Jesus and Woody

Album: The Prodigal Son (2018)
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Songfacts®:

  • Ry Cooder is not a religious man but his 2018 album The Prodigal Son is a collection of devotional songs inspired by his love of gospel music and hymns. This track is probably closer to Ry's own beliefs, a personal tribute to one of his heroes, Woody Guthrie, delivered solo. It offers homage to the mid 20th century folk singer's songs and his fight against fascism.
  • Asked by Uncut how "Jesus and Woody" arrived, Ry Cooder replied: "Woody had a hard bitten optimism, and after World War II, people believed that fascism had been defeated, that people would be kind, as Jesus likewise hoped. But a song This Land Is Your Land is the opposite of what is going on right now."

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