Bread and Roses

Bread & Roses: Protest Songs that parody oppressive religion

I so enjoyed the comments and great music that c99 folks posted on last weekend's Bread and Roses article. This weekend, let's have some fun with religion parody songs. It's been a helluva week and we could use a bit of a giggle. First off, Phil Ochs' classic definition of protest music. See below.

Bread and Roses

I love protest songs, of all kinds, all eras, all genres, pretty much all the time. Like many here, I'm particularly fond of protest songs from the 60s & 70s; I'm such a folkie, it's embarrassing. I have no expertise but lots of enthusiasm, and I so hope you'd contribute some of your knowledge and experiences of the songs. First, what is a protest song? Phil Ochs has the best definition of them all. Please see below.

Hellraisers Journal: Thousands of Chicago Garment Strikers Win 48-Hour Week With No Loss of Wages

You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones

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Saturday December 18, 1915
From the Chicago Day Book: Thousands of Striking Garment Workers Win Shorter Hours

The Day Book of Chicago, Illinois, reported in its December 16th edition that, although recognition of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America has not been granted, nevertheless, thousands of Garment Workers have won the 48-hour week with no reduction in wages:

Chicago Garment Workers Strike of 1915, Day Book headline, Dec 16.png