Willie Nelson to sing against war

Willie Nelson ups the ante in his support of Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis J. Kucinich with a new antiwar song he’ll sing in public for the first time Saturday in Austin, Texas, at a concert fundraiser for the Ohio congressman’s campaign.

“Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth” mentions no individuals, but it is critical of the war on terrorism with lyrics including,

How much oil is one human life worth? ...

We believe everything that they tell us

They’re gonna kill us

So we gotta kill them first....

How much is that soldier’s life worth

And whatever happened to peace on Earth?

Nelson also acknowledges in the song the odds against it getting mainstream media exposure: “Now you probably won’t hear this on your radio / Probably not on your local TV / But if there’s a time, and if you’re ever so inclined / You can always hear it from me.”

Other musicians who will appear at Saturday’s concert include Michelle Shocked, Bonnie Raitt and Michael McDonald and his former Doobie Brothers bandmate, Patrick Simmons. It will be webcast live at www.kucinich.us.

-- Randy Lewis