Chumbawamba - An Anti War Single (Jacob's Ladder)

"Jacob's Ladder (Not in My Name)" is a song by the English rock band Chumbawamba. An earlier version of the song, criticizing Winston Churchill, was included on their 2002 studio album "Readymades", but in response to the incipient Iraq War, the group rewrote the song as a broader criticism of war. It has been described as an anti-war song, and incorporates folk influences as well as sampling, for example a vocal sample from Harry Cox, courtesy of the English Fold Dance and Song Society.

The song was released as a CD single and as a free download on the group's website in December 2002; it was later included on a re-release of "Readymades". Following its release, it was featured in multiple collections of anti-war songs, and the group performed it at a January 2003 protest in Washington, DC.

The song was released on December 16, 2002, as a CD single, with two additional tracks: the original, "albumesque" version of the song, and a B-side titled "Round 'em Up and Throw 'Em In". On January 18, 2003, the group performed the song on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition, in advance of an anti-war rally in Washington, DC, at which they were also slated to perform. It was also made available as a free download on the group's website, Chumba.com; on the site, they labeled the song "an anti-war MP3". The song was also featured as a B-side to their 2003 promotional single, a Flaming Lips remix of "Tubthumping".

In March 2003, Salon promoted the song download as part of its "Anti-war sampler" playlist. The May 2003 charity compilation "Peace Not War" also featured the track. The original version of the song was included on the 2008 Putumayo compilation "Euro Groove" and was part of the set list of their 2007 live compilation "Get On with It"; the live version swapped out the original's sampling for live elements.

The photograph on the front is of Pete Seeger, anti-Vietnam protest singer (photographer unknown).


Tracklist:

Jacob's Ladder (Not in My Name)
Jacob's Ladder (Albumesque)
Round 'em Up And Throw 'em In

Chumbawamba - An Anti War Single (Jacob's Ladder)

(192 kbps, front cover included)