The HercuLeons “Barbed Wire Boys” (photo by Madison Thorn)
Americana Highways brings you this video premiere of The HercuLeons song (written by Susan Werner) “Barbed Wire Boys” from their recent self-titled album HercuLeons, which was produced by Wendy Waldman, mixed by Robert Hoffman and Wendy Waldman, mastered by Robert Hoffman. The HercuLeons are John Cowan and Andrea Zonn.
“Barbed Wire Boys” is John Cowan on lead vocals and bass; Andrea Zonn on harmony vocals and fiddle; Wendy Waldman on acoustic guitar, dulcimer, keyboards, and background vocals, Scott Babcock on drums and percussion; Abraham Parker on electric guitars and string bass; Matt Rollings on piano; Darrell Scott on background vocals; and Mietek Szczesniak on vocals.
This video was directed by Chuck Shanlever. Haunting and crystalline, the song starts out easy with a touch of mournfulness. The video displays imagery of family farming, weathered hands, working closely in nature under the wide sky, but also barbed wire and sorrow in moody black and white tones as the song recounts the struggles of small farmers and their hardships, some of which are completely unnecessary. The HercuLeons play a touching song, with John Cowan’s honest vocals, in an important perspective on an important element of human society: “they never complain, and they never make noise, they never left home, they were barbed wire boys.”
What you are about to see is a beautiful depiction of something unique to this day – American family farming – under the vision of director Chuck Shanlever. This song and accompanying video is of great importance to me. I am part of a lost generation of family farmers who were forced into giving up their homes and farms due to The Great Depression. My mother lost not only her home and way of life, but in fact her father, who was wrongly convinced that his suicide and the ensuing insurance money might save his family and farm. I am sorry to say that life hasn’t gotten much better for non corporate farmers, but surprisingly and faithfully, they do exist. Especially among Hispanic, African American, and Native American families. This video is shared in gratitude to them. — John Cowan
John Cowan will be on the road this summer touring as part of the Doobie Brothers. Andrea Zonn will be out with James Taylor!
Find the music here: https://found.ee/0709S
Enjoy our review of the album here: REVIEW: John Cowan & Andrea Zonn “The HercuLeons”
