The argument was recently made to me that one should not mix music with politics, especially in the current political climate of the US, for two reasons. One, musicians generally don't know enough about politics and often oversimplify things, making themselves sound kind of dumb to anyone who does know, and two, it alienates a huge chunk of potential listeners.

To this I say: Hogwash.

Addressing point one, this may often be true. I've certainly heard quite a few political songs that greatly oversimplify a political situation and make ridiculous suggestions. But I've also heard some very well-crafted songs that deliver a message with a punch greater than any political speech could. Music has the ability to take words and give them teeth. It can send a message right past a person's intellectual nets and into their heart and soul. It can speak to people emotionally. When good words are matched with good music, the power of the words is amplified. This can make music an excellent form of propaganda on one hand, or an excellent way to deliver an emotional punch with a political point. Sure, most political songs may miss the mark, but it's worth it for the ones that hit it. If anything, I would say that music and politics are a natural match for one another, but like all marriages, it takes a delicate touch and a deep understanding to make it work well.

Addressing point two, I think it is safe to say that this has not played out as such over the years. Even a group like the Dixie Chicks, whose core audience is very red-state, didn't suffer much long-term grief from mixing what many would call "liberal" politics with their music (or with their live show, anyway). Sure, it's probably not a great idea for an upstart country western act to write songs about the perils of Christianity or libertarianism, and it's probably not a great idea for an upstart punk band to write songs about the value of loyalty to one's country and the right-mindedness of George Bush. But if you write the song well and make it more than just a partisan string of standard talking points, you can have a song that both deepens the appreciation of like-minded fans and doesn't really bother (or maybe even sways) some who are not like-minded. A person can't be afraid to stand for something. Those who stand for nothing do not forge strong alliances.

To me, music is an excellent way for me to express my opinions about the state of the world. When I write a political song, I try to put forth a viewpoint that I haven't heard before, at least not in song, or give a unique perspective. I don't want to create some litany of What's Wrong With The World. I want to tell a story that works with the music to put forth the idea much more powerfully. I don't want to tell people what to do. I just want to maybe make them think about what they do. To me (naturally, since it's my approach), this is a good way to approach writing political music.