This essay, on Oliver Anthony and the decayed tradition of working class protest song, was my Observer column this week. It was published on 20 August 2023, under the headline “The protest song that’s taken America by storm hits too many false notes”. There is mean things happening in this landOh the rich man boasts and bragsWhile the poor man goes in ragsThere is mean things happening in this land So runs the opening verse of John Handcox’s classic 1930s song “There […]

Categories: Class, Culture & Books • Tags: john handcox, liberal elite, oliver anthony, protest songs, rich men north of richmond, trade unions, working class, working class song