THE language of the oppressed has long been one of the elements of folksong. songs have chronicled women on husband and father under patriarchy, the exploitation of landless labourer and factory worker under miseries of poverty and war.
For the Irish, folk songs especially Republican songs - have been a vital consciousnessraising force in tneir tight against perialism.
Brittany, Alan
Stivell's singing has drawn SECTION the French suppression Breton culture.
In Euskadi, (the Basand despite being prettified and made into a tourist attraction, are still a powerful affirmation of national identity.
Those str desirate build a Chile in the carly 70's drew strength and inspiration Trom the work of singers like Victor Jara:
I don't sing for love of ingin Or to show off my voice My guilar is a worker...
..for the people who labour Pinochet's thugs acknowledged the power of Victor Jara's guitar by they killed him.
In Poland, the people traditional largely rejected music devitalised by the bureaucracy and left bland and innocuous Modern political folk music has seen mainly BOW emerging. In Gdansk in August a free song festival was held, called Zakazane Piosenki *forbidden one thre has Woody Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan and many others.
no SCLICE however, that the British folk scene is ailing ine audiences. sexist comSocialist Challenge 29 October 1981 Page 14 For centuries the dependence of capitalism, and the pères, undiscriminating use of material.
Political songs have thus tended develop outside the folk circuit for example, CND songs and WOWTCHS songs especially, those used on THE CEO ECOS The left has tended to concentrate on slogans. 12 the propagandist potential of songs.
One singer/songwriter whose songs are political Rosse son sings own political satirical songs in folk clubs, con CCTES and -TOT political benefits.
He has written three songbooks and made more records than he can JF: How would describe your politics? LR: My politics are libertarian socialist. My songs don't demand political commitment Jon't se politics as separate other singing political songs.
to make people think, JF: How do you see the TOLE of politics in the folk scene?
LF: Individual club but there's little SHECK AUTOCOTTLE folk scene.
political tradition British folksong quite different America.
There are the industrial ballads - some of which date from the last century Leon Rosselson songs which came out of the pits — but this is a small tradition Kural songs are more popular. Many of around InE clubs aren't really worth singing they're merely nostalgic, or perhaps easy chorus songs.
Some songs are sexist 100. Some compéres and portones make sexist comments.
Women normally go to folk clubs but come along because Frankie Armstrong is singing, won't put up with it — they challenge it.
The folk scene doesn't reflect the way things have changed over the past ten women's moe ment the rise of the I think this is because there are few HICH singers, so few new songs. JF: Do you mainly sing in folk clubs?
LR:At least half of my work is ourside folk clubs politica things CND concert sang at the Labour Party Conference - while the voting for deputy leader was taking place!
Also foik festivals
Frankie Armstrong, Roy Bailey and 1 went to the Vancouver Festival in July. It was very political -like an English JF: Your next record is about opposing nuclea: power?
with Frankie Armstrong Roy and a number o I other singers.
overlap with nuclear weapons. But planning a that will be specifically anti-nuclear weapons SOOn The release date of Nuclear Power No Thanks is 1 November it might be out earlier. ฿....
1. The state of the nation is all my concern SUT HE TOT 19030 PUMPED THOSE I can't afford meat on the money i ear And I'm growing steadily thinner, But it's all for the good of the nation The nation, the nation The nation is in such a terrible state, Stagnation, inflation, 2. The balance of payments worries me sick When I'm freezing to death in the bus queu Ill be ice if the bus doesn't come double quick But 1 know there are things a man must do, When it's all for the good of the nation The nation, the nation The nation is in such a terribie state Stagnation, inflation, 3. The lack of investment keeps me awake I can hear the rain drip through the ceiling My bedroom's an igloo, the floor a lake Put Em warmed oy tais wondertu teenng anat is an tor we good or the nanon The nation, the nation The nation is in such a terrible state 4. The stock market's jumpy, the outlook is grim And my body with sorrow is smitten He died for the good of the nation.
The nation, the nation The nation is in such a terrible state Stagnation, inflation, THE GOOD OF THE NATION If we all pull together, we li once again make Britain Great.
If we all pull together, we 11 once again make Britain Great.
If we all pull together, well once again make Britain Great I won't last the winter, I've hummed my last hymn, If we all die together, we 1l once again make Britain Great from the sycophantic slugs
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