By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team

There is a yearning these days for the raw honesty and integrity that exemplifies the artistry of singer-songwriter Jesse Welles. That is why so many of his folk protest songs have gone viral, resonating with so many of us seeking some clarity and comfort from the troubled times we live in. Like so many of the music greats he follows, several of whom we have previously featured, he uses his music as a vessel to call truth to power, expose injustice, and face off against the bad behavior that surrounds us. In other words, Welles channels his inner whistleblower, providing sharp social commentary and shining a spotlight on many of the critical issues of the day.

Some of his more timely examples can be found in songs like “Signal Leak,” “Little Men,” “Whistle Boeing,” and “SpaceXplosion.” And so many more, including covering songs by the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and similar-minded artists known for sharing their honest observations with the world. Last year, Dave Matthews invited Welles to play at the Farm Aid festival.

And it is our honor and privilege to invite Jesse Welles to our growing list of legendary artists who we’ve featured that exemplify the whistleblower spirit in their music and messaging – such as  John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Patti Smith, and Jerry Garcia.

Here, we’ve rounded up our top 10 picks of Welles’s lyrics that in our view best illustrate his inner whistleblower spirit and how he is quickly becoming the voice of a new generation.

10. “Ozempic”

“…Profiteering carpet bagging elixir peddling
Mafia masquerading as the help
The food is poison that’s the source
If the hay is bad you don’t whip the horse
Tell all these parasitic companies to crawl back down to hell”

“Ozempic” criticizes the pharmaceutical industry, consumerism, and profit-driven forces at play. Welles reflects on how people are being pressured and manipulated by society to take weight loss drugs to conform to absurd social constructs like what it means to be beautiful. And he blames pharmaceutical companies for feeding this frenzy instead of addressing the root causes of obesity and poor nutrition and the underlying health complications that follow.

9. “Payola”

“Payola for playlists with checkmarks and follows and streams
Payola for thee
Brought to you by nepotism
And veiled in authority”

“Payola” is the practice of paying for radio airplay or promotion, which is metaphorically extended to describe the industry’s manipulation through playlists, follows, streams, and social media validation. This song criticizes the illusion of success in the music business, exposing how it’s often built on exploitation and manipulation, rather than genuine achievement. Welles’s lyrics reject the notion of conforming to industry standards or selling out for fame or money. He presents disillusionment with the system that he says is very superficial and controlled by nepotism.

8. “Fear is the Mind Killer”

“Fear is the mind killer / leaves you with nowhere to run to”

These two lines underscore the crippling effect of fear. It can cloud one’s judgment, preventing clear thinking and rational decision making. Like whistleblowers deciding to face down their fears and stand up to injustice and wrongdoing, moving past or through fear can be a path towards self-discovery, closure, and freedom.

7. “That Can’t Be Right”

“what year is it this year tonight?
if I die I’ll die of fright
that can’t be right”

These lyrics seem to convey feelings of coming to terms with reality, coupled with a deep fear of the future and facing existential consequences. They also speak to the strength of taking action and not succumbing to that fear.

6. “Change is in the Air”

“at the will of the wind…
not doin’ what we’re told…
… there’s gonna have to be some change”

By suggesting a sense of rebellion and unpredictability, these lyrics highlight the power of resistance and rejecting the status quo when change is what’s needed. People often decide it’s time to blow the whistle when they too decide to take action or challenge the current state of affairs.

5. “Innit to Win”

“And still have a little heart to lend

I’m innit to win I’m gonna make it count”

The lyrics express a sense of determination and resilience, despite any challenges or setbacks along the way. These are important traits for whistleblowers, in addition to emotional strength, a sense of purpose, and the will to persevere even in the face of adversity.

4. “Whistle Boeing”

“Joshua Dean had a memory keen…Swampy Barnett… took a lotta pride in his work… Found 300 reasons why a plane couldn’t fly”

This song focuses on corporate greed, manipulation, and obfuscation. It explores the long and winding road whistleblowers must travel and the tragic deaths of two Boeing-related whistleblowers Joshua Dean and John Barnett. The song is layered with irony in debunking the notion that staying silent is the safer course, when in fact it just prolongs the status quo of corruption and suffering.

3. “America, Girl”

“Maybe someday if we’re lucky we’ll find
A little bit a truth underneath the lies”

On this track, Welles suggests a commentary on American culture. He may be speaking to the challenges present in American life, and the need for truths. Or it could be a more personal reflection on love, loss, and societal pressures across the nation.

2. “United Health”

“There ain’t no “You” in UnitedHealth
There ain’t no “Me” in the company
There ain’t no “Us” in the private trust
There’s hardly humans in humanity”
…
“commoditized health … monopolized fraud”

The absence of “You,” “Me,” and “Us” reflects Welles’s view that large corporations are not designed to serve individuals or communities. They are structured around maximizing profits, leaving personal and collective well-being behind. The “humanity” line seems to signify the lack of compassion in private healthcare, which at times seems more focused on the financials than on actual health and people’s needs. A later verse directly calls out the industry and the prevalence of fraud, as seen in numerous lawsuits.

1. “SpaceXplosion”

“If they cared about you
And if they cared about me
They’d make a big ol’ rocket
Everybody could eat”

Welles calls out the perverse priorities on display these days, particularly when it comes to the ever-widening gulf between the rich and those struggling to get by. The lyrics question the morality of the wealthy spending their cash on space missions when there is so much poverty, hunger, and other life-critical issues facing so many.

 

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Read “Whistle Boeing,” “SpaceXplosion,” and More Song Lyrics That Channel Jesse Welles’s Inner Whistleblower at constantinecannon.com