Other than Willie Nelson and Steve Earle, are there any Lefty Country Singers?

[Taverner]

[PBS Poll-435]

1. Supposedly, Faith Hill and her hubby are Dems...

That is about as far as I would go with that.

[libnnc]

32. Tim McGraw

he's contemplated running for office as a Dem

they're big donors to the party too

[democracyindanger]

61. A lot more than 'supposedly'.

...McGraw is a true believer, an old-fashioned southern populist who believes in the power of government--the obligation of government--to give the people a boost. "Health care," he says immediately when asked to name his top issue. "Helping people that fall through the net. People that work hard, go out and bust their ass, and can barely make ends meet--still can't afford insurance, still can't get good health care.

And if that doesn't convince you,

Tim McGraw is on the mic again.

"So Rumsfeld is giving Bush his daily briefing. Rummy says, 'Mr. President, yesterday three Brazilian soldiers were killed.' Bush says, 'Oh, no! That's terrible!' Everybody's kinda stunned and confused at the president's reaction, but nobody says anything. Bush just sits there for a minute, his head in his hands. Finally, he looks up and says, 'How many is a brazillion?'

Esquire article

[PBS Poll-435]

64. Thanks for the link!

I didn't mean to sound skeptical by saying 'supposedly'.

[democracyindanger]

67. And I didn't mean to sound critical

by putting 'supposedly' in quotes. Journalism school habits die hard.

[KitchenWitch]

2. Dixie Chicks?

[Taverner]

3. True that...

[Shakespeare]

4. How could you forget the Dixie Chicks?

They paid a huge price for not abandoning their (leftie) ideals, and speaking out when no one else in country music would. LOVE them.

[SacredCow]

8. I don't care for their music much....

but gotta give them props for sticking to their convictions when they knew it wouldn't be received well by their fan base.

[FloridaJudy]

43. That's what made me check out their music.

Like me, they hated George Bush before it was cool.

I expect they and Michael Moore are now crowing "I told you so!"

[regularguy]

5. Todd Snider

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nMTfZFntjU

[BOSSHOG]

6. Allow me a slight stretch

but I believe John Mellencamp would be happy to be on that list.

[southpaw]

7. Linda Ronstadt

I think she can be considered 'country' in some of her phases.

[taterguy]

9. Hazel Dickens

Writes songs mostly about union organizing in coal country

[ceile]

10. Raul Malo (The Mavericks)

[tigereye]

56. he's wonderful!

saw them once with Mary Chapin Carpenter - great show! Missed that he was a lefty somehow. That's cool to know!

[southpaw]

11. James McMurtry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcBWlblRDjg&feature=rela...

[SacredCow]

12. Kind of Folk-Country, but Nanci Griffith.... n/t

[harmonicon]

13. most of them, I would think

The notable exceptions are the famous people, which isn't surprising, since it seems like the record industry is increasingly right wing. Musicians on a whole, I think, trend far to the left compared to the population as a whole. I've known all sorts of musicians in my life, but only very few who are right wing.

[Dogtown]

14. Johnny Cash was.

His family, tambien.

[sasquatch]

15. Hank Williams Sr. and Hank Williams III

[southpaw]

16. I was wondering about III

He seems like more of a populist anarchist... but still to the left.

[GOPisEvil]

17. Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison.

If you don't know who they are, well, you should.

[Phillycat]

18. Heard Hayes Carll yet?

If not, you're welcome in advance.

[GOPisEvil]

22. Live at the Saxon Club here in wonderful Austin.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6mj6XcRNxCU

Good thing it's dark on the video. The Saxon is a shithole real dive.

[Phillycat]

29. I just discovered him, and he is FUCKING GREAT!

I'll watch that video when I get home, youtube is blocked at my work.

Night, all!

[GOPisEvil]

31. I am fairly new to him as well.

I like him a lot.

Try some Scott H. Biram. He's depression blues meets gospel revival. http://youtube.com/watch?v=F3MobgbWPq8 (Sorry for the shitty sound - filmed at another shithole dive in the area.)

[jobycom]

26. Tish Hinojosa, too. nt

[GOPisEvil]

27. Good call. Jimmie Dale Gilmore, too.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

19. Buck Owens

lIIRC

[RedShoes]

20. I'm pretty sure Lucinda Williams is too, but I am not positive. nt

[RedShoes]

21. Oh, and Emmy Lou Harris nt

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. You need to listen to KPIG

Maybe you can pick up their AM signal at 1510 — in the daytime, anyway.

If not — www.kpig.com

I don't think I've ever heard anything close to right-wing on the Pig — though the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz does a damned fine job of parodying them.

[Shakespeare]

38. I LOVE KPIG!

Now that the boy has moved in down here, I won't be going to Monterey as often (just to see his parents), and I'll really miss listening to that station. Maybe the best station I've ever listened to.

[Lyric]

24. Mary Chapin Carpenter nt

[Bake]

25. Merle Haggard!

The Hag has always been for the workin' stiff. Don't be fooled by his early stuff like "Fightin' Side of Me" or "Okie From Muskogee."

Bake

[TheMightyFavog]

63. I thought I remember hearing or reading somewhere...

...that "Okie from Muskogee" was written while he and Johnny Cash were on his tour bus one night hopped up on booze and pills. When Both of them sobered up in the morning Merle pleaded with Johnny Cash to never ever ever mention "Okie from Muskogee" ever again. So, at their next concert Johnny introduces the song to the audience, Merle had no choice but to play it, the audience love it, and the rest is history.

[Resuscitated Ethics]

28. Iris Dement

She is more alt americana now but she is very cool

Wasteland of the Free

"We got politicians running races on corporate cash
Now don't tell me they don't turn around and kiss them peoples' ass
You may call me old-fashioned
but that don't fit my picture of a true democracy
and it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free"

http://www.irisdement.com/lyrics.html

[jobycom]

30. Trisha Yearwood. nt

[Lyric]

33. And Garth Brooks.

His song "We Shall Be Free" was one of the few country songs I've ever heard that defends homosexuality, religious diversity and tolerance, etc.

[Taverner]

34. From what I heard, he retired in part because of the right wingers in the industry

[hellbound-liberal]

35. Here's a whole web site dedicated to them

Music Row Democrats

http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com/index.php?option=com_c...

Not many famous people on here, though.

[SoxFan]

36. Big & Rich

They're very vocal in the Darfur movement.

[SoxFan]

37. Toby Keith

Yes, that Toby Keith.

Now, he's not liberal by DU standards. Hell, I'm not liberal by DU standards. But apparently, Toby Keith is a registered Democrat, campaigned for Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, and voted for Bill Clinton.

There aren't a lot of Oklahoma good old boys who can say that.

http://liberalcountryfan.blogspot.com/2006/03/toby-keit...

[Duppers]

39. then just why did he tell the Dixie Chicks to go to hell?

And why did he sing right-wing songs?

[SoxFan]

41. Sadly, I think he knows the game

Most country radio stations are owned and run by companies that are conservative both in their politics and in their approach to music. By cranking out boot-up-your-ass nonsense, he stays in their good graces.

[jobycom]

50. He was responding to them. They attacked first.

Brief history: He wrote "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" as a tribute to his father soon after his father died, and around the same time 9-11 happened. His father had been a vet. At first he wouldn't record the song, he just played it at concerts, but, according to him, some top Marine asked him to record it, and he did. Yeah, I'm sure he figured it would be a hit at that time, too.

Anyway, the Dixie Chicks were then doing an interview and they singled out his song as ignorant, and said it made America look bad. Which it did. But Keith got upset over that, and started attacking them at his concerts, showing pictures of them and Saddam Hussein and I think a couple of other dictators. He now claims his point was that they trying to stifle his free speech. I don't believe that, but I do think his feud with them was more over the song than over Iraq. He was gung-ho over 9-11, but I think he was a little more reserved over Iraq.

Before and after all that he was a Democrat. He's friends with Bill Richardson and has done fundraisers for him, and he helped campaign for the Democratic governor of Oklahoma.

I'd say he's a moderate Democrat who knows his audience, mostly. They want "Beer for my horses," and he sings it for them. Remember, Willie sang that, too. He's a working man's liberal, without the leftie stuff.

I almost listed him myself, but the OP asked about lefties. He's not a leftie. But he's a Democrat, mostly.

[RoyGBiv]

42. He's your standard Oklahoma Dem ...

Liberal, by Oklahoma standards really.

And, he's a pretty nice guy.

[mvd]

47. They do good on that, but..

I have read that Rich is homophobic with generally conservative views.

[fishwax]

40. Kris Kristofferson and John Prine

I don't think anyone has mentioned either of them yet, but they fit the bill ...

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

44. Merle Haggard was already mentioned but,

check out these lyrics to Rebuild America First

MERLE HAGGARD - AMERICA FIRST LYRICS

Why don't we liberate these United States,
We're the ones that need it worst.
Let the rest of the world help us for a change,
And let's rebuild America first.

Our highways an' bridges are fallin' apart:
Who's blessed an' who has been cursed?
There's things to be done all over the world,
But let's rebuild America first.

Who's on the Hill and who's watchin' the valley?
An' who's in charge of it all?
God bless the army an' God bless our liberty,
And dadgum the rest of it all.

Yeah, men in position are backin' away:
Freedom is stuck in reverse.
Let's get out of Iraq an' get back on the track,
And let's rebuild America first.

Why don't we liberate these United States,
We're the ones who need it the most.
You think I'm blowin smoke? Boys it ain't no joke.
I make twenty trips a year from coast to coast.

[Connonym]

45. Mellencamp is arguably country (his last couple albums have been categorized thusly)

and he's a big ol liberal

[mvd]

46. Some others

Pam Tillis
Matraca Berg
Rodney Crowell
Kathy Mattea
Carrie Underwood is rumored to be
Not sure about Sugarland, but they adore Steve Earle

Yes, the Dixie Chicks are one of my favorites musically, too! I do not consider Toby Keith leftie. He's a Democrat who is conservative.

[fudge stripe cookays]

48. I heard an interview with Kathy Mattea recently...

and was really impressed. She's freaking SMART. Her parents were pretty upset when she told them she was leaving college to go into music. But she did it.

Her most recent album, Coal, is all about growing up in and around Harlan County, and dealing with the coal culture, strikes, etc.

She is one of the few people who has ever tried covering Hazel Dickens who didn't just throw up their hands in frustration at not being able to capture the power of the woman's music. She nailed the emotion and the heartbreaking nature of "Black Lung." I was blown away.

[mvd]

54. Will check out that new CD - thanks

Kathy did quality stuff when she was mainstream, and I can't wait to hear Coal.

[MotorCityMan]

59. Damn, I'm thrilled to see Kathy Mattea on your list

I'll have to check out her cd. She's always been a favorite of mine. Her song "Where Have You Been?" makes me sob every time I hear it.

Pam Tillis, Rodney Crowell and Matraca Berg? Fantastic! And I hope it's true about Carrie Underwood. I have never watched American Idol, but I really love her (the song "Just A Dream" from her new cd is one of the best songs I have heard about losing a loved one, along with Reba's "For My Broken Heart").

I would guess you could probably add Roseanne Cash to your list.

[mvd]

60. Yes, Rosanne should be added

Good suggestion. I also like Carrie and am not surprised she would hide it if she is.

[Joey Liberal]

49. Merle Haggard n/t

[tigereye]

57. Merle Haggard was a lefty?

[underpants]

51. Ralph Stanley is a HUGE fundraiser and appearance guy for the Va. Dems

He does appearances all the time.

[speedoo]

62. I was just gonna say, probably a lot of Bluegrass folks are more progressive.

Based on the music they perform, which tends to progressive in spirit.

Kind of the Woody Guthrie wing of country music.

[Burma Jones]

52. Boxcar Willie

http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/B...

[Sheets of Easter]

66. He's also a lizard.

[GreenPartyVoter]

53. Glad to see this thread since my 8 and 10 year old have suddenly rebelled against

the classic rock station I put on at bedtime for them. Now all they do is want to listen to country.

Ah, well. They should be allowed to develop their own tastes.. as long as it doesn't turn them conservative.

[Taverner]

58. Can't force liberalism. My dad tried to make me into the model Alex P Keaton clone

Didn't work, obviously.

I read Nietzsche and Arendt and it was all over from there....

[tigereye]

55. I just got tix to go to Steve Earle tonight!

I've always missed him other times he's been here.




hmmm, lefty country singers - a number of em are Dems, but... lefty country?


Tom Russell? the country folk guy from Colorado - Navajo Rug is one of his songs? He's pretty left as I recall.



and how about Wilco?

[ornotna]

65. Rodney Crowell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R6UH3k4ksg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAIS8k9UnJ4

[Seeking Serenity]

68. Don and Phil Everly, Martina McBride, Glen Campbell

all left-handed.

http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/left.html

Wait, we were talking about that kind of leftie, weren't we?

[EstimatedProphet]

69. Woody Guthrie

Folk, but that was one of the fathers of today's country.