Modern rural culture can be pretty bigoted, and it's a shame.

It should be common knowledge on the Left that old school country was working class af, and .that the original rednecks were commies. In honor of Joe Hill.

In Honor of Joe Hill, a modern leftist country thread(1/9)

"I know the police cause you trouble
They cause trouble everywhere
But when you die and go to Heaven
You'll find no policemen there"

Originally by Guthrie, this sappy modern recording of Hobo's Lullaby wouldn't stand out much on country radio. (2/9)

I love the crackly Pete Seeger recording, but here's a modern take on Which Side Are You On.

(not country, but check out Rebel Diaz' version too) (3/9)

"Race hatred cannot break us you better learn it quick
Our children won't be soaked in poison rhetoric!
You're bound to lose!
You fascist's bound to lose!"

I prefer Bragg's very militant lyric update, but the Tillers bluegrass version is cool. (4/9)

"Fellow workers pay attention, to what I'm going to mention for it is the clear contention of the workers of the world. Ye should all be steady, true hearted brave and ready, for to rally round the standard when the Union's flag unfurls..." (5/9)

"Oh the [cop] he went wild over me! And he held his gun where everyone could see.
He was breathin' rather hard, when he saw my union card!
He went wild, simply wild over me!"

This version uses older slang for cop, but it's good. (6/9)

"God made coal for the men who sold their lives to West Van Lear..."

This is a modern song, but it definitely has Red Song Book vibes. (7/9)

This song is actually low-key popular, but I like it so I'm putting it in this thread. (8/9)

The Woodie Guthrie version is a classic, but this version of pretty cool. (9/9)