Jesus and Woody

Album: The Prodigal Son (2018)
Play Video

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."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.