Cover Lay Down

Egyptian demonstrators sing protest songs in Cairo’s Tahrir Square in February 2011


History knows: the performance of political song is a shockingly potent vehicle for change. Lyrics which call out the flawed policies and actions of the powerful raise consciousness even as their catchy choruses help them stick in the mind, the better to turn communities towards mindful action and peaceful protest. The act of singing together creates solidarity and strength, nurturing deep feelings of belonging among the converted and bringing new voices to the fold. Combine the rally with the well-crafted social justice set list, and song becomes a call and a comfort, sustaining movements both by defining their agenda, and through giving them an active center.

The annals of pop and rock contain numerous such anthems, of course: from Lennon’s Imagine to signficiant sections of the Bruce Springsteen and U2 songbooks, on to the works of Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, and more. But although other genres have been plied for protest in the past, nowhere is the sense of song’s social significance more evident than in the folk movement, which brought gospel and truth to power to the civil rights, anti-war, and labor movements in our parent’s generations.

And proudly, from This Land Is Your Land to We Shall Overcome, many of the songs which comprise the early folk revival in America and abroad have become part of the very fabric of our nation, reminding us of how far we have come. When our children learn these songs in school, it helps lay a foundation for yet another generation of thoughtful stewardship, and those of us who sing them in our homes and churches smile, knowing that we are arming our planet for struggles yet to come.

But even for those of us with more than a passing familiarity with the songs of our fathers and daughters, the political side of folk is a broader canon than we think. From third-person singalong songs to bitter political screeds and historical lessons whose morals ring true in modernity, the crafting of new songs, and the recreation of older, more familiar standards, is an ongoing process, led today by conscientious singer-songwriters across the nation. Most recently, labor disputes at Wal-mart, anti-war and anti-violence rallies, and the occupy movement have all become loci for political folksong; listen closely, and the voices of the people ring loud in media coverage of all these occasions.

It was welcoming, indeed, to find Pete Seeger at the forefront of Obama’s first inauguration. But less commodified causes remain in need of vital restoration and sustenance. Though rallies big and small continue to bring like-minded people together in song, in today’s world, with movements widespread and sadly under-covered by media, and activists often invested in their own local geography, it can be difficult to find the political side of folk in our daily lives, let alone sustain it in our hearts as more than merely an echo of the past.

It is to this end that the People’s Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle continues to serve as an especially important nexus of the work of change through folk on a national scale. Formed in the late 70s – an era when nuclear power and gender equality topped the list of social justice issues – to bring together and support musicians and malcontents who had previously felt they were working in isolation, the network remains a refuge and a feeding ground for the action-minded, and its annual gatherings are still governed by core principles of discussion and fairness, all with ear and eye towards sharing and nurturing music as a change agent.

This year, Taking Back Our Communities, The People’s Music Network’s annual Winter Gathering, is right in my backyard, and I’m proud to announce that I’ll be presenting a workshop entitled “Social Media, Social Revolutions”, aimed at helping those still invested in the movement identify the ways in which the virtual community of facebook, twitter, youtube and blogs can be leveraged to serve the spread of social justice and action through music. Friday night’s concert is open to the public, and can be attended separately from the rest of the conference; expect songs about power and privilege from Emma’s Revolution, Pamela Means, David Rovics, and more who still think of folk as a tool for community and change, and write songs to move mountains. Saturday and Sunday feature other workshops and songswaps on a variety of social issues and song, a group sing, and more.

Whether there is still a need for such gatherings is taken as a given, here: there can be no question that the world remains imperfect, its institutions oppressive in ways that seem eternally solvable. So come sing if you can, or – if you cannot join us – at least take a moment on this Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend to sing a few songs, alone or with friends, in honor of all that we have done, and still have yet to do. In recognition of the work and history of the movement, we close today’s feature with a quick set of modern folksongs by and from some of our favorite artist-activists, just one small sample of the musical thread of our national discourse.

• Emma’s Revolution: Hymn Song (orig. Utah Phillips)

• Pamela Means: Maggie’s Farm (orig. Bob Dylan)

• Eliza Gilkyson: Peace Call (orig. Woody Guthrie)

• Angelique Kidjo: Little Boxes (orig. Malvina Reynolds)

• Chantal Kreviazuk: Redemption Song (orig. Bob Marley)

• Indigo Girls: Clampdown (orig. The Clash)

• John Mellencamp: This Land Is Your Land (orig. Woody Guthrie)

• Daisy Mayhem: If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (orig. Cat Stevens)

• Erik Balkey: Born In The USA (orig. Bruce Springsteen)

• The Mammals: Quite Early Morning (orig. Pete Seeger)

• James Taylor: A Change Is Gonna Come (orig. Sam Cooke)

• Natalie Merchant: Which Side Are You On (orig. Florence Reece)

• Ani DiFranco: Which Side Are You On (orig. Florence Reece)

• Michael Weston King: Simple Song Of Freedom (orig. Bobby Darin)

• Pat Flynn: If I Had A Hammer (orig. The Weavers)

• Keb’ Mo’: Get Together (orig. Jesse Colin Young)

• Billy Bragg: Joe Hill (orig. Phil Ochs)

• Shawn Colvin: Pride (In The Name Of Love) (U2 cover)

• Jack Johnson: Imagine (orig. John Lennon)

• Ben Taylor: Ohio (orig. Neil Young)

• Bruce Springsteen: We Shall Overcome (trad.)

Download our whole political playlist as a zip file!