Oliver Wood shared a cover of the classic protest anthem “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” on Thursday. The song, originally performed by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, comes as Wood’s second-ever solo single.
Last month, the one-third of The Wood Brothers released “Soul Of This Town” as his debut solo single. The original tune saw Wood teaming up with North Carolina singer-songwriter Phil Cook to pen a potent reflection on the cost of gentrification in towns like Nashville and others all across the country.
Related: The Wood Brothers Get Animated For “Little Bit Broken” Video [Watch]
“The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” finds Oliver Wood teamed up with his Wood Brothers bandmate Jano Rix who provides drums and percussion, as well as Ted Pecchio on bass and Cook on backing vocals and harmonica. While not as acoustically minded as “Soul Of This Town”, “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” features Wood turning the dial more toward the bluesier side of his trademark blues-gospel mix. With righteous indignation, Wood sings of the work to still be done before peace and equality can be found, just as Terry and McGhee did back in 1973.
Oliver Wood said of the song selection,
I was introduced to ‘The Battle is Over’ through cover versions by the late greats Levon Helm, and Sean Costello. I always loved it, and when I heard the original version on the 1973 ‘Sonny and Brownie’ album by Sonny McGhee and Brownie Terry, I understood it on another level. It’s one of those songs made great by its ambiguity and emotion, and in the hands of Sonny and Brownie it feels like a protest song…at least that’s how I hear it. With all that’s going on today it felt inspiring to put this song out in the world again and help keep the momentum of a movement that really needs everyone’s help.
Listen to Oliver Wood cover “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. The song is available now through Bandcamp, who on Friday is forgoing its fees to give 100 percent of revenue directly to artists. For his part, Wood is donating proceeds from the track to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Oliver Wood – “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” (Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee)