Singer/songwriter Susan Hagan is no stranger to the intersection of music and politics, hailing from a large political family. Throughout her life, has dedicated herself to social justice. Hagan lives east of Cleveland, OH and performs at wineries and establishments along the shores of Lake Erie.
Although she has played for decades and written dozens of songs, she will be releasing her first recording release, “Marchin’ On” this Friday, October 31st, 2025. The song is a collaboration with esteemed artist Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, and Don Richmond, among others. Together, they spread the word “to keep marching on through these deeply tumultuous times.”
Today, we’re very pleased to premier the song “Marchin’ On” on Wildfire Music + News. We’ve all been witnessing, many of us first-hand, the power of people gathering together to demonstrate their civil rights and make their voices heard. “Marchin’ On” is particularly timely to the American experience right now, and the same dedication to speaking out against oppression has long been part of our national identity.
Susan’s Hagan’s new track is clearly built as a song that can be shared communally and actually be used as a marching protest song in the days ahead. She keeps the lyrics simple, the melody encircling, and the percussion inspiring for movement. However, that’s not all there is to the song, and what makes it most appealing is the warmth, style, and personality that the song expresses, even while staying accessible and relatively spare.
The guitar picking in the song has a western feel, conjuring the wide open spaces of our vast nation, and the central clarity of the vocals that open the song are quite confident and set the necessary tone and attitude of embarking on a mission. While the lyrics stay open to an audience’s interpretation, for instance, saying that we’re “never going back to that.”, the song also progressively builds up through the artist collaborations until we feel that a group, who are in agreement, are all working together.
The style and attitude that fill out the vocal spotlights, as well as the instrumental performances, feel modern and express various personalities, proving that we don’t have to lose ourselves in a crowd, but can bring our full identities to the act of speaking out. The song is strong on melody and soulful depth, with a few bluesy developments that build on protest song traditions. In the end, “Marchin’ On” becomes as much a dancing song as a marching song, inspiring that forward movement that we need in multiple ways. The percussion that closes out the song suggest that ongoing work, that sense that the song, and its task, is not yet complete, but is ready to continue its mission.
Susan Hagan says about the new song:
‘Marching On’ is a song to past triumphs of justice and a resolute harmonious call to carry on.
Eliza Gilkyson chimes in:
‘Marchin’ On is an irresistible, joyful call to action—just what we need right now.
John Gorka adds:
Susan’s song sounds like hope to me. Who doesn’t want to be part of that?
On “Marchin’ On”, Susan Hagan performs lead vocals, John Gorka provides lead and harmony vocals, Eliza Gilkyson also performs lead and harmony vocals and David Alan Shaw plays acoustic guitar. Don Richmond plays mandolin, electric guitars, organ, lap steel, and performs harmony vocals, Jeff Plankenhorn performs acoustic slide guitar, and harmony vocals, John Stenger plays the piano, Unique Bancroft plays clarinets, Valerie Naranjo plays percussion, and Michael Seifert plays drums and bass.
The song was Produced and mixed by Don Richmond and mastered by Cass Anawaty at Sonoran Mastering, Sisters, OR.
Susan Hagan further dedicates the track:
To John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson and Don Richmond I am beyond grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my bleeding heart. In loving memory of my parents, Bob and Ada, my sister Maggie and brother Bill who lead me in every march. Love to my family and friends who stand with me, and to Kim, thank you for your unending love and support.
