A lot of Johnny Cash’s songs are compatible with leftist politics.
Yeah. That’s another of my favorites. Here are the lyrics.
I don’t understand why Williams didn’t get better play. He has a gorgeous voice and many of his songs were both heartbreaking and unusual. Another of my favorites of his is Maggie’s Dream about a spinster truckstop waitress.
“Maggie knows the truckers most by first name
What they’ll have to say and what they’ll order
And they take her in their stories to places far away
And then leave her with the dishes, dreams and quarters”
Sad and real and beautiul. Who could ask for more from a country song?
Vic Chessnutt, Mark Linkous, and Cracker.
Vic Chesnutt did an experimental version of Modern English’s- I’ll stop the world (and melt with you). Modern English- I’ll stop the world comes after Lucero - War in my playlist. Coincidence or the language of alphabets?
John Prine is usually filed under ‘Folk’ or ‘Rock’ but he’s really a lot of country. Pretty much all of his first album is at least country-ish, and is pretty much all lefty (“Paradise”, “Sam Stone”)
I saw him live in 1991 (that’s during Gulf War I for those of you following at home). Before one song he said “You know, some things never really go out of style. Unfortunately, this song is one of them.” Then played “You Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Any More”.
Unfortunately, he could say the same thing today I think.
I concur with a lot of the “Alt-country” suggestions, but don’t shy away from reclaiming a lot of the classic country catalogue. Willie Nelson is an anti-government pothead from way back, and as mentioned Johnny Cash was explicitly about standing up for the little guy, and they’re not alone.
Country music has been grabbed by the right wing, but it doesn’t have to be, any more than loving your family means you have to support torture. Much of classic country is about the little guy and often how he’s getting screwed by bosses and big companies; and you can’t get much more left-wing than that. Heck even something as seemingly pre-packaged and mainstream as Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5" is about the dehumanizing effects of capitalism. Even the gospel-based songs are about coming together to bear up under hard times, and sometimes finding the strength to struggle for what is morally right; as far as I know, few of them are really about hating people who talk funny, the benefits of unchecked capitalism, or the importance of a strong police state.