I suspect Billy Bragg was inspired to pick up his guitar by the laughable corollary drawn between the current #1 song in U.S. and the work of Woody Guthrie, a comparison made solely by right-wing ghouls operating with their usual proud ignorance. When he released “Rich Men Earning North of a Million,” the new song he wrote and recorded in response to the toxic hit, Bragg did invoke the iconic folk singer, noting that “the ghost of Woody Guthrie whispering in my ear, telling me to help the guy out.” After all, Bragg has spent his entire career singing about the persecution of the working class. Rather than the misguided blame flinging to be found in the putrid chart-topper, Bragg offers actual strategies and solutions. He’s earned the right to offer the sharp retort “Well, they wanna divide us because together we’re strong/ Are you gonna take action now you sung your damn song?”

It’s always good to have a new Bragg song about the power in a union.