10 Folk Songs About The NSA And Edward Snowden

by Eric Spiegelman

1. “Song for Edward Snowden” by Joe Fox. Best line: “Braaaave, or stupid? Braaaave, or stupid?”

2. “You Can’t Slip A Chip Into My Brain, NSA” by (the perfectly named) Grant William Brad Gerver. Best line: uh, “You Can’t Slip A Chip Into My Brain, NSA”?

3. “Prism” by David Rovics. Best line: “One government came down and burned in repetition of this fact / the next government passed the Freedom of Information Act.”

4. “Talking Edward Snowden’s Next Move” by Michel Montecrossa. Best line: “prosecute the charge / which is espionage / and theft.”

5. “Scoundrel Today, Hero Tomorrow” by Carol Forsloff. The Edward Snowden part starts around the 5 minute mark. This is a very legit folk song.

6. “Hello, NSA” by Roy Zimmerman. Best line: “I know you’ll take my call / because you care enough to take them all.”

7. “NSA is Watching You and Me” by justplainfred. Best line: “Welcome to the wasteland of the free / the NSA is watching you and me.”

8. “Song for Edward Snowden” by Fredrik Hardenborg. Best line: “When this plane hits the ground I’ll be gone / That’s when the shit hits the fan.”

9. “The NSA is Listening” by Jonathan Mann. Best line: “It’s not tinfoil conjecture now / our President admits it / he just comes right out dismissive / as if the world didn’t just change / as if everything’s all right.”

10. “NSA Prism Edward Snowden Song” by Rob Vegas. Okay, this isn’t so much a folk song. It’s also in German. But just watch. You won’t be able to stop, and you’ll thank me.

Eric Spiegelman is a web producer in Los Angeles and the proprietor of Awl Music.