The Dust Bowl Ballads

"The Dust Bowl Ballads," by Woody Guthrie, is a collection of songs from the 1940s that narrate the struggles of farmers during the Dust Bowl era. The songs depict the environmental disaster caused by severe drought and poor farming practices, which created massive dust storms and economic hardship in the Great Plains. Through storytelling, Guthrie captures the plight, resilience, and hope of displaced families facing poverty and uncertainty. The ballads serve as both historical documentation and social commentary, highlighting human suffering and the importance of community support during difficult times.