There was more truth in the first two minutes of "We Can't
Make It Here", than there was in eight months of a presidential election campaign. The raw truth is often hard to digest at first. Even for those of us who seek it most ....

Not a very exp. computer user!!!!!!!!! But mainly want to thank all people involved with singing, writing, producing James McMurtry CD CHILDISH THINGS. So not an inquiry Just a big Thank-U. The CD coincides with the unfortunate events of my life and i find it very comforting. My place of employment for the past 7 yrs. will close at the end of this year. Whirlpool didn't offer me enough to keep producing the Maytags until then so I took a job 3 wks ago. I now earn a little over(pennies) half my Maytag income. My oldest son is currently in training so he can join our troops already in Iraq. Thank-you for CHILDISH THINGS I'm so glad I got it. And I forgot NPR---I never would have known James McMurtry if it weren't for NPR!!!!!!

-

Sirs

"We Can't make It Here" is a great song by a great singer/writer. The website calls it "anti-Bush" which is an inaccurate blame funnel for the present state of the economy. Globalism has killed my business, and Bush is a Globalist (no doubt) but the real culprit is the former Clown-In-Chief, Mr. Clinton. His total ignorance of economics and lust for political monies led him to sign NAFTA, GATT, and First Nation Trading Status for China. Four previous presidents attempted the same thing, but were cut down by a more erudite Congress. Mr. McMurtry's song does a great job reflecting the results of this stupid legislation--and I am no fan of rock star politicizing--but let's lay the blame with the true perpetrator.

That being said, I, like many, have been captivated by the raw strength of Mr. McMurtry's performances. My wife and I have traditionally gifted each other with music as a Mother's/Father's-Day offering and this year, for Father's Day, I asked for the "Childish Things" collection. The title cut rings very true for me, reflecting my own break with childish things, mainly a thirty-two year drug habit, of which I am now proudly two years' clean. However, while shopping your disc at our local ChinaMart, she could not remember your name, only recalling that it was "Mc-something..." I now own a CD by a truly ghastly and disturbing British band called "McLusky". I'm not even sure it's music... I was going to return it but checked out their website first. When I read that "the spaces between the songs" were the disc's highlight, of course I had to open it. I now possess the power to clear an entire household of unwanted guests...

Rick

-

I just heard "Can't make it here anymore" on our local college station -- WWUH.org at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. It's one of the best damn songs I have heard in a long time. One of the few songs that captures the reality and rage of working class folks living in this rotting, greedy society. Why do we even wonder why kids are taking guns to school or getting high by asphyxiating themselves or getting pregnant at age 13 when the only thing they can hope for is winning the lottery? Precisely because your song deserves to be heard by every American, it is pretty much guaranteed that it won't be. Keep up the good work!

Peter Goselin
Hartford, Connecticut

-

James McMurtry's song 'We Can't Make It Here" was played on New Zealand National Radio this morning. I was paralysed and could hardly breathe until it was finished. I was raised on Pete Seeger ('Talking Union') and Woody Guthrie. Mr McMurtry not only as good as Woody Guthrie - when he had a beautuiful voice and passion - but adds in extended poetry of Arlo Guthrie ('Alice's Restauant').

How did I not know that Mr McMurtry existed?

You may have too many emails to even read this, but I assume the 'shits' were not bleeped on the album - but by our prudish National Radio. I wan't to find out and say something as it was part of the beauty and power of the song. Hey! I want to protest!

Emily Flynn
Dunedin, New Zealand

-

I'm 59 (a teacher for about 30 years with two children, a wife, and a home) and just happened to hear the song "We Can't Make it Here" on the radio. I was able to download it from your website.

I'm not a big rock or country fan, but I know when I have heard something remarkable.

Books have been written about the dysfunction of our society: deindustrialization, out sourcing, the plight of the working poor, the high divorce rate, increase in number of single parents, the hypocrisy of our politicians and so called "leaders". But, in the few and simple words of this song, all that is expressed in a direct and moving way.

So much of what I hear on the radio is bland and banal. It doesn't move or inspire me. There has been a "Closing of the American Mind" in my lifetime along with the utter breakdown of community. Our hearts have also been closed.

Thanks for the song

-

Hi,

This morning I was driving down to the base for my last day of work (I'm a former naval officer, today I was signing out on terminal leave) and Mr. McMurtry's song "We Can't Make it Here" came on WHUS, my favorite music station.

Just want to say thanks for summing up 50 % of the reasons why I resigned my commission. And in a very listenable way! Northampton's a long way to go with the price of diesel what it is, but I'll try to catch the show up at the Iron Horse.

All the best

Alan Harrison

-

Dear James,
You song ‘We Can’t Make It Here Anymore’ is a gift of raw truth to a country soaked in it’s own denial. These lyrics have moved me to tears.

Paraphrasing the famed Dr. Wayne Dyer, ‘Nothing is more powerful than an idea who’s time has come.’ Such is your song.

More than any other songwriter since Woody Guthrie, have I heard such lyrical-punch poking at the ills of our society.

I hope this song becomes the great social-protest song of our times. We need this song sang by the every-man and women from the stages of every festival, street corner, open mic night, local bar, commuter train, public rally and concert sound-system until the rich wake up and take notice!

Thank you

Chami
Chicago,IL=

--
I just wanted to let James know how touched I am by his music and especially “We Can’t Make It Here”.

I live in Chicago and heard his song on WXRT. I have not purchased a CD in ages- but as soon as I heard

the song I knew I had to have the CD.

Keep up the good work- we may in the minority-but there those of us who ABSOLUTELY agree with James.
Sincerely, Ann

--

Hello my name is Josh West, I am writing to you about your song "we can't make it here". I am from Oklahoma and love the red dirt music scene and have been a fan from the start. What pisses me off is this pussy ass song talking about soldiers, coming from a f*cking liberal yankee who has never served his country.

Don't voice your opinions through a soldiers outlook, why don't you go talk to some soldiers and ask them how they feel. I have been to Afghanistan and Iraq and in October of 2003 I was shot 3 times and I find this song offensive and a discrace to soldiers. So f*ck you Mr. James McMurtry, and God Bless Boland, CCR ,Randy Rogers and the real Red Dirt Bands out there. I'm sure James will never see this , but it was worth a shot.

Josh

( webmaster's note: Thanks for your candid remarks. All emails to the site do eventually make it to James. We feel that one of the most important aspects of this song is its ability to open up dialogue on current issues. Therefore, we are anxious to hear ideas, both pro and con.)

--
My union brother Gary Judy emailed me about you! I appreciate folks with passion like he has!

Many thanks to James Mcmurtry for penning that song. Our friends at 88.9 WDBM are to be commended for playing the song on their "Torch and Twang" show on Tuesday nights. That is where I first heard it and promptly called Doug on the show about it. I went out and bought it the next day at Elderly Instruments in Lansing. I wish all the other stations would play that song.

I did a write up about the song in on our "Life on the Line" newsletter, 11-15-05 edition for UAW602. Check it out at www.local602.org It's archived from a couple weeks ago, and please sign up for our Legislative Update which comes out about every two weeks.We have a Legislative Committee of twenty five passionate folks committed to winning back some of our gov. next fall. That song keeps me fired up and I play it on the car stereo on our way down to a little place called Grass Lake MI to support the heroic members of UAW660.

These guys are American Heroes for standing up for their pensioners, many who are WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Vets and their surviving spouses. Tenneco sought to take ALL their meager pensions and these guys took 'em to court and won. Retribution has been relentless and they have been forced out on strike now for 7 months... With bush in power, working folks have their backs to the wall...
In Solidarity
Lyle Birchman
UAW602 Legislative Chair

--
I don't think I agree with all your political views, but I completely defend your right to have them and express them as you wish. And I don't plan to ever smash your CDs or boycott your music, even if I do disagree with you. Bottom line is, your music and lyrics are just too damn good. Whether I agree with what you say or not, at least the things you have to say provoke me to consider different viewpoints. So I'll keep an open mind, and who knows--maybe you will sway my views just a little.
~Marie

--
This is a truly great old-school protest song; I wish it were on the radio 24/7. Truth radiates from every word; it's a truly marvelous piece of work, and it has made my day today.

Please express my appreciation to James for recording this fantastic piece of work, and let him know that there are still plenty of people out there who have yet to become brain-dead, boot-licking zombies who know the truth when they hear it. I'm waiting for the next installment, and the one after that. These days, we need songs like this one now more than ever.

Congratulations, James, and keep speaking the truth!

Most sincerely,
Tarheel Dan

--
Dear, Sirs/Ma'ams,
Just got my hands on Childish Things, having heard parts on WFPK here in Louisville. Thank God some stations aren't Top 40 bound!  Can't Make It Here has got to be one of the most chillingly accurate assessments of our current state ever put to music. Chills up my spine and tears down my face every time I play it, which is often. Just wanted to let Mr. McMurtry know how much I appreciate his message. My wife works in Community Services, taking care of those who need help and fall through the cracks. A copy of the words to this song will soon grace the wall of her office as a focal point in the battle against want in our country. Again, thanks.
 
Yours,
Rodney Harrison

--

hello,
First let me say i have been an avid fan of Mr. McMurtry's since Too long in the wasteland. Many is the time i scoured music stores for any sign of his work in the hope that I could find new music and keep up with his career. I have noticed as his career has progressed his songs have gotten darker. I have always felt a special connection to Mr. McMurtry's songs and they have helped me make through some very hard times. I hope to someday see him in person and maybe talk with him about life as a fellow Texan and artist. However, I have to take him to task on his new song, We Can't Make it Here.

First, James McMurtry has made it here. This country offers him the freedom to do what he loves and make a good living doing it. I also have been afforded many opportunities in America that other countries do not allow it's citizens to have. As a veteran I take offense to the fact that he seems to believe the war in Iraq is over oil. Come now Mr. McMurtry, surely you are more intelligent than to believe the nightly news and the talking heads of liberalism. The war on terror is one that must be fought and won in the middle east. As a veteran I feel a personal loss with every death that occurs in war, "a soldier, above all, prays for peace", unfortunately we must sometimes fight and die for that peace and as soldiers and airmen that is our job. Now I fully realize that as an American you have the right to say and believe whatever you wish. I just sometimes wonder if artists such as yourself truly understand how your words can affect others. There are people who take everything an artist, actor or news person says, as gospel. If as you suggest the war was simply over oil, we could have and would have ended it a long time ago. I hope and pray that as a society we have not become so jaded that we cannot believe in the high ideals our country was founded upon; Ideals such as freedom and the pursuit of happiness and the right to worship as you please and have free speech and all the other privileges that we as Americans simply take for granted. I have seen what life under a brutal dictator is like first hand; believe me when I tell you that the people of Iraq would much rather have America helping them to become a free and democratic society than to live under a regime where speaking your mind or writing and recording "We can't make it anymore" would get them tortured and killed.

In conclusion I would simply like to say that I am disappointed that you feel this way about a great albeit flawed nation, which has provided you, me and others with such a great way of life and boundless opportunities. Yes, as a nation we have made mistakes, there is no such thing as a perfect war. But, ask yourself this question, Would you rather have our heroes fight over there for peace, or wait at home for something else to blow up and kill thousands more innocent Americans.

Thank You,
Your Biggest Fan
Crazycajuntattoo

--
I just returned a copy of "Childish Things" I ordered from Amazon.com. after hearing some of the songs.  "We Can't Make It Here" is just too mean-spirited.  I really love most of your writing, and the guitar playing is very creative, but I can't enjoy songs that demean the best, and most generous, nation in the world.  What we don't need here is more devisiveness.  What don't you write a song about that?

--
Hello, For the first time, I heard James the other night on XM radio. He blew me away! He hit the nail right on the head, with We Can't Make it Here Anymore. To me, he is the Red Sovine of today. Red Sovine, in my words, was THE BEST song writer EVER, until now! James's music is simple, but powerfull, kind of like the Eagles. Today, I bought James album, Childest Things, I wanted to thank him, I think this is just what the good old USA needs, a wake up call. I drive a truck for a living, and listen to music for hours at a time, everynight, this is the best music, I think I've ever heard. I hope I can see James live one day, to shake his hand, and thank him in person. I live in Falling Waters, WV, if he ever gets close to here, pleae let me know. Keep up the good work.
Jerry Rogers

--
I love this song. I'm not at all surprised that it's NOT played on any of the Clear Channel radio stations...(Censored, like the Dixie Chicks) This problem with jobs going overseas is far more extensive than just Bush and his group of "chicken hawk" cronnies. It's a direct result of Corporate control of our congress. As long as our elected officials can be " bribed" with campagin contributionswe'll have more of the same. To those who continue to believe everything they see and hear on Fox News or any of the Clear Channel affilliates... You are being brainwashed with propaganda. NO small wonder that not a word was mentioned on NBC,ABC or FOX when the Senate voted just this month to continue the tax incentive to companies that send jobs overseas. Giving them every reason to create jobs in China... Where does the tax money come from to support our infrastructure ???

In 74 after serving in the Army I could get a factory job easily for 10-12 dollars / hour. That job easily supported me with a job, car, groceries and some left over to play. Today, if you can find a job, it pays about the same or less. While the cost of living has soared. That is why we can't fund schools... pay for Social Security... Yet we spend Seven times what the rest of the world combined spends on military build up. We downsized our Nuclear armament to only 9,000 nuclear bombs. Wouldn't just 9 be enough??? It's Corporate control... they even control who we can elect.

How was it an AWOL Bush beat out a respected veteran like John McCain... Bush tells us that we need to " bring people in to do the jobs that Americans don't want to do" ... Well let me say that here in Santa Cruz, there are about a hundred mexicans standing in front of the lumber yard ready to do those jobs that Americans don't want to do for 7 dollars an hour! That's exactly what my first construction labor job paid back in 1974...

Make corporate bribery of our congress/ president illegal.

Thank You... I hope every american can have the "freedom" to hear this song one day soon.
JIM MARTIN

--
Mr. McMurtry has his finger on the pulse of what's really happening in America. I am proud that someone is not afraid to voice his opinion (the truth) and surprised at one so young grasping the situation.

I would like to put forth a recommendation for either adding to this song (We Can't Make It Here). I've been closely watching and listening. China is talking about leading the New World Order. I find that no matter what I shop for 99 percent of the merchandise comes from China. I will never buy 'Made In China.' The Chinese are putting themselves in a position to buy ammunition (such as war heads) to specifically use against us. At the moment, China is trying to bring us down economically through manipulation of our money (2 Senators have a bill they are trying o put through congress to prevent this) and with 'our' money buy the tools with which to wipe us out.

I can see their infiltration through our schools, through our stores and through our president (he sold them our debt). Very frightening. I didn't know if Mr. McMurtry was aware of the china issue or not, but wanted to inform him since he is so understanding of the state of the world affairs against America.

Thank you for listening.
~J. W., FL

--
Please thank James for writing "We Can't Make It Here...." I run a program for low-income people in rural Wisconsin and can tell you first hand how this administration continues to wage a calculated war on the poorest and most vulnerable among us. Where's the outrage? It takes courage to stand up and speak out - to be branded unamerican. Keep speaking out, add verses to that sucker, sing it loud and often!! Make damn sure it's on the next album. Take care.
~ DS, WI

--
Hey! Just want to say that we love "We Can't Make It Here". We're part of a strong union family and we try to buy U.S.A. goods and support U.S. workers whenever possible. We also try to share that philosophy with our acquaintances.
~ LM

--
Dear James,

I've been enjoying your music since about when you got some coverage on KPIG in northern California. Great stuff and do please keep on making music.

About "Can't Make it Here," it rings true to me. I have an MBA and a background in economics and financial strategy from one of the top schools in the USA where I taught for many years, and I've also been CEO of a successful start-up company. We are killing America with our corporate greed. Sending jobs from our shores is poisoning our chances of having any level of economic vitality. Producing cheaper goods does us no good if the people living here can't afford them. I can't understand why corporate executives and politicians won't recognize reality, when you can. Please keep singing this one!
~ DS

--
"Truly is a great song. The good thing about it is that it deals with issues."

---
My wife and I were working on our house today listening to Acoustic Cafe on WNCW 88.7 FM out of spindale North Carolina, when "Can't Make it Here" came on.

Later we drove to the nearest and newest Big Box Home Improvement Store to purchase addtional materials for this project. This Big Box Store was built this year right next door to a closed industial plant that used to employ about 1000 people from the area around the town of Brevard, NC.

In the past three years a total of a thousand industrial jobs were lost in this county of about 20,000. The Big Box Store is literally in the shadow of the plant that paid it's employee's twice what they're now earning now with no union and fewer benefits, of course.

The plant was sold and dismantled in a complex scheme to avoid the costly environmental cleanup required because of the unscrupulous operation of the plant under the original ownership.

James' song really hit home, we're trying like hell to make it here.
~N H

---
"Wow! What a powerful and truthful song!"

---
"I just listened to it, tears rolling down my cheeks, he did it again, captured my feelings and alot of peoples' to the core, and with great timing on week before the election, it's a great day, it will get air play because it needs to be heard."

---
"We Can't Make it Here" named one of the top 10 favorite protest songs on www.sharkbitten.com

---
James
you lost my respect. Every time I pay money to go see you in concert, I don't pay money to hear you campaign for the democratic party or bash the President (basically.) I am a proud supporter of our President and the Republican party! If you want to express your political views, please don't do it at your shows, you have offended me and many other young folks who go to UT, and my family to whom I introduced your music and name to ........we enjoy your music (that isn't about bashing the United States or the President or the war.) I think you have been watching to much of Michael Moore and his ignorant, heavy biased movies.

Sure you have freedom of speech, but I don't go to hear political
opinions or views, I go to hear good music that does not have anything to do with politics.

---
James:
YOU made it here!
I thought you really meant it, when you told us you were "Comfortable," and that you "Lead a Good Life." Perhaps you don't know what the hell you are talking about because you are "Not From Here," "You Come from Somewhere Far Away." Perhaps you should "Take That Garbage Somewhere Else."

It could be that this country "Got Ruined by Folks Like You." You could always go live in "Peidras Negras." I've been a fan since 1989. I have seen you 20 plus times in person. I have purchased every piece of music you have ever recorded (LPs included). I have turned literally hundreds of people on to your music as well as taken several of them to your shows.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO!!

My name is Mike Luna, I will not be anonymous. I love your music and probably always will. Who am I to " Pass Judgment, I Don't Dare." Take good care of yourself, Brother. I don't agree with you politically, but God forbid life without your music. By the way, "Wild man," I was the geek in the band "Doin the Best He Can to Play 'Smoke on the Water,' and 'Joy To The World.'" " I May Be Twisted, I May Be Sick," but I'm a fan for life!
MAL

---
"James,
I just heard your "Can't make it here anymore" song. That was just about the most idiotic self-righteous piece of non-sense I've ever heard. If you are working at minimum wage you are either a high school student or a loser with no job skills. If this country is so rotten and unfair why do millions of people come from other countries to live and work here. You sing about all the jobs being shipped overseas but refuse to see that all the excessive regulation and taxation is what drives them away.You whine about tax cuts for the rich, but you fail to acknowledge that tax cuts help create jobs every time its tried. I guess you wouldn't let the facts get in the way of a good sob story. I could go on but I'm sure you're screaming the "f" word at this letter by now, so I'll say good-bye and vote conservative and libertarian."

---
I think "We Can't Make it Here" a paints a pretty accurate picture of America, past and present. For those that like to say "well if you don't like it move to Canada" or some crap I would invite them to cruise around Easten North Carolina and see the abandoned houses rotting on the side of the road, the empty factories and other such nonsense that are the result of decades of policies that simply push one half of this country aside. Is it all Bush's fault? No, of course not and I don't believe your song says that. But he does subscribe to the same policies of those that came before him.

Who needs a tax cut that will bring them back one thousand a year out of their 20k a year salary when their kids have to sit in a school with outdated text-books and no working heaters? One comment suggested that regulation and other such government controls are what "drives business away" from this country. Well if countries like India are to be our example where government regulation of business is almost non-existant I guess we can all just start moving into the factories now and plan on 70 hours of work each week for a nickel an hour.

Its absurd to suggest that government regulation drives business out of this country, nothing is driving businesses away except their own greed. They want to make a shoe for 3 dollars and sell it for 80. They want their stocks to go up half a point. And they don't give a hot damn who they hurt in the process.

And Bush doesn't help, people like him will never help anything. Are we safer today than we were before we went to war with Iraq? Were we even in danger? You don't hear the mention of WMDs much anymore. I imagine its a bit of a moot point for most, because hell we're liberating Iraq now, not protecting ourselves. Well I don't care about liberating Iraq. I don't care one iota about one citizen of that country when I see everyday here the problems we face. Problems that we could begin to work on if people in this country would pull their heads out of their asses and realize that spending money we don't have on fighting wars to force idelogies on people that would rather die than to be "liberated" is pointless. Anyway, before I go any further, let me just say that I love the song and I hope to pick up your CD soon.

---
Always catch James when he comes through Seattle, and promote his music every chance I get. "We Can't Make It Here" is powerful. It grows on you, like all his music, and the repetitive chord progression is hypnotic, as a chant should be. The injustices he's observing are real and delivered in an uncompromising way. As always, James offers no solutions. Nor does he focus on blame. That would be preaching and not his style. But the fan responses that you've posted are curious and reveal more about the "fans" than they do about James, especially from folks who claim to love his music, but don't agree with his politics? Kind of odd, if you think about it. The person who thought James was "Comfortable" and that James "Leads a Good Life" obviously doesn't get his music at all, which is thickly ladled with irony. But then, these days, America is a few dollars short in the IQ department. As for only "high school students and losers working at Wal-Mart" - phew! What a jerk I'd gladly escort that bozo down to the nearest Wal-Mart and we'll ask the folks working down there where they come from, how much they get paid, where they live and what health benefits they enjoy. I imagine we'll find plenty of students working there ... as for "losers" well, that would have to be the person who wrote those comments.

Keep writing James

---
“We Can’t Make It Here”. 25 years from now, I will play this song for my grandkids and tell them this was the most accurate description of the American landscape at this point in time. Hated that the word “SHIT” was bleeped out on the download for “We Can’t Make It.” And most importantly, The Acoustic Version rules… It just seems more raw and personal, to me. Thank God someone wrote this song. I have told friends for years that James McMurtry is my generations’ Bob Dylan, as far as I’m concerned. I believe after playing the new tune for some of them, I have made some believers. After each successive album, I tell myself there is no way JM can write better material for the next one. And each time he proves me wrong… Can’t wait to hear the next album. Lights of Cheyenne (on the most recent live cd), and “We Can’t Make It Here” are JM’s best work to date… I’m nervous at the prospect of trying to endure 4 more years of present government. Hopefully JM will be around and continue to document it from his unique point of view.. Keep it up brother … and come back to Louisville.!!