James McMurtry Giving Away New Protest Song On The Internet

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Fresh off winning 2006 Americana Song of the Year and Album of the Year accolades, James McMurtry has recorded a new political tune. Just in time for election season, "God Bless America", showcases more of the social commentary that made McMurtry's "We Can't Make It Here" an anthem for people unhappy with the current state of the union. "God Bless America" skewers the governmental powers that be with razor-sharp barbs that take the current administration to task for hiding its actual motives for war. "Gonna turn up the heat till it comes to a boil. So we can go get that Arab oil, " McMurtry sings.

McMurtry is making the rough mix of "God Bless America" available for free on hiswebsiteand at the link below. "I had meant to wait until I was finished overdubbing before putting this song out, but our brave legislators have once again outdone themselves in their acquiescence to the executive by passing the detainee bill, " said McMurtry. "We refer to foreign governments that employ all-powerful executive branches as dictatorships, but we're still supposed to think of our own government as democratic. I'm appalled at the spinelessness of Republican legislators. I guess they still think they'll be invited to the feast. They will be, but only if they continue to watch their mouths."

Described by Steven King as "the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation, " James McMurtry is the son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry . His first album, released in 1989, was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a series of critically acclaimed projects for Columbia and Sugar Hill. In 2003, McMurtry joined forces with Houston's Compadre Records and together they released the universally lauded Live in Aught-Three. His next Compadre album, Childish Things, garnered some of the highest critical praise of McMurtry's career and spent eight weeks at number one on R&R's Americana Music Radio Chart in 2005 and 2006. McMurtry won the Song of the Year and Album of the Year awards for "We Can't Make It Here" and Childish Things respectively at the 2006 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards.

"God Bless America" will appear on James McMurtry's as yet untitled new album, which he's currently recording in Austin. McMurtry and his band, The Heartless Bastards, will continue to tour the U.S. for the remainder of 2006.They play in Hollywood this Saturday, October 7 at Safari Sam's.

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