Music Review: “Mr. President Have Pity on the Working Man” by Hard Working Americans

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TRACK 8

“Mr. President Have Pity on the Working Man”

From Hard Working Americans (self-titled)

MELVIN/THIRTY TIGERS

Liner notes: “We just can’t make it by ourselves,” wheezes Todd Snider, as searing slide guitar recasts Randy Newman’s populist lament as scruffy country blues.

Behind the music: Snider, who does his own iconoclastic alt-country solo act, joined members of Widespread Panic and Chris Robinson’s band for this earthy covers set, which includes songs associated with the likes of BR549 and Lucinda Williams.

Check it out if you like: Forward-thinking roots artists, including Bottle Rockets, the Drive-By Truckers, and Iris DeMent.

This review originally appeared in our January/February issue of Mother Jones.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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