These songs stab you to the heart because they cover about 50 years of real people's joy and pain and struggle. This is not about Capitalism or Capitalists, who are hateful to be sure. But they are only men. What I hate is the SYSTEM that turns everyone and everything to one purpose: the bottom line. Dog eat dog. Gimme the money. The title song was written in the 30's by Sarah Ogan Gunning. Here's what Woody Guthrie had to say about her: "Sarah loved her husband. He's dead from hard work in the mines. She loved her baby that died of starvation. She loves the two she's still got, and she hates the system that wrecked her family. Hates the set-up that robbed her kids' mouths of food. Hates the guns of war that aim at her sons and daughters. Hates all those Big Crooks and Greedy Rich Folks; reason is because she Loves what She Loves, and she'll fight to protect her Home."
With Jesse (Nick) Cahn, guitar; Dave Ellman, drums; Pablo Menendez, guitar, blues harp; Robbie Merkin, piano; John Miller, bass; Andy Pitt, guitar; Tim Scott, cello; Maidine Yee, violin.
Originally issued as Paredon P-1014 ©1973. Remastered from original mastertapes. Reissued by permission of Smithsonian / Folkways Records.
Tunes: 1. I Hate the Capitalist System; 2. Lonesome Jailhouse Blues; 3. Detroit Medley; 4. Plane Wreck at Lost Gatos / Deportees; 5. Goodbye to Cold Winter; 6. A Single Girl; 7. Ludlow Massacre; 8. I Don't Want Your Millions, Mister; 9. Things Are So Slow; 10. Song of My Hands; 11. Bitter Rain; 12. Song of the Coat-Makers; 13. The Kent State Massacre; 14 Working Class Woman.