About this episode In this heartfelt folk ballad, we weave together the day's top US headlines into a timeless story of change, challenge, and hope. Through the storyteller’s voice, listeners are transported to a world where current events echo ancient tales, reminding us that beneath the news lies a shared human experience. This song offers a reflective glimpse into recent history, inspiring us to see our stories as part of a larger, enduring narrative.
0:00 Down on the Potomac, the air is gettin' tense0:04 The midnight clock is tickin', ain't makin' any sense0:09 The Speaker's got his gavel, the Senate's in a fight0:13 And a million federal workers wonder who will turn on the light0:18 They're drawin' lines on paper, for a shutdown, so they say0:22 While the park ranger's wonderin' if he'll get his pay0:27 It's a game of chicken on the Hill, a story I've heard before0:32 'Bout who will blink the first, before they lock and bar the door.0:36 Oh, the headlines change, but the story's old0:41 A tale of power, bought and sold0:45 The ink runs dry, the screen goes cold0:50 It's just another chapter to be told.0:55 From Washington to Wichita, you can feel it in the price0:59 Of a gallon of the gasoline, a bag of beans and rice1:04 The Chairman at the Federal Reserve, he speaks in measured tones1:08 About the interest rates he's raisin' to settle all the loans1:13 He's tryin' to tame inflation's ghost, a beast that's runnin' wild1:18 But every single percentage point hurts a mother and a child1:22 He pulls a lever in a tower, a whisper on the breeze1:27 And out here on the pavement, it brings us to our knees.1:31 Oh, the headlines change, but the story's old1:36 A tale of power, bought and sold1:40 The ink runs dry, the screen goes cold1:45 It's just another chapter to be told.1:50 And the children stare at glowing screens, a world we can't command1:54 While a lawsuit's filed against the men who hold it in their hand1:59 And out across the western range, the smoke begins to rise2:03 A different kind of headline, painting gray across the skies2:08 The firefighters hold the line, against the heat and wind2:13 Asking if this fiery circle is ever gonna end.2:17 Oh, the headlines change, but the story's old2:22 A tale of power, bought and sold2:26 The ink runs dry, the screen goes cold2:31 It's just another chapter to be told.
