Song Review(s): Jesse Welles - “Join ICE” and “Red” (Colbert)
In a world without Woody Guthrie, John Prine and Todd Snider, thank goodness for Jesse Welles.
Flanked by American flags, the raspy-voiced, guitar-strumming, harmonica-blowing, civic-minded folkie appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to perform “Join ICE” and “Red.”
The latter is a sweeping acoustic number that points to the ridiculousness of what unites the right. But does it under a clever cloak of a pretty melody that happens to be catchy as hell.
Welles takes no such cover on “Join ICE.” It’s almost a talking blues - he sorta sings, too - and Welles uses the well-worn formula of starting and ending with the same verse. In between, he points to the ridiculousness that unites the recruits in question.
I got picked on at school/I never felt that cool/there’s a hole in my soul that just rages/all the ladies turned me down/and I felt like a clown/well won’t you look at me now/I’m putting folks in cages/at ICE, he sings.
It’s a masterful piece of funny storytelling that relates a decidedly unfunny story. Thank goodness Welles is having his moment just at the time we need him most.
Grade card: Jesse Welles - “Join ICE” and “Red” (Colbert) - A+/A
11/20/25
