“This Machine Kills Fascists.”
The following was emblazoned on Woody Guthrie’s guitar. Guthrie used his weapon of choice to compose timely songs of protest which still remain relevant. One of those tunes is “All You Fascists Bound To Lose” which Guthrie wrote back in 1942.
The song was recently reworked by the Resistance Revival Chorus and Rhiannon Giddens. The tune appears on the Resistance Revival Chorus debut album This Joy.
The Resistance Revival Chorus features more than 70 women and non-binary singers who formed in the wake of the 2017 Women’s March. Since then the group has been involved in numerous activist causes, following Guthrie’s example of using music as a tool for social change.
Giddens, a talented multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter is also no stranger to using her art to speak out on important issues. Her role as musical archivist and historian needs to be acknowledged as well. She often relates the overlooked stories that tend to get whitewashed. She also is helping to reclaim music traditions and genres in which black musicians were influential in developing, but rarely get the credit for.
This galvanizing collaboration is a powerful reminder of the role music continues to play in combating fascism. The weapon of choice could be a guitar, banjo, a voice, or any other instrument. It’s refreshing to see that we have an army of musicians playing their part in helping to defeat fascists.
Brings back memories. It also reminds me there is much work to still be done.
Loved hearing this.