NPR’s Debbie Elliot speaks with nation music star Margo Worth, about her new file Days of Unrest.
Transcript
DEBBIE ELLIOTT, HOST:
Some folks suppose music and politics must be like oil and water, to not combine. Properly, not Margo Worth.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “MAGGIE’S FARM”)
MARGO PRICE: (Singing) No, I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no extra.
ELLIOTT: The singer, songwriter and nation star is a standout in outlaw nation, the rebellious pressure of Americana music identified for its potential to ship a message.
(SOUNDBITE OF MARGO PRICE SONG, “MAGGIE’S FARM”)
ELLIOTT: On the eve of america 250th day of independence, Worth dropped a brand new mixtape referred to as “Days Of Unrest.” It is a quick file of largely covers – Worth’s tackle a few of America’s strongest protest anthems. Worth says she wished to make one thing to satisfy the second.
PRICE: You realize, I feel our nation goes by way of some actually tough instances proper now, and I have been singing these songs everywhere in the United States, and other people in all places are singing alongside to songs like “Oval Room,” which is simply wild.
ELLIOTT: So this assortment is generally covers. You talked about Blaze Foley’s “Oval Room.” He wrote this music again in 1984 about then-President Ronald Reagan. However, , speaking to my colleagues right here after we listened to it, we had been like, oh, this sounds prefer it may have been written this yr, ? Let’s hear a bit.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “OVAL ROOM”)
PRICE: (Singing) In his oval room, in his rocking chair, he is the president, however I do not care. He is a enterprise man. He acquired enterprise ties. He acquired greenback indicators in each his eyes. Obtained a giant airplane…
ELLIOTT: I am curious – why covers? What was it – made you’re feeling like this music and a few of the others, these nice works of the previous, are prime on this second?
PRICE: I feel an excellent protest music is extremely difficult to write down. And, , every little thing that is occurring proper now, it is like, I am nonetheless processing what is going on on in actual time. However trying to the previous, trying to our historical past all the time helps us determine what is going on on proper now. And we have seen these patterns. We have seen this abuse of the frequent man and the division of wealth on this nation simply develop and develop. And so I am trying into songs into my previous to assist me course of what is going on on.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “OVAL ROOM”)
PRICE: (Singing) On the manufacturing unit, by no means been so sluggish. Obtained a giant fourth down, 99 to go.
You realize, “Oval Room” was written again in 1984. It simply felt cathartic to sing it. And it simply felt like one thing that wanted to be resurrected and preserve these songs residing and respiration so, , folks can have an anthem in the meanwhile once they want it.
ELLIOTT: There’s one other observe that actually drew me in – your cowl of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee’s (ph) (Airplane Wreck At Los Gatos).”
PRICE: Ah.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DEPORTEE (PLANE WRECK AT LOS GATOS)”)
MARGO PRICE AND JOAN BAEZ: (Singing) Goodbye, my Juan. Farewell, Rosalita. Adios, mis amigos, Jesus y Maria. You will not have a reputation once you experience the massive airplane.
ELLIOTT: You realize, we’re listening to Joan Baez there with you and also you two carried out this collectively only a few days in the past. Inform me about your relationship together with her and this music – this music, which is sort of 80 years outdated.
PRICE: I do know. This music – I feel it was the final lyrics that Woody Guthrie ever wrote. What’s occurring proper now with immigration and other people simply not getting due course of is simply so heartbreaking to look at.
And this music is one which’s been in my vernacular for a very long time. I noticed Joan carry out it on the “Rolling Thunder Revue” with Bob Dylan on a – , a VHS tape, and this was, like, once more, 20 years in the past. And so Joan is simply, like – she’s achieved so many issues for the trigger. She marched with Martin Luther King. She was there, , offering a soundtrack to “Onerous Occasions.”
And so I discovered a lot from her about how you can transfer gracefully and how you can take one thing that is occurring and simply shine a light-weight on it and perhaps sing about it in a means that may present folks a distinct aspect, would possibly give folks compassion.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DEPORTEE (PLANE WRECK AT LOS GATOS)”)
PRICE AND BAEZ: (Singing) All they’ll name you may be deportees.
PRICE: I really feel like everyone is forgetting that we’re all people. You realize, no person is illegitimate. No person is an alien. We’re all people.
ELLIOTT: You realize, how do you navigate being current in protest at present, despite the fact that that may be very dangerous for a Nashville star, proper?
PRICE: Yeah, I undoubtedly am going in opposition to the grain in the case of even simply saying one thing on social media, saying, like, what is going on on just isn’t proper, whether or not it is Black Lives Matter or, , what’s occurring in Gaza and saying free Palestine. Persons are caught on this worry. Although I perceive when persons are scared to make use of their voice, I imply, we simply need to do one thing, although, earlier than it is too late.
ELLIOTT: “Days Of Unrest” is not simply covers. There’s some authentic music, as properly – a three-part instrumental composition woven all through the file, and in addition your music “Cannot Stand Nonetheless.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “CAN’T STAND STILL”)
PRICE: (Singing) However my papa says, I acquired to get married. Mama informed me, quiet down. However I acquired me a ticket on a giant jet airplane. I am gonna fly straight out of city. And honey…
ELLIOTT: So this can be a very defiant music, proper?
PRICE: Anyone informed me the opposite day it was an anti-trad spouse anthem, and…
ELLIOTT: Oh (laughter).
PRICE: I assumed that was a reasonably good description.
ELLIOTT: (Laughter).
PRICE: I wrote this music about 20 years in the past, as properly, and it was after I was form of wrestling with, , do I wish to have children? Or do I wish to, – I do not know. My mom raised me to be only a robust feminist and any person who was going to comply with my desires and never, , simply be within the kitchen and serve a person. And yeah, that music – it is acquired a little bit of a message.
ELLIOTT: However you might be married, and you’ve got children now.
PRICE: I do know, I do know. I’m. And I like being a mother, and, , my husband and I’ve been collectively for 23 years, so, , I understand how a lot work it takes to do each. And I like, , leaning into each, however I really feel like I’ve made the appropriate resolution and adopted my path. Hopefully, I am exhibiting my daughter that she will comply with her path.
(SOUNDBITE OF MARGO PRICE SONG, “CAN’T STAND STILL”)
PRICE: Yeah, a music like “Cannot Stand Nonetheless,” it simply – it reaffirms that it is OK to to comply with any path you need as a girl.
ELLIOTT: You realize, you are usually talked about as in some way carrying the torch, carrying on the legacy of outlaw nation, , that renegade pressure of nation music that is identified for talking reality to energy. You are very shut with Willie Nelson, who’s a father of that style. How do you view your self in that body?
PRICE: I like the time period outlaw.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LONG HAIRED COUNTRY GIRL”)
PRICE: (Singing) Individuals say I am no good, that I am loopy as a loon, ‘trigger I get stoned within the morning, get drunk within the afternoon.
Nothing scares folks greater than artwork, music and literature. That is why they begin banning books, , instantly as a result of they know that songs can change folks’s minds. They know that lyrics can actually get into your coronary heart. Literature, historical past, music, songs – these are the issues that carry me by way of after I’m in ache and after I wish to really feel comforted. So yeah, hopefully I am following within the footsteps of all of the those that I like. It is no straightforward feat to maintain up with people like Willie and Joan Baez. And so I’ve a whole lot of work to do. I acquired a protracted technique to go.
ELLIOTT: Margot Worth’s new mixtape is “Days Of Unrest.” Thanks for the dialog.
PRICE: Thanks, Debbie.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “LONG HAIRED COUNTRY GIRL”)
PRICE: (Singing) Desires me to ship a donation ‘trigger he is frightened about my soul.
Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional info.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts could range. Transcript textual content could also be revised to appropriate errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org could also be edited after its authentic broadcast or publication. The authoritative file of NPR’s programming is the audio file.
