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This is a blues-y lament reflecting the perspective of many soldiers, often young, poor or of color, who signed up for the military to help ensure themselves a future. The song riffs on military contractors and their lack of accountability; the dreadful care given our troops both during their terms of service and after suffering casualties; the frustrations shared by military families; and the patriarchal attitude fueling militarism at its root.  For all their talk of "supporting our troops," it seems amazing how little gas-guzzling right-wingers seem to actually care about the well-being of U.S. soldiers or their families.

Click here to see the lyrics.  Laila Shereen graciously produced a video featuring footage from the Operation Ceasefire in 2004, and here's another video featuring Jess Philie and I dropping the song from a hospital room in late 2006:

Artists on this track include:

• Kristen Arant: djembe, oboe, backing vocals, vocal arrangement
• Jessica Philie: lead and backing vocals
• Ken Quam: percussion and backing vocals
• Bomani "D-Mite" Armah: Production & sound engineering
  

Please feel free to download "The Baghdad Blues" subject to a Creative Commons License.

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