DEF XMAS PLAYLIST #14: COME BACK, WOODY GUTHRIE

[defrog]

Seeing as how it’s an election year, and seeing as how every presidential candidate is doing a cheesy Christmas campaign ad anyway, we’ve got just enough time to slip in a political Christmas song. It’s called “Christmas In Washington”. And naturally, it’s by Mr Steve Earle.

It's Christmastime in Washington
The Democrats rehearsed
Gettin' into gear for four more years
Things not gettin' worse

The Republicans drink whiskey neat
And thanked their lucky stars
They said, 'He cannot seek another term
They'll be no more FDRs'

I sat home in Tennessee
Staring at the screen
With an uneasy feeling in my chest
And I'm wonderin' what it means

Chorus:

So come back Woody Guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into Jesus
Maybe he can help you out
Come back Woody Guthrie to us now

I followed in your footsteps once
Back in my travelin' days
Somewhere I failed to find your trail
Now I'm stumblin' through the haze

But there's killers on the highway now
And a man can't get around
So I sold my soul for wheels that roll
Now I'm stuck here in this town

Chorus

There's foxes in the hen house
Cows out in the corn
The unions have been busted
Their proud red banners torn

To listen to the radio
You'd think that all was well
But you and me and Cisco know
It's going straight to hell

So come back, Emma Goldman
Rise up, old Joe Hill
The barracades are goin' up
They cannot break our will

Come back to us, Malcolm X
And Martin Luther King
We're marching into Selma
As the bells of freedom ring

WARNING: Contains Joan Baez (this particular version, anyway – the original Baez-free version is available on El Corazon).

What do I have against Joan Baez? Nothing personally – I just prefer Earle’s vocals. He sounds exhausted, fed up and disappointed – which is exactly what this sort of song calls for.

No more FDRs,

This is dF