Eilen Jewell Covers Woody Guthrie

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Unfortunately, Woody Guthrie's 1948 song "Deportee" is as timely as it was almost eight decades ago. Eilen Jewell has released a cover of the song, and as great as it is and as much as I want to praise it, the fact that it exists because of the current political climate is far too depressing for that. If this was merely a few years ago, we could look at this as a great cover of a great song, and discuss the historical significance of the song. However, this is 2026 and "Deportee" is once again filled with truth as we look at the state of our country. I'm personally looking forward to when we can once again hear songs like this without shuddering.

Eilen Jewell says of her latest single:

"I first heard 'Deportee' when I was a teenager. I can't recall which version it was, but I remember I was babysitting a little girl who was about six years old. She put it in the cd player, cranked it up, and started singing along loudly in a sweet and mournful tone. I could tell it really resonated with her so I listened closely and realized it resonated with me too--the grief in the sudden separation of friends, the ripping away of a shared humanity--it's haunted me ever since. I've heard just about every version of it there is, searching for one as anguished as the one in my memory of that night with the little girl howling along.

"My search never yielded one that quite fit so I altered the song a bit by putting it in a minor key and choosing only the verses that felt closest to the bone. It's disheartening to think that Woody Guthrie wrote 'Deportee' nearly 80 years ago and it still rings true. What can I do but join him in fighting fascism the only way I know how--with my conscience, with my guitar, with my voice." 

You can listen to Eilen Jewell's version of "Deportee" below. The single is out now on Signature Sounds Recordings. For more on Eilen Jewell, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the song and include dates in Plymouth, Boston, and Northampton.


MAR 31 TUE     Iridium     New York, NY
APR 1 WED      Sellersville Theater     Sellersville, PA
APR 2 THU       Avenel Performing Arts Center    Woodbridge Township, NJ
APR 3 FRI        The Hamilton Live      Washington, DC
APR 4 SAT       Avalon Theatre           Easton, MD
APR 25 SAT     WMNF's Tropical  Heatwave                 Tampa, FL
JUL 31 FRI       Hopmonk Tavern         Novato, CA
NOV 15 SUN    Spire Center for Performing Arts                Plymouth, MA
NOV 17 TUE    City Winery Boston     Boston, MA
NOV 18 WED   The Iron Horse             Northampton, MA
NOV 19 THU    The Iron Horse             Northampton, MA
NOV 20 FRI      Levon Helm Studios   Woodstock, NY
NOV 21 SAT     Center for the Arts of Homer                 Homer, NY

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