Urban cowboy Charles Ellsworth asks how we can possibly cope with the continuing to feed the rich while our tables become ever more bare on his new song, “The Gates.” This is the first single off the New York-based singer-songwriter’s album Cosmic Cannon Fodder. With his distinctive rasp, Ellsworth paints a poignant portrait of a working person rolling their rock up the hill, after years of stagnant wages and a rising cost of living. When, not if, will we reach a breaking point?
“Friends have asked if the song was inspired by my strained relationship with my biological father, and while that’s been an abundant well of inspiration throughout the years, this song was much more inspired by the ever present horrors of late-stage capitalism,” Ellsworth cracks. “It wasn’t originally the first single I had planned, but getting the album out has taken longer than I anticipated. I wanted this song out before the election as a way of showing where I stand, on the side of working and low income people.”
Set to be released in early 2025 via Burro Borracho Records, the album was produced with Blake Tallent (Sarah Shook & The Disarmers) and features Mike “Slomo” Brenner (Magnolia Electric Co./Wild Pink) on lap steel and Taylor Raynor on strings. “The Gates” is one of eleven tracks from the songwriter’s first studio album since the critically adored Honeysuckle Summer in 2021. For listeners eager to hear more, Charles is releasing every song from the album on his Patreon ahead of the release. Sign up for free and hear the other two songs, “Avenue of The Giants” and “Crazy Kelly,” which have already dropped over there.
“The Gates” will be available on all streaming services on November 1.