Spirit Family Reunion - "Goin' Out to Cannon Ball"

Depending on your media outlets of choice, you may or may not be aware of the situation in North Dakota right now. There protesters are attempting to protect Native American lands (and the drinking water used by Native Americans in the area) from having an oil pipeline built by the Dakota Access oil company. Regardless on what side you land on, there have been some pretty disturbing and violent images coming from the standoff, with a militarized police force using rubber bullets, pepper spray, attack dogs, and fire hoses to attempt to disperse the crowd.

Spirit Family Reunion are on the side of the protesters. They've written and recorded a song to show solidarity with the protesters, with all proceeds going to support them. "Goin' Out to Cannon Ball" is written completely about the standoff, and is really a good old fashioned protest folk song. A lot of songs try to be a little too artsy with their lyrics about social issues, but "Goin' Out to Cannon Ball" is more like Crosby Stills Nash and Young's "Ohio" where there is no question as to the subject matter. The opening lines are "Up in North Dakota where the old Missouri runs / Morton County police carry military guns." It's an important, powerful song in a time where there are shockingly few.

You can watch the lyric video for "Goin' Out to Cannon Ball" below. To purchase a copy of the song with all proceeds benefiting the Camp of the Sacred Stones, head over to Spirit Family Reunion's Bandcamp. You can also donate directly at www.sacredstonecamp.org.