Singers writing protest songs about Minneapolis, St. Paul

Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman) and Bruce Springsteen rock "The Ghost of Tom Joad" during the "Concert of Solidarity and Resistance" at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Jan. 30, 2026. It was Springsteen's first time at First Avenue and he did his latest release, "Streets of Minneapolis." Also performing were Al Di Meola, Ike Reilly and the Chicago punk band Rise Against. (Photo by Becky Glander)

Guitarist Al Di Meola performed an acoustic version of The Beatles' "In My Life" at the Tom Morello "Concert of Solidarity and Resistance" at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Jan. 30, 2026. Meola's set also included the song "Eff Ice" and a collaborative performance of "This Land Is Your Land." (Photo by Becky Glander)

"Don't forget this terrible rising tide of state terror. You've stood up for your neighbors and yourselves, for democracy and justice. Ain't nobody coming to save us but us. And brothers and sisters, you are showing the way," said Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman) as he opened "Concert of Solidarity and Resistance" at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Jan. 30, 2026. Also performing were Al Di Meola, Ike Reilly and the Chicago punk band Rise Against, and special guest Bruce Springsteen with "Streets of Minneapolis." (Photo by Becky Glander)

Posted Sunday, February 1, 2026 11:08 am

by Tesha M. Christensen

Musical artists are being inspired to write songs about the protests, resisistant efforts and ICE encounters in Minneapolis. They include:

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, NEW JERSEY

"Streets of Minneapolis" was played at First Ave. during benefit concert on Jan. 30, 2026 with Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello.

MICHAEL SHYNES, MINNESOTA

"We're From Minnesota"

JEREMY MESSERSMITH, MINNESOTA

"F*** This" - There is the original version and the Community Choir Version up on bandcamp. Proceeds from donations for the song support mutual aid efforts.

OKEE DOKEE BROTHERS, MINNEAPOLIS
Hand in Hand, Instagram

EMMY WOODS, ST. PAUL

ERIN FRISBY, WASHINGTON, D.C.

"F*cking Bitch"

"This song was written in the wake of the murder of Renee Good and references the words uttered by an officer, presumably Ross, after she was shot. Those words were so familiar for so many women, and particularly queer women. Ross was roused to violence by the existence of a lesbian couple, the contempt he felt for a butch lesbian, his feelings of emasculation, what he saw as failure to capitulate, to assimilate, to project 'appropriate' subservient femininity," remarked Erin Frisby. "In other words, the failure of his victims to use their existence to reflect back the masculinity he demanded to see about himself in the way he demanded to see it."

Frisby (they, them) is a singer songwriter and bandleader of the queer trio, @ammoniteband in Washington, D.C. Frisby has been active in organizing events and actions for trans rights, publication of the ERA, the Not My Inauguration Fest in 2016, Rock the Vote, and immigrant rights. Frisby is a cofounder of the nonprofit organization, This Could Go Boom!, which advocates for equality in the music industry.

TRINITY NAY, NEW HAMPSHIRE

"Justify" (on Spotify) was written after the killing of Renee Good by New Hampshire musician Trinity Nay. Nay is a singer/songwriter, formerly had an alt rock band called Out Damned Spot, and the daughter of a political songwriter.

"I was just so horrified by the victim blaming and gaslighting of the public when we could all see with our own eyes what had happened, and then it played out the same way with Alex Pretti after I wrote the song," said Nay. "I recorded this in one take just through the computer mic late at night to get the idea out, but I kept that original draft for release because I thought it captured the restraint and the fear that so many of us were feeling in that moment. There was a feeling of, 'I want to speak out, but then I'm making myself a target,' but like I wrote in the last verse, that's the goal... to make us compliant through fear. So it's by no means a perfect recording, but I figured the message was more important than polish at this point. I wanted to reach out to other people who may have to battle their own fear to speak out. My other links to stuff can all be found on my website: www.trinitynay.com."

JESSE WELLES

Good Vs. Ice

JESSE PARTRIDGE, ALEX STURBAUM, BRIAN LINDSAY, PENKAJANE AUGUSTUS C

“Warlike Lads of Russia” by Nic Jones, rewritten by Penka Jane

MICHAEL SHYNES & TOMMY VEE, MINNESOTA

"Good"

JOSEPH TERRELL

https://youtube.com/shorts/R1peinYWm-8?si=EqdpAGxXvk0PCqGj

LYNZY LAB

"A Scary Time but Make It About Ice"

HILARY JAMES, MINNESOTA

Instagram

On Jan. 11, Hilary James wrote onInstagram: "As I sit here in my hotel room on the first day of tour, I’ve been reflecting on the past month in my beautiful state of Minnesota.  I truly believe that the darkest of times brings out the best in people. I have seen more people step up and step out to protect our neighbors, spend their free time patrolling with whistles, dropping everything to run to those in danger despite tear gas and rubber bullets, feed those who can’t safely go get food, drive strangers children to and from school, put their bodies in front of kidnappers cars, and their lives on the line. I’ve seen 50,000 people sled down a hill to particpate in daily protests, I’ve seen Somali and Mexican neighbors hand out hot tea and samosas. They may have guns, but we have hearts that contains all of humanity. Immigrants make our state great. Minneapolis I love you.   Please find any small way to stand up for what’s right- even if all you have the bandwidth for is calling our local government and demand they make a meaningful stand against ICE, there are so many lanes you can ride in to make a difference!

MORRIS PARK, MINNESOTA

"Red White and Blue" is a country song written by a former Morris Park, Minneapolis resident. Listen on Spotify. Proceeds will go to local charities.

JV AMBROSE

"On Jan. 26, I wrote a song to help open more eyes to the peril facing our country," said JV Ambrose. "It’s critical that artists and others with influence speak out against tyranny and injustice." View the age restricted song, "Where Justice Dies," on YouTube.

"American Obituary" was released by U2 as part of a six-song EP on Feb. 18.

FIND THE MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
Email tesha@tmcpub.com to add to the list.

FIND THE TWIN CITIES SONGS OF RESISTANCE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
Read about the Minnesota Music Resistance, featured in the July 2025 Longfellow Nokomis Messenger here, and find their recommended playlist on Spotify.