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From the Twittersphere: Peace, Love, and Rock 'n' Roll

by Jeannie Choi 03-31-2009 | 2:30pm
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It was the cover that caught my attention. Rolling hills of farmland in lush green and yellow. So simple, yet so attractive. As I looked carefully at the CD cover of 40 Acres by Caedmon's Call while standing in my town's Christian bookstore, I decided I'd take a chance and buy it. I'm so glad I did. That album remains on my list of top 10 best Christian albums, hands down. Today, the band has come a long way, and so has its former leader, Derek Webb, who left the band to pursue a solo career. His solo albums, such as Mockingbird and She Must and Shall Go Free, showcase a talented singer-songwriter with a heart for justice.

I was thrilled to see that Sojourners featured Webb and other Nashville-based musicians in its most recent issue. (Check out the article about Nashville's songs of justice here, as well as free mp3 downloads from Derek Webb and Ashley Cleveland.) It made me wonder if our friends in the twittersphere knew of any other musicians who write and sing about social justice issues. So I asked them, "April's issue of Sojo magazine is about justice-minded musicians. Know any artists who sing eloquently about justice? Share them with me!" As always, our amazing followers on Twitter really came through. Below are just some of their fabulous recommendations. Check them out, and add to the list in the comments section. Let's support these artists brave enough to write and sing about peace, love, and justice.

LukeStory@Sojourners. Are you including Mewithoutyou? You should.

shanemagee@Sojourners. rik leaf from winnipeg is great on these issues and is very politically and socially involved. check him out.

dtatusko@Sojourners. king's x has always had a justice-related theme on each album. from the song "king," 2 the gospel infusions on '08s album "xv."

andilit@Sojourners. John Francis from Philly, Richard Shindell, Dar Williams - hope that helps.

erinwarde@sojourners. Derek Webb

btaylor1978@Sojourners. http://derekwebb.com

Marciegee@Sojourners. I always thought Green Day was nice and subversive about the LACK of justice, hah!

ninja_emily@Sojourners. Lila Downs

afmarble@Sojourners. Two of my favorite artists are Justin McRoberts and Derek Webb - both do a nice job of writing & singing lyrics about justice

drewmurphy@Sojourners. musicians that have inspired me include: Ben Harper, Bob Dylan, Bright Eyes, Rage Against the Machine & Arcade Fire

tmamone@Sojourners. Check out Jordan Page: www.jordanpagemusic.com

JosephPMathews@Sojourners. Derek Webb. "My Enemies are Men Like Me," "Rich Young Ruler," "This Too Shall Be Made Right"

bethanyhoangIcon_lock@sojourners. sara groves and lamont hiebert! also live jubilee

rvayp@Sojourners. phil baquie, plays with sonicflood now. He's worked with mission of mercy for a long time

flagstaffrev@sojourners. also check out Bread for the Journey, an elca global music group promoting justice and peace in minneapolis. hope it helps.

whitneyhill@Sojourners. check out the cobalt season.

jlhowerton@Sojourners. Jesse Butterworth...his song "I will be the One..."

nieuprovoker@Sojourners. you won't hear much about him, but Jeff Semple can turn a lyric and sing for justice with best of them. I'll send info if need.

SusanLS@Sojourners. Common Cup Company, a group of Canadian ministers, have some amazing justice songs. Check them out. Google will get you there.

To follow Sojourners on twitter, go to https://twitter.com/Sojourners.

Jeannie ChoiJeannie Choi is an assistant editor at Sojourners.

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by: thrutheson

03-31-2009 @ 10:05pm

Yeah, I 2nd that! U2 not getting a nod is a hard pill to swallow! I would throw in off the top of my head, Michael Franti, John Lennon and the Clash.

by: neuro_nurse

03-31-2009 @ 10:21pm

What - no Stooges?!

Sorry, if it wasn't for Johnny Cash, my appreciation for 'Christian' music would end with J.S. Bach.

by: squeaky

03-31-2009 @ 11:05pm

I do have to say I appreciate Switchfoot's music quite a bit.

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 12:36am

If it doesn't get played on WWOZ (the greatest radio station in the Universe - the real reason I moved back to New Orleans!), there's little chance I'll hear it.

by: SisterMarie

04-01-2009 @ 10:27am

Johnny Cash was one of the last real country music stars before that genre became dominated by city-boy sissies.

by: Palosaari

04-01-2009 @ 12:49pm

Servant, the band that was part of the commune I grew up in, was fiercely committed to social justice issues, in the 70s and 80s, before it folded. We sang of "giving a cup of water in the name of the Lord/you need to give away all the things that you have stored/too much time spent thinking on ourselves/when all around us, people crying out for help" and "I'm walking in shallow water/no depth to what I do". Other songs spoke against war, predicting 10 years before the first Gulf War "Look out, Babylon/where the oil flows the most/is where the tension lies". Our regular commitment to justice issues- and calling the Church to return to social justice and pacifism- often landed us in hot water with various churches.

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 2:22pm

For Christmas, my wife gave me the 2-DVD set of music from the Johnny Cash TV show. I was interested to see some of the rock musicians and groups that are on it, but was surprised to find how much I enjoyed some of the country musicians

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 10:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 8:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 8:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott

by: joiningtheconversation

03-31-2009 @ 3:47pm

um, U2. I hear they get some play on the ra-di-o. how did that not get in there? :)

and Robbie Seay Band. "Rise" (People of love, rise.)- to name one song from a slew.

And that GreenDay-U2 song, "The Saints are Coming" is a fave at out house- esp with our kids (who are 3 and 5).

grace and peace-

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 10:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott

by: thrutheson

03-31-2009 @ 10:05pm

Yeah, I 2nd that! U2 not getting a nod is a hard pill to swallow! I would throw in off the top of my head, Michael Franti, John Lennon and the Clash.

by: neuro_nurse

03-31-2009 @ 10:21pm

What - no Stooges?!

Sorry, if it wasn't for Johnny Cash, my appreciation for 'Christian' music would end with J.S. Bach.

by: squeaky

03-31-2009 @ 11:05pm

I do have to say I appreciate Switchfoot's music quite a bit.

by: joiningtheconversation

03-31-2009 @ 3:47pm

um, U2. I hear they get some play on the ra-di-o. how did that not get in there? :)

and Robbie Seay Band. "Rise" (People of love, rise.)- to name one song from a slew.

And that GreenDay-U2 song, "The Saints are Coming" is a fave at out house- esp with our kids (who are 3 and 5).

grace and peace-

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 12:36am

If it doesn't get played on WWOZ (the greatest radio station in the Universe - the real reason I moved back to New Orleans!), there's little chance I'll hear it.

by: SisterMarie

04-01-2009 @ 10:27am

Johnny Cash was one of the last real country music stars before that genre became dominated by city-boy sissies.

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: Palosaari

04-01-2009 @ 12:49pm

Servant, the band that was part of the commune I grew up in, was fiercely committed to social justice issues, in the 70s and 80s, before it folded. We sang of "giving a cup of water in the name of the Lord/you need to give away all the things that you have stored/too much time spent thinking on ourselves/when all around us, people crying out for help" and "I'm walking in shallow water/no depth to what I do". Other songs spoke against war, predicting 10 years before the first Gulf War "Look out, Babylon/where the oil flows the most/is where the tension lies". Our regular commitment to justice issues- and calling the Church to return to social justice and pacifism- often landed us in hot water with various churches.

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 2:22pm

For Christmas, my wife gave me the 2-DVD set of music from the Johnny Cash TV show. I was interested to see some of the rock musicians and groups that are on it, but was surprised to find how much I enjoyed some of the country musicians

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: joiningtheconversation

03-31-2009 @ 3:47pm

um, U2. I hear they get some play on the ra-di-o. how did that not get in there? :)

and Robbie Seay Band. "Rise" (People of love, rise.)- to name one song from a slew.

And that GreenDay-U2 song, "The Saints are Coming" is a fave at out house- esp with our kids (who are 3 and 5).

grace and peace-

by: joiningtheconversation

03-31-2009 @ 3:47pm

um, U2. I hear they get some play on the ra-di-o. how did that not get in there? :)

and Robbie Seay Band. "Rise" (People of love, rise.)- to name one song from a slew.

And that GreenDay-U2 song, "The Saints are Coming" is a fave at out house- esp with our kids (who are 3 and 5).

grace and peace-

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: Giannii

03-31-2009 @ 7:49pm

test #giannii

by: thrutheson

03-31-2009 @ 10:05pm

Yeah, I 2nd that! U2 not getting a nod is a hard pill to swallow! I would throw in off the top of my head, Michael Franti, John Lennon and the Clash.

by: thrutheson

03-31-2009 @ 10:05pm

Yeah, I 2nd that! U2 not getting a nod is a hard pill to swallow! I would throw in off the top of my head, Michael Franti, John Lennon and the Clash.

by: neuro_nurse

03-31-2009 @ 10:21pm

What - no Stooges?!

Sorry, if it wasn't for Johnny Cash, my appreciation for 'Christian' music would end with J.S. Bach.

by: neuro_nurse

03-31-2009 @ 10:21pm

What - no Stooges?!

Sorry, if it wasn't for Johnny Cash, my appreciation for 'Christian' music would end with J.S. Bach.

by: squeaky

03-31-2009 @ 11:05pm

I do have to say I appreciate Switchfoot's music quite a bit.

by: squeaky

03-31-2009 @ 11:05pm

I do have to say I appreciate Switchfoot's music quite a bit.

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 12:36am

If it doesn't get played on WWOZ (the greatest radio station in the Universe - the real reason I moved back to New Orleans!), there's little chance I'll hear it.

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 12:36am

If it doesn't get played on WWOZ (the greatest radio station in the Universe - the real reason I moved back to New Orleans!), there's little chance I'll hear it.

by: SisterMarie

04-01-2009 @ 10:27am

Johnny Cash was one of the last real country music stars before that genre became dominated by city-boy sissies.

by: SisterMarie

04-01-2009 @ 10:27am

Johnny Cash was one of the last real country music stars before that genre became dominated by city-boy sissies.

by: Palosaari

04-01-2009 @ 12:49pm

Servant, the band that was part of the commune I grew up in, was fiercely committed to social justice issues, in the 70s and 80s, before it folded. We sang of "giving a cup of water in the name of the Lord/you need to give away all the things that you have stored/too much time spent thinking on ourselves/when all around us, people crying out for help" and "I'm walking in shallow water/no depth to what I do". Other songs spoke against war, predicting 10 years before the first Gulf War "Look out, Babylon/where the oil flows the most/is where the tension lies". Our regular commitment to justice issues- and calling the Church to return to social justice and pacifism- often landed us in hot water with various churches.

by: Palosaari

04-01-2009 @ 12:49pm

Servant, the band that was part of the commune I grew up in, was fiercely committed to social justice issues, in the 70s and 80s, before it folded. We sang of "giving a cup of water in the name of the Lord/you need to give away all the things that you have stored/too much time spent thinking on ourselves/when all around us, people crying out for help" and "I'm walking in shallow water/no depth to what I do". Other songs spoke against war, predicting 10 years before the first Gulf War "Look out, Babylon/where the oil flows the most/is where the tension lies". Our regular commitment to justice issues- and calling the Church to return to social justice and pacifism- often landed us in hot water with various churches.

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 2:22pm

For Christmas, my wife gave me the 2-DVD set of music from the Johnny Cash TV show. I was interested to see some of the rock musicians and groups that are on it, but was surprised to find how much I enjoyed some of the country musicians

by: neuro_nurse

04-01-2009 @ 2:22pm

For Christmas, my wife gave me the 2-DVD set of music from the Johnny Cash TV show. I was interested to see some of the rock musicians and groups that are on it, but was surprised to find how much I enjoyed some of the country musicians

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 8:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 8:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 10:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott

by: packerschick

04-02-2009 @ 10:29pm

Another Nashville based artist singer-songwriter worth mentioning is Carey Ott. His music is positive & inspirational...and he's organizing a grass-roots campaign to promote community outreach, charity and volunteering.

http://www.myspace.com/careyott