2008 Contemporary Folk/Acoustic Category

Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting

Welcome to my web site. My most recent CD is called One Wing Left and the songs on it are political in nature. This is a significant departure from Autumn Rain, which addressed various topics. The songs on the CD are listed below and available to download for free. The CD can also be purchased through CD Baby. Individual songs may be purchased from the iTunes Store.

I have also posted five songs which are not on either CD.

I Wouldn't Call It Love, Justice Denied, Sago Mine Disaster, It's War and The River is Risin' will be on my next CD.

To hear some clips from "Autumn Rain" please listen to the last three titles in the list: Rollin' by Mornin', Dreaming and I Miss Those Old Times.

With the election of Barack Obama, the long dark night of the Bush year's comes to an end. It is my fervent hope that Bush and his associates will be held accountable for their war crimes, and high crimes and misdemeanors. That would be justice.

The Obama administration represents an opportunity for Progressive voices to be heard and policies to be established that make sense. But, in order to be heard, we must speak up. The world is waiting for the United States to become a respected and respectful member of the international community and disavow the bullying of the Bush administration. If that happens, then some of the songs below may lose their relevance. I hope so. In the meantime.....

Road to Babylon calls attention to those drunk with power who cause so much suffering through their greed, ruthlessness and manipulation. And we all know what happened to Babylon.

Hard Road to Freedom is a tribute to the courageous men and women who worked, and continue to work, so hard for justice and peace.

One World expresses my belief that we have it in us to live in peace on this very small planet, the only home we will ever know.

New Orleans Under Water refers to the disaster following Hurricane Katrina. This catastrophe highlights the incompetence of the Bush Administration. And the suffering of the people of New Orleans goes on.

Playing His Part was inspired by a woman from a military family whose son was killed in Iraq and who has since become an outspoken critic of the war.

Red, White and Blue is written from the perspective of a homeless Vietnam Vet and calls attention to the governmental use of patriotism and religion to manipulate people into blindly following orders. Sound familiar?

Let's Bring Them Down is a call for the impeachment of President Bush and his criminal administration. They lie often and they lie big. I would like to see them held accountable.

GMO News humorously expresses my concern about genetically modified organisms and crops. I don't trust industry to be honest about the safety of altered crops. Do you?

Brown-skinned Girl is a reflection on the plight of undocumented workers. American agriculture and industry have used wave after wave of immigrants to do the back-breaking, dirty jobs at the bottom of the economic ladder. Surely we owe them more than razor wire at the border and deplorable conditions once they get here. Solutions lie in a world where people can make decent livings in their home countries. NAFTA is part of the problem, not the solution.

A Dove In Every Hand was inspired by the anti-war marches in San Francisco before the invasion of Iraq and is a tribute to the Peace Movement. We were right about Vietnam and we are right now. War does not lead to peace.

Rich Man's World was written just after the protests in Seattle and reflects my concern about the concentration of power in the hands of corporations and the wealthy. On-going resistance to globalization in the form of the WTO, the World Bank, the IMF, and other institutions and trade policies is essential. This song is a call to non-violent action.

Slaughter of Innocents was written just after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is an effort to call attention not just to the tragedy but to an exploration of the underlying reasons for it. Apprehending those responsible and locking them up is critical. And it is important that we look at the impact of American policies and actions on the world and change those which exploit or harm others.

Darkness is an anti-war song and, given the military focus of our government's foreign policy, all too relevant. I believe that the "war on terrorism" is just an excuse for sending yet more American kids into battle while the real goal is empire and oil. It is not the soldiers who profit and it is not just soldiers who die.

I Wouldn't Call It Love addresses the issue of codependence. If you know someone who gives and gives to someone who takes and takes, this song is for them.

Justice Denied concerns police brutality and racial profiling. Images of Rodney King being beaten were certainly the most visible incident, but the history of such events is a long and sordid one. This song was inspired by the story of an Hispanic man released from prison after seventeen years on Death Row for a crime he didn't commit. Police perjured themselves and destroyed evidence. The prosecutor was aware of witnesses and evidence that refuted his conviction. Neither the officers involved nor the prosecutor were ever held accountable for what they did.

On January 2, 2006 an explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia left twelve men dead. But this was not an isolated incident. There is a long and tragic history of similar events in mines all over the world. And, while the cameras roll, promises are made about taking action and improving safety but little seems to change.

The River is Risin' is a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Shortly before he was assassinated, Dr. King gave a speech called Beyond Vietnam at the Riverside Church in New York. He spoke about the connections between corporate power, poverty, the war, race and empire. It was extraordinary and put him on a collision course with those in power. And then came Memphis. If we change Vietnam to Iraq, the speech is every bit as relevant today as it was then. You can find it on-line and listen to it.

Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. These names conjure up one of the ugliest aspects of the current administration's policies, the brazen authorization and use of torture, kidnapping and illegal detentions in the so-called war on terror. Prisoners have been held for years without being charged or tried, denied the right of habeas corpus. It's War calls attention to this criminal situation.

I have also written a poem, Owed To George W, which I hope you will read and pass along. Click here to read the poem.

If activist organizations are interested in my music and would like me to play at an event, I encourage them to contact me.

Here are some sites you can visit to get involved with the peace movement.

United for Peace and Justice

Sonoma County Peace and Justice

MoveOn.org

Global Exchange

It is unlikely that these songs will be played on mainstream radio stations. I encourage you to pass them along to alternative stations, organizations, and friends who might appreciate them. Or give them my web address and they can access them here.

Someone once told me that music prepares the soul to hear the message and I keep that in mind as I write. I hope you will find my music meaningful and that it will touch you in some way.

Thanks for your interest.

Moss Henry

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