The United States has traditionally been a safe haven for refugees the world over. Lately, our politicians have tried to alter that concept and the pandemic heightened the rhetoric on both sides of the issue. This week we’ll examine the subject of refugees and immigration in song. We’ll hear music from Darrell Scott, Diana Jones, Windborne, Michael Kiwanuka, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Noel Paul Stookey and others. “We have come this far by faith,” The Refugee Experience … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

LISTEN:

Artist/”Song”/CD/Label

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways
Sultans of String / “Refuge” / Refuge / Self-produced
Darrell Scott / “American Tune” / Modern Hymns / Appleseed-Full Light
Diana Jones / “Song to a Refugee” / Song to a Refugee / Goldmine
Oliver Schroer / “The Morning Star” / Hymns and Hers / Borealis
Windborne / “The Terror Time” / Recollections and Revolutions / Wand’ring Feet

Barbara Dane / “Deportees (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” / Classic Folk Music / Smithsonian Folkways
Si Kahn / “Companera” / Companion / Appleseed
Joan Baez / “I Shall Be Released” / Any Day Now / Vanguard
Sultans of String / “El Bint El Shalabeya” / Refuge / Self-produced

Murray McLauchlan / “Lying By the Sea (for Alan Kurdi)” / Hourglass / True North
Michael Kiwanuka / “Rule the World” / Love & Hate / Interscope
Maria Dunn / “Malala” / Gathering / Distant Whisper
Sweet Honey in the Rock / “We Have Come this Far by Faith” / #LoveInEvolution / Appleseed
Noel Paul Stookey / “America, The Beautiful” / Just Causes / Neworld
Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer” (excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian
              Folkways