Sound of Revolution

Jackson Brown and Dawes

Occupy – The newbies in up-and-coming alt-rock band Dawes weren’t even born when legendary songwriter Jackson Browne burst onto the scene just after the Civil Rights Movement.

Last week, though, both Browne and the members of Dawes met in Zuccotti Park to play a short acoustic set of original tunes in solidarity with the protestors.

Browne, who is known for his story-telling and conscious lyrics, told Rolling Stone that he often finds it difficult to write songs about social issues. Yet, the 63-year-old musician quickly managed to craft a new song for Occupy Wall Street. It’s such a fresh tune that Bowne is even seen reading lyrics from a yellow legal pad in the video:

Still untitled, Browne laughed that he could call the song, “Which Side Are You On.” But, as all Occupiers and activists should know, that’s the name of the famous protest song penned by Florence Reece in 1931 and made famous by Pete Seeger in the 60s.

Dawes lead singer, Taylor Goldsmith, seems to represent many of his occupying peers of this Millennial generation. He told Rolling Stone, “For me, being 26 years old, growing up, there’s always been a negative connotation with the term ‘protest’…Now, for the first time, there’s a pride that goes along with it.”

Thank goodness the revolution has a great soundtrack.

Read more at Rolling Stone.