Ohio, Abraham, Martin and John, Woodstock. That was at a time when radio playlists where not enforced by corporate owners, and every boy in America was worried about being conscripted into an immoral war. But there were many songs written and played that did not hit the top of the charts, did not become "anthems for a generation" but have become standards in some circles. After all, it wasn't really hip to be singing along with Barry McGuire.

So there was Masters of War by Bob Dylan, I Ain't A Marchin Anymore by Phil Ochs, Waist Deep in the Big Muddy by Pete Seeger, Universal Soldier by Buffy Ste. Marie, Sam Stone by John Prine and many more.

This president and this war has inspired thousands of songwriters, some of whom I've written about here before, some who have written great songs. I don't know about the Tori Amos, anti-Bush song, but here are a few I'd check out:

Man of God and Highway 9 - Eliza Gilkyson



Dear Mr. President - Pink



Rich Man's War - Steve Earle
Volunteer and Seeds of Peace - Mark Erelli
Commander - Girlyman

Chickenhawk and Thanks for the Support - Roy Zimmerman




Dad's Gonna Kill Me - Richard Thompson



After the Parade - Dan Bern
Dangerous Times and Liar, Liar - Chuck Brodsky



Some Humans Ain't Human - John Prine


Dress Blues - Jason Isbell



Lives in the Balance (acooustic) - Jackson Browne



The Price of Oil - Billy Bragg



Guantanamo - State Radio



Mr. President - Spicewood Seven



Devils and Dust - Bruce Springsteen



This is by no means an exhaustive list, but an illustration. And another good reason to listen to independent radio stations like WWUH.

Thirteen holiday songs you won't hear in the elevator

Lot's of people say that they don't like Christmas music. Understandable, considering the dreck that gets played over and over, starting in October, on background music systems in every major retail outlet including places like Home Depot.

I like Christmas music, and have, since I was in a caroling group in high school which visited hospitals and nursing homes during the season to sing songs of cheer. I'm a cynic much of the year, but susceptible to the spirit of the season, when people don't look at you cross-eyed if you wish them, "Peace on earth."

I can take Bing crooning White Christmas, and Elvis crooning Blue Christmas, but I'm more partial to El Vez crooning Brown Christmas.

Over the years I've assembled lots of quirky "holiday" music, and have made collections of such which I've distributed to family and friends. Most of it you won't hear on the in-store radio channel, and some of it is damned hard to find, but these are "holiday" songs you can listen to most any time of year.

1. Fairytale of NY - The Pogues from If I Should Fall From Grace With God



In England and Ireland this is a holiday classic. Drunkeness, curses, regrets, hard feelings and a love that survives it all. Just like a lot of the Christmas celebrations we all know.

2. River - Joni Mitchell from Blue
Cover by dozens of people, Joni's is still the best. The hint of "Jingle Bells" the regret over making her "baby" cry and the wish for a frozen river.

3. Did Jesus Have A Baby Sister?- Dory Previn from Dory Previn, or the Casselberry-Dupree cover from City Down.
The original by Dory Previn comes from an album just back in print as a CD, which is well worth pursuing. Previn, who now lives in Northampton, was a quirky singer-songwriter before quirky singer-songwriters were popular. Casselberry-Dupree do a rhythm and blues version that will have you singing and dancing around the creche.

4. The Holidays Are Here and We're Still At War - Brett Dennen
Released as a radio station single. You can hear it at his website, or myspace page. A great Christmas protest song in the tradition of such.

5. The Christians and The Pagans - Dar Williams from Mortal City
So I was producing a holiday concert for the station (At Home For the Holidays With The Folk Next Door) and I asked Nerissa Nields to ask Dar if she would write a song that we could record to preview the show. Dar panicked because she didn't like to write quickly, but this is what she delivered a few days later.



6. Merry Christmas from the Family - Robert Earl Keen jr. from No. 2 Live Dinner

If you can't recognize yourself in this song, then you've got a saner family than most of us. Check out the version by the Dixie Chicks and Rosie O'Donnell

7. This Mountain - Hugh Blumenfeld from Mozart's Money.
Also a request for a song for that famous WWUH holiday concert, Dr. B wrote the Hannukah song about the miracle of the lamps, which is as inspiring as any song that I've heard about that lengthy, but minor, Jewish holiday.

8. Arbolito - Tish Hinojosa from Memoribilia Navidena
This Christmas album by Hinojosa is a gem. This song, about the Christmas tree is sung in English and Spanish versions.

9. Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith from Maybe This Christmas
We all know the feeling of having lost touch with someone we love, and the hope that the joy of the season will bring forgetfulness and forgiveness. It's about the universal need to reconnect. Makes me think of Brendan.

10. Nothing But A Child - Steve Earle - Somehow on an album about murder and moonshine, and featuring a skull and crossbones cover, this little song about redemption in a certain baby's smile lets you understand Earle's vulnerability.

11. The Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne and the Chieftans from Bells of Dublin
Jesus as hippie. It works for me as does Browne's apology for bringing up dark topics in a season of joy.

12. Through the Bitter Frost and Snow - Susan McKeown from Through The Bitter Frost and Snow
It's winter and most of us suffer through it. McKeown trudges through the darkness to find light on the other side of winter. This is the first of two seasonal albums McKeown has recorded. The other, A Winter Talisman, with Johnny Cunningham, is a classic.

13. Christmas Carol - The Nields from Love and China
The post-breakup Christmas song, and the question, do I still send a card to the ex-in-laws.