Which Side Are You On by Florence Reece

As usual my favorite version is sung by Pete Seeger.
In 1931 coal miners in Harlan County went on strike. The mine owners hired thugs to beat, jail or kill the miners. Unions are disappearing fast in this country with Reagan being the one to lead the charge. I tried coal mining for a short spell when I was discharged from Fort Campbell Ky. I actually worked in a mine not far from Harlan County. I didn't want to be a coal miner, just wanted the experience to put my body in what my mouth was saying. Very hard living.

Marat/Sade by Judy Collins

The song was taken from the play which was an existential romp into the life and execution of Jean Paul Marat with some dialog between Marat and the Marquis De Sade thrown in for good measure. Taking place in the late 1700s it could fit in today quite nicely. Unfortunately.
Like the last several songs, this one is timely as well and could apply to our current governmental crisis and the uber rich which have profited greatly during the past 8 years with the greatest rise in millionaires and billionaires the world has ever seen. All while the middle class is being systematically neutered and made impotent and the poor are just ignored.

Eve of Destruction by P.J. Sloan

Written in 1965 by P.J. Sloan but Barry McGuire really made the song. Could have been written yesterday.
A one hit wonder that is as timely today as it was when it was first written.
Barry added the line about "old enough to kill, but not for votin'" cause at the time the voting age was 21 yet the old chicken hawks and war mongers could send you to die, but you couldn't vote. This song was an anthem of sorts and helped to lower the voting age to 18.

I"m Changing My Name To Chrysler Written by Tom Paxton

Arlo sings my favorite version of this song. Unfortunately, with the many bailouts of the high and the mighty recently by the government, this song is as pertinent today as it was 30 yrs. ago. Corporate welfare = Okay.
Human welfare = Not so okay.

Oh the price of gold is rising out of sight
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight

Union Maid by Woody Guthrie

My favorite version is by Pete Seeger and Judy Collins

There once was a union maid, she never was afraid
Of the goons and the ginks and the company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid
She went to the union hall, when a meeting it was called
And when the Legion boys came around she always stood her ground

Now That The Buffalo's Gone by Buffy Sainte-Marie

Can you remember the times
That you held your head high?
And told all your friends of your Indian claim
Proud good lady and proud good man,
Your great great grandfather from Indian blood sprang
And you feel in your heart for these ones

Oh it's written in book and in songs
That we've been mistreated and wronged

Hobo's Lullaby, my favorite version is by Arlo Guthrie

Hobo's Lullaby

Go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Can't you hear the steel rail humming
That's a hobo's lullaby

Do not think about tomorrow
Let tomorrow come and go
Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar
Safe from all that wind and snow

I know the police cause you trouble

In keeping with the Woody Guthrie theme and in honor of the 4th of July, the following song seems fitting.
Ironic that many wanted it to be the national song of America, as long as a few so called subversive verses were left out. Of course that makes them my favorite verses. Woody wrote the song in response to being tired of hearing Kate Smith's rendition of God Bless America.

This Land Is Your Land

When yer head gets twisted and your mind grows numb
When you think you're too old, too young, too smart or too dumd
When yer laggin behind an losin' your pace
In a slow motion crwal of life's busy race
No matter what yer doin' when you start givin' up
If the wine don't come to the top of yer cup
If the wind's got you sideways with one hand holdin' on
And the other starts slippin' and the feeling is gone

"I hate a song that makes you feel that you aren't any good. I hate a song that makes you feel like you are just born to lose, bound to lose. No good to nobody, no good for nothing.

Because you are too old or too young or to fat or too slim too ugly or too this or too that. Songs that run you down or poke fun at you on account of your bad luck or hard travelling.

I am out to fight those songs with my last breath and my last drop of blood. I am out to sing songs to prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are or how you are built.