Yes, Bernie Sanders recorded a folk album. Well, “folk” is a general term for what it really is. We Shall Overcome is really a spoken-word album, throughout which Sen. Sanders speaks his truth over some classics from American folk’s founding fathers. Underneath the video for the album’s trailer, audio engineer Todd R. Lockwood remembers thinking up the idea in 1987.

“The idea for this album came to me over a cup of coffee at a Burlington café. The morning regulars thought I was out of my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more intriguing the idea seemed. Our mayor, Bernie Sanders, had established himself as a no-nonsense problem solver and someone who didn’t mince words—but not the sort of person you would imagine making a record. This paradox appealed to me.

The project was more than a novelty. It had purpose. Bernie chose the music: five protest songs from the ’50s and early ’60s. I hired arranger Don Sidney to update the songs with contemporary rhythms.”

We Shall Overcome (not to be confused with Donald Trump‘s We Shall OverCOMB…) is a time capsule now, but we’ll have to see if Sanders can OVERCOME his poll numbers in South Carolina. Nate Silver‘s Five Thirty Eight now puts him a a 99% chance to lose to Hilly Clinton there.

(via The Observer)