Challenging Classism

Back to Protest Music

Folk Songs

These songs depict the early rural culture that was dominated by working/ lower class individuals. Seeing as this culture has limited historical documentation, early folk songs offer important detailed information for many isolated and obscure rural regions. These songs preach opposition to bosses and government policy and also stress unification among workers. They can be categorized into two distinguishable groups:

• Working songs: these songs encourage pride in hard and dangerous labor. They make light of strenuous working conditions and inadequate pay. They were sung by the workers while at work.

• Expressions of discontent: These songs advocate aggressive labor unions and often challenged the outrageous economic demands of the Populists during the 1890’s.