About this episode The Headlines' Hum weaves together today's major news stories into a timeless folk ballad, transforming current events into stories that feel both ancient and human. Through the voice of a seasoned storyteller, it captures the essence of the day's headlines, highlighting their significance and impact. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of current affairs, appreciated through the warm, nostalgic lens of traditional song.
0:00 Two old men on a lighted stage0:04 To turn a new and worried page0:08 One’s words were sharp, the other slow0:13 A tale the television showed0:17 They talked of borders, tax, and war0:21 Like a hundred men have done before0:26 And the headlines hum a low refrain0:30 Of summer heat and coming rain0:35 It’s the same old story, I suppose0:39 The way the weary river flows0:43 The common folk just try to stand0:48 And hold the truth inside their hand0:52 The High Court judges, robed and gray0:57 Took a settled law and turned it 'way1:01 On a rifle's rhythm, quick and grim1:05 A right was stretched out on a limb1:10 The gavel fell, a quiet sound1:14 That echoes out on troubled ground1:19 And the headlines hum a low refrain1:23 Of summer heat and coming rain1:27 It’s the same old story, I suppose1:32 The way the weary river flows1:36 The common folk just try to stand1:40 And hold the truth inside their hand1:45 From coast to coast, the air is thick1:49 The sun beats down, a heavy brick1:54 A fever settles on the plains1:58 While Washington just plays its games2:02 The earth itself begins to sigh2:07 Beneath a hot and heavy sky2:11 And the headlines hum a low refrain2:16 Of summer heat and coming rain2:20 It’s the same old story, I suppose2:24 The way the weary river flows2:29 The common folk just try to stand2:33 And hold the truth inside their hand
