folk singer from the 60s/70s, just as good as bob dylan, but more direct. he doesnt wrap his messages in tons of metaphors, he is very direct and straigh-shooting with the messages in his songs.

some good songs of his on youtube:

i aint marching anymore: http://youtube.com/watch?v=L5pgrKSwFJE
the power and the glory: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dlbMFRK9I9s
joe hill: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZmyRip9OTZk
the iron lady: http://youtube.com/watch?v=TxwqzPWXpE4
one more parade: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5W9QDIV_XNs
the highwayman: http://youtube.com/watch?v=nsKc7zQtfRU

other good songs you should check out if you can: draft dodger rag, in the heat of the summer, that was the president, ballad of the carpenter... basically the entirety of the "i aint marching anymore" album