Lucinda Williams Unleashes 'World's Gone Wrong': A Political Masterpiece
In a career spanning nearly five decades, Lucinda Williams has always been known for her raw, emotive songwriting. But with her latest album, World's Gone Wrong, the acclaimed artist dives headfirst into the political arena, delivering a blistering critique of the current state of America. Released on January 22, 2026, the album is a testament to Williams' evolution as an artist and her unwavering commitment to truth and justice.
A Long Time Coming
Williams admits that writing political songs has always been a challenge for her. “I’ve always found it somewhat challenging trying to write a song like that, as opposed to, you know, a love song,” she says. “They have to not sound dated. You don’t want them to sound too precious, or that flowery thing like, ‘let’s all hold hands and be sisters and brothers kind of thing.’”
These exacting standards may be why it’s taken Williams close to a half-century to release her first album of explicitly political material. World’s Gone Wrong is a determined statement of fiery faith and righteous anger over the current administration, grounding contemporary horrors in America’s long and shameful history of racial terror and violence.
Inspired by Legends
The album draws inspiration from Williams' hero Bob Dylan and the Staple Singers. The latter’s spirit can be heard plainly on the album’s closing highlight, “We’ve Come Too Far to Turn Around,” and the group’s former lead singer Mavis Staples appears on Williams’ cover of Bob Marley’s “So Much Trouble in the World.”
“One of the things I just loved about what they did was, they were doing that gospel blues and soul mixed together, but then they weren’t afraid to step out and do a great topical song,” says Williams, who, in describing the Staple Singers, does a pretty good job of summing up the mix of musical influences that formed her latest work.
Targeting Trump
The album takes specific aim at President Trump in the track “How Much Did You Get for Your Soul,” while grounding its critique with allusions to the rich lineage of Black American literature, from Langston Hughes (“Black Tears”) to Jesmyn Ward, whose 2017 novel Sing, Unburied, Sing inspired Williams’ song of the same name.
A New Generation's Influence
World’s Gone Wrong arrives at an opportune moment for the 72-year-old, who over the past half-dozen years has emerged as a foremost songwriting influence on a younger generation of artists, from Waxahatchee to Big Thief, the latter of whom co-wrote the album’s standout, “Low Life.”
Williams’ 2003 song “Fruits of My Labor” has become something of a modern standard in recent years, and singers of all ages flock to a new venue in New York that bears her name: Lucinda’s. (Earlier this week, Williams herself played a sold-out show there to promote her new record.)
The Collaboration with Big Thief
Williams recently spoke with Rolling Stone about singing political music, collaborating with Big Thief, and a recent chat she had with Dylan. “I’m really proud of that song,” she says of “Low Life.” “It’s probably my favorite on the album. Those guys, we did some shows together and we just hit it off, so we decided we should sit around the kitchen table and see what happens.”
Williams explains that the collaboration was born out of a deep artistic connection. “We connected on something. It’s hard to describe, sometimes, but we all knew we were coming from similar places, artistically. When we played a show together in California, Adrienne [Lenker] learned my song ‘Minneapolis.’ Oh my god, it blew my mind. I couldn’t believe it, the way she approached that song.”
Recording Together
Williams and Big Thief spent a lot of time discussing music and eventually decided to record “Low Life” together. “We wanted to record it together, and we tried recording it with them, me singing with them, but then I decided I wanted to cut a version with my band,” Williams recalls. “So, we actually have a few different versions of it, the Big Thief version and my version.”
A Time for Change
In a time when political discourse is more polarized than ever, Williams’ World’s Gone Wrong stands as a powerful call to action. The album is not just a critique of the present but a reflection on the past, reminding listeners of the long struggle for justice and equality in America.
As Williams herself says, “We’ve come too far to turn around.” And with this album, she’s not afraid to stand up and speak truth to power, no matter the consequences.
Conclusion
Lucinda Williams’ World’s Gone Wrong is a bold, unapologetic statement that cements her legacy as one of the most influential songwriters of our time. With its powerful lyrics and soul-stirring melodies, the album is a must-listen for anyone who believes in the power of music to inspire change.
