James Sullivan
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sullivanjames.bsky.social
James Sullivan
@sullivanjames.bsky.social
Books: comedy, music, sports, pants. Boston Globe arts and culture. Program director, NBPT Docu Fest. Journalism dep’t, Emerson College.

jamessullivanauthor.com
www.whichside.boston
SONG OF THE DAY: Ben Rector, “The Thanksgiving Song” #wsayo

'Cause we made it through, I do believe
The longest year in history
Thank God that it's Thanksgiving Day

“No, you probably won’t fight about politics at #Thanksgiving” (Axios)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwax...
Ben Rector - The Thanksgiving Song (Official Video)
YouTube video by Ben Rector
m.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Bobby Darin, "Talk to the Animals" #wsayo

And if you just stop and think of it
Ain't no doubt of it
I'm gonna win a place in history

"At pardoning ceremony, Trump informs #turkey of all he's accomplished" (WaPo)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sSX...
Talk to the Animals
YouTube video by Bobby Darin - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Pete Seeger, "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" #wsayo

We were waist deep in the Big Muddy
But the big fool said to push on

"Mark Kelly Under Pentagon Investigation for 'Illegal Orders' Video" (NYT)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXnJ...
Pete Seeger: Waist Deep in the Big Muddy
YouTube video by PopulistParty
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Jimmy Cliff, “World Upside Down” #wsayo

What's wrong with humanity?
Have they lost their sanity?

“Jimmy Cliff — Rest in Power (July 30, 1944-November 24, 2025)” (Reggaeville)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=tdaW...
World Upside Down (Live On Later...With Jools Holland, 2012)
YouTube video by JimmyCliffVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Young@Heart, “Road to Nowhere” #wsayo

And we're not little children
And we know what we want
And the future is certain
Give us time to work it out

“Protest music has no age limit — just ask the singers in Young@Heart” (Boston Globe)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=AQdh...
Young@Heart - Road to Nowhere
YouTube video by youngatheart chorus
m.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:28 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Yuri Shevchuk, “Pokhorony voyny (Funeral of War)” #wsayo

Sing about love, and it will happen
With all the land at war
We’ll arrange a funeral

#Ukraine allies voice concerns over US plan to end war” (BBC)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=V2cd...
Юрий Шевчук, Дмитрий Емельянов — Похороны войны
YouTube video by officialddt
m.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: The Mighty Sparrow, "Sedition" #wsayo

Incompetent idiots have genuine patriots
Always under escort in the sedition court

"Trump accuses some Democrats of #seditious behavior, suggests execution" (ABC News)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoEv...
Sedition
YouTube video by Mighty Sparrow - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: XTC, "Senses Working Overtime" #wsayo

My, my, the sky will cry
Jewels for the thirsty
And the guilty ones can all die slowly
All die slowly

"CDC webpage claims vaccines may cause #autism in latest RFK Jr.-era reversal" (NBC News)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjt7...
Senses Working Overtime (Remastered 2001)
YouTube video by XTC - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Plasmatics, "A Pig Is a Pig" #wsayo

Stupid, mean, and ugly
Down in the dirt where you go

"'Quiet, piggy': Trump responds to reporter after Epstein question" (BBC)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZwR...
A Pig Is A Pig
YouTube video by Plasmatics - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Radiohead, “The Butcher” #wsayo

Spare the gory details
Give them gift-wrapped for the man with everything

“Saudi crown prince to visit US for the first time since Khashoggi scandal” (CNBC)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=s6nm...
Radiohead - The Butcher
YouTube video by Radiohead
m.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Weezer, “The British Are Coming” #wsayo

One if by land, two if they come by sea
We’ll show ‘em we are the true sons of liberty

“PBS, defunded by Trump, says ‘we’re still here’ with big new Ken Burns documentary” (CNN)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=jGUP...
Weezer - The British Are Coming (Audio)
YouTube video by WeezerVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Rose Royce, “Car Wash” #wsayo

Work and work
My fingers to the bone
Can't wait 'til it's time to go home

“President of BU College Republicans appears to claim credit for Ice raid on Allston car wash” (Boston Globe)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0a...
Rose Royce - Car Wash (1976)
YouTube video by patel
m.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:12 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Dick Gaughan, “Workers’ Song” #wsayo

… And always the last when the cream is shared out
For the worker is working when the fat cat's about

“Starbucks union workers go on strike on busy Red Cup day” (BBC)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=DmwH...
Dick Gaughan - Workers' Song
YouTube video by Folk ABC - Americana, Blues, Country
m.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Sara Bareilles (ft. John Legend), “A Safe Place to Land” #wsayo

So say the Lord's Prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand

“Catholic Bishops Rebuke Trump’s Immigration Tactics in Rare Statement” (NYT)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht2N...
Sara Bareilles - A Safe Place to Land (Live at the Village) ft. John Legend
YouTube video by SaraBareillesVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:02 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Anne Feeney, “Have You Been to Jail for Justice” #wsayo

Have you sung a song for freedom or marched a picket line
Have you been to jail for justice
Then you're a friend of mine

“Russia jails teen musician over anti-war street songs a 3rd time” (AFP)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=SBwC...
Have You Been to Jail for Justice?
YouTube video by Anne Feeney - Topic
m.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Bruce Springsteen, “Born in the USA (Demo)” #wsayo

Went down to see the VA man
He said “Son, don’t you understand”

“Map and List of Cities Hosting Anti-Trump Protests on Veterans Day” (Newsweek)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=HcqZ...
Bruce Springsteen - Born In the U.S.A. (1982 Demo Version - Offical Audio)
YouTube video by BruceSpringsteenVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Sex Pistols, “Submission” #wsayo

I'm going down
You're dragging me down

“Senate Democrats cave, open path to reopening government”
(Fox News)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=qLSD...
Submission (Remastered 2007)
YouTube video by Sex Pistols - Topic
m.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Peter, Paul and Mary, "El Salvador" #wsayo

Everyone is innocent until they arrive in El Salvador

"'You Are All Terrorists': Four Months in a Salvadoran Prison" (NYT)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q3W...
El Salvador (2004 Remaster)
YouTube video by Peter, Paul & Mary - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:09 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Rise Against, “Prayer of the Refugee” #wsayo

Keep quiet no longer
We'll sing through the day
Of the lives that we've lost
And the lives we've reclaimed

“Feds Tell Faith Leaders ‘No More Prayer’ Outside Broadview Facility” (Block Club Chicago)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9-SQ...
Rise Against - Prayer Of The Refugee (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by RiseAgainstVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Burning Spear, “Not Guilty” #wsayo

The crime you want to charge I-man for
It's not possible, and I am not guilty
Mister and Miss Jury, use your discretion, I am not guilty

“Jurors Find Sandwich Hurler Not Guilty of Assault” (NYT)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=flZo...
Not Guility
YouTube video by Burning Spear - Topic
m.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:35 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Ronnie Dunn, “Cost of Livin’” #wsayo

I gave my last job everythin'
Before it headed south
Took the shoes off of my children's feet
Food out of their mouths

“Job cuts in October hit the highest level in decades” (Quartz)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=OWjk...
Ronnie Dunn - Cost Of Livin' (Official Video)
YouTube video by RonnieDunnVEVO
m.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:35 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Carsie Blanton, “You Ain’t Done Nothin’ (If You Ain’t Been Called a Red)” #wsayo

Our fight for liberation and as far as I can see
If that's what bein' Red is then it's good enough for me
said

“Trump Calls Mamdani ‘Communist’” (Business Today)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=OfQz...
You Ain't Done Nothing (If You Ain't Been Called a Red)
YouTube video by Carsie Blanton - Topic
m.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Bad Religion, “Let Them Eat War” #wsayo

We've got to kill 'em and eat 'em before they reach for their checks
Squeeze some blue collars, let them bleed from their necks

“Dick Cheney: Trump ‘can never be trusted with power again’” (Politico, 9/6/24)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=F4ng...
Bad Religion - "Let Them Eat War" (Full Album Stream)
YouTube video by Epitaph Records
m.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Dead Pioneers, “Working Class Warfare” #wsayo

No revolution is televised
Nothing hidden or disguised
The rich are getting richer, and we are not surprised

“Top 10 US billionaires’ collective wealth grew by $698B in past year” (Guardian)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=GxVt...
Working Class Warfare
YouTube video by Dead Pioneers - Topic
m.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
SONG OF THE DAY: Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, “Dancing in the Street” #wsayo

Way down in LA, every day…
They form a big strong line, get in time

“Tear Gas Deployed During Dodgers Fans’ Chaotic World Series Celebration” (iHeart)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvI...
Martha & The Vandellas "Dancing in the Streets"
YouTube video by Petr Wab
m.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM