Bob Dylan was front and center during the 1960s while reluctantly leading the way for the counterculture in the United States. His anti-war anthems and civil rights canticles inspired people and musicians alike and continue to do so today.

A few dozen of them contributed to the charity compilation album Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, including [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Rise Against[/lastfm], who just released their video for “Ballad of Hollis Brown.”

[mtv]http://www.mtv.com/videos/rise-against/731788/ballad-of-hollis-brown.jhtml#id=1518071[/mtv]

Rise Against are at the forefront of political activism in music today, so their inclusion on a tribute album to Bob Dylan is warranted more than most others who appear on Chimes of Freedom.

The rockers from the Windy City retell the tale of the South Dakota farmer who takes the life of his wife, child, and finally his own under the pressure from dealing with depression and poverty.

The band adds a contemporary, high-powered rock feel to the song, with the video highlighting the tribulations facing modern day farmers. Director Nico Sabenorio traveled through Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada documenting the lives of struggling agricultural workers who battle to keep their businesses afloat, lost their jobs, and even sacrificed their bodies for their work.

Tell us what you think of the song and video in the comments section!

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