CHICAGO - Chicago singer-songwriter Michael McDermott released a new song Friday on all major streaming platforms, timed to coincide with SaturdayS “No Kings” protest planned in downtown Chicago and across the U.S. The song addresses growing public anxiety over the perceived erosion of free speech and potential for social media manipulation under the Trump administration.
McDermott’s release joins Zach Bryan’s “Bad News” as one of the few recent songs to directly confront thes themes. The mid-tempo, piano-driven track laments the radicalization of the federal government by far-right nationalists.
“Two people living 30 feet apart can now live in two different realities,” McDermott said. He believes those who benefit from this division “are the people who want to take it all.”
Written a month ago,the song features lyrics like,”I think it’s time we did some critical thinking/The Statue of Liberty has started sinking” and “All they wanna do is keep you distracted/At least until martial law is enacted.” Despite the serious subject matter, McDermott intentionally crafted an upbeat sound, including a “sha-la-la” chorus, to broaden its appeal.
“I don’t want to sing to the echo chamber; I want to sing to the other side,” he explained, hoping to reach “the middle right.”
McDermott debuted the song on tour two weeks ago. Following a suggestion from an audience member in St.Augustine, Florida, he expedited its release for the protest. He recorded his parts in his Orland Park studio, with Will Kimbrough and John Deaderick adding guitars and keyboards in nashville, and Matt Thompson on bass.
A lyric video accompanying the song incorporates footage of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in Chicago and scenes from the 2006 film “The Lives of Others.” One striking moment pairs McDermott singing “Jefferson would roll over in his grave/If he saw how these people behave” with an image of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holding a military weapon.
McDermott, who released his debut album in 1991 and grew up in Orland Park, acknowledged the fear that has kept many musicians silent this year.”It’s fear. It’s no joke, you could be targeted on some level,” he said. “But I’m Irish and can’t keep my mouth shut.”
He plans to re-record the song with his chicago band for an upcoming album and perform it during a three-night engagement at City Winery in December.
