Good morning and thanks for joining me for a heaping helping of country that doesn’t call 911! The playlist today defines country broadly — we’ve got classic outlaw country in here, of course, but also old time and Southern folk and blues. This haters’ ball takes on not only policemen, but jailers, judges, and company bosses, too. From songs decrying the “gun thugs” hired by coal company bosses to violently oppress miners to songs musing on fantasy worlds bereft of policing; from songs about life in the carceral system to songs espousing the joys of defying cops just to run the roads and get high — it’s all in here. See you in two weeks!
You can listen to the archived recording of this episode here.
There is an extended playlist for this episode at this link that includes everything played in this episode plus a bunch more.
The music playing while I talk is all from the compilation My Rough and Rowdy Ways, Vol. 2 released by Yazoo in 1998.
Playlist for this episode:
Jim & Jesse, “Ballad of Thunder Road”
from Diesel On My Tail
Epic Records - 1967
Charley Crockett, “Blackjack County Chain”
from Welcome to Hard Times
Son Of Davy - 2020
The Spare Change Boys, “Policeman”
from Classic Old-Time Music from Smithsonian Folkways
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings - 2003
Kris Kristofferson, “The Law Is for the Protection of the People”
from The Cedar Creek Sessions
KK Records - 2016
Tom Paxton, “High Sheriff of Hazard”
from Ramblin' Boy
Elektra - 1964
Steve Earle, “Copperhead Road”
from Copperhead Road
Geffen - 2016
Reba McEntire, “The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia”
from For My Broken Heart
MCA - 1991
Jerry Reed, “East Bound and Down”
from East Bound and Down
RCA/Legacy - 1977
Asleep at the Wheel, “Hot Rod Lincoln”
from Hot Rod Lincoln
Country Music Group - 2013
Waylon Jennings, “Theme from "The Dukes of Hazzard" (Good Ol' Boys)”
from Music Man
Legacy Recordings - 1980
John Prine, “Illegal Smile”
from John Prine (Live)
Oh Boy Records - 1990
The Flying Burrito Brothers, “My Uncle”
from The Guilded Palace of Sin
A&M - 1969
Sturgill Simpson, “Call to Arms”
from Cuttin' Grass, Vol. 2 (Cowboy Arms Sessions)
High Top Mountain Records - 2020
Townes Van Zandt, “Pancho and Lefty”
from The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
Poppy - 1972
Colter Wall, “Thirteen Silver Dollars”
from Colter Wall
Young Mary's Record Co. - 2017
The Byrds, “Pretty Boy Floyd”
from Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Columbia/Legacy - 1990
Justin Townes Earle, “Appalachian Nightmare”
from The Saint of Lost Causes
New West Records - 2019
Tyler Childers, “Long Violent History”
from Long Violent History
Hickman Holler Records/RCA Records - 2020
Harry McClintock, “Big Rock Candy Mountain”
from Hallelujah! I'm A Bum
Rounder Records - 1981
Willie Watson, “Long John Dean”
from Folk Singer Vol. 1
Acony Records - 2014
Johnny Cash, “Folsom Prison Blues”
from The Cash Collection: The Mercury Years 1987-1991
Mercury Records - 2011
George Jones, “Life to Go”
from The Best of George Jones
Epic - 1975
Merle Haggard, “Branded Man”
from I'm a Lonesome Fugitive / Branded Man
Capitol Nashville - 2006
Lead Belly, “Midnight Special”
from The Library of Congress Recordings: Leadbelly - Midnight Special, Vol. 1
Rounder - 2006
Kilby Reeves, “County Jail / Long Lonesome Road”
from Ballads and Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Persistence and Change
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings/Folkways Records - 2004
Alice Gerrard, “Beaufort County Jail”
from Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard
Rounder - 1976
"Lightning" Washington and group, “Long Gone”
from Jail House Bound: John Lomax's First Southern Prison Recordings, 1933
Global Jukebox - 2012
Sarah Ogun Gunning, “I Hate The Company Bosses”
from A Girl of Constant Sorrow
Topic - 1965
Hazel Dickens, “They'll Never Keep Us Down”
from Hard Hitting Songs For Hard Hit People
Rounder - 1980
Florence Reece & The Almanac Singers, “Which Side Are You On?”
from Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings - 2006
Doc Watson, “Walking Boss”
from The Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley, 1960-1962
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings - 1994
Reel World String Band, “The Battle of Jericol”
from Coal Mining Women
Rounder - 1997
Johnny Cash, “This Side of the Law”
from I Walk the Line (Original Soundtrack Recording)
Columbia Nashville Legacy - 1970
Waylon Jennings, “Slow Movin' Outlaw”
from Wanted! The Outlaws (Expanded Edition)
RCA - 1974
Brad Paisley, “Mr. Policeman”
from 5th Gear (Bonus Track Version)
Arista Nashville - 2007
Hazel Dickens, “Are They Gonna Make Us Outlaws Again?”
from By The Sweat Of My Brow
Rounder - 1999
Highwaymen, “The Road Goes On Forever”
from The Road Goes On Forever (10th Anniversary Edition)
Liberty - 1995
John Prine, “That's How Every Empire Falls”
from Fair and Square EP
Oh Boy Records - 2005
