"They Were the Children" is the first track on our 2026 album IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY, TELL THEM. It narrates the American trauma that has marked the same 25 years of the 21st century that have been the span of my kids' lives. It remembers the imperialism, the neglect, the greed and the selfishness reflected in events like 9/11, Katrina, predatory banking, COVID-era recklessness and now ICE, our masked secret police. The song ends with these words, "We've gotta face down them bandits and take back the joy." The mass protests in Minneapolis hadn't happened yet when I wrote the song, but it now feels like it's a song for Minnesota. I hope this message can offer a bit of soul hydration in these deserting days. -- Jesse James DeConto: songwriter, guitar, harmonica, vocal

• 100% ring-spun cotton
• 4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²)
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!