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Songwriters tackle issues raised by Ferguson shooting, support SPLC

Johnny Irion, Sarah Lee Guthrie, and Noel Casler have written a new song, World Gone Wrong, in response to the shooting in Ferguson, MO. While the song is available for free, they ask that listeners who download it make a donation to the SPLC.

After the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, musicians Johnny Irion and Sarah Lee Guthrie, and Noel Casler turned to their art to express their feelings about the tragedy. The result is a new song: World Gone Wrong. SPLC founder Morris Dees describes World Gone Wrong as "an exquisitely beautiful yet haunting song that calls us to find the collective strength, will, and courage to overcome the growing injustice in our world and forge a better tomorrow."

Download the song here

The songwriters hope that the song will work as a message of love and serve others to ignite change in light of the tragic events in Ferguson. Instead of selling the song, Irion, Guthrie and Casler are making it available for free, and asking those who download it to make a donation to the SPLC. “We’re honored to help shine a light on the problems we face in these turbulent times through music," said Casler. “We share the SPLC’s belief that our nation can move toward the promise that all people, regardless of color or economic status, will be afforded equal rights, opportunities and protection under the law.”

Click here to donate.

About the artists:

Sarah Lee Guthrie is the youngest daughter of world-renowned folksinger Arlo Guthrie and the granddaughter of the legendary Woody Guthrie. Since Johnny Irion and Sarah were married in 1999 they have released five albums together, with the most recent, Wassaic Way, released in 2013.

Johnny Irion also comes from a family of artists who are no strangers to social activism — his grand-uncle is literary legend John Steinbeck. His uncle, Thomas Steinbeck, writes books and screenplays. He performs with his wife Sarah Lee Guthrie.

Noel Casler has been writing songs since being inspired at a young age by artists seeking social justice and change through music. His extensive career includes road managing legendary musicians such as Jackson Browne and Crosby, Stills and Nash.