Art and Music

In Through Winds of Prairie Dust, one of the main characters, Anders, is a musician. He sings many folk songs throughout the story, but this is his signature song, written by the poet Jesse Keith Butler. It is first introduced as Anders' solo version, and then later in the story, it is revised to spur on Anders' fellow strikers in the On-to-Ottawa Trek.

Through the Dust, V1 & V2

Anders' Solo Version

Oh, the wind whips the dust up until I can't see

The sky or my home or the road

I want to turn back but a man can't be free

until he's delivered what's owed

It's the only way I know and so I must

Go through the dust

And so I'll keep walking although my eyes sting

And each little breath is a chore

I'll march through the whirlwind and still I will sing

'Cause I know who I'm journeying for

The ones I love are waiting for me just

Beyond the dust

Workers' Version

Oh, the wind whips the dust up until you can't see

That you're not alone on the road

But only in brotherhood can we be free

Press on and we'll take back what's owed

There's only one way forward so we must

Go through the dust

And so we'll keep marching although our eyes sting

And each little breath is a chore

We'll march through the whirlwind and still we will sing

'Cause we know what we're journeying for

The Promised Land is waiting for us just

Beyond the dust

Anders' Solo Version and Workers' Version: Copyright 2025 by Jesse Keith Butler. All rights reserved.

More of Jesse's beautiful poetry can be found on his website: jessekeithbutler.ca

Click on the following links if you'd like to hear audio recordings of the Solo and Workers' Versions of Through the Dust:

Through the Dust, Anders' Solo Version lyrics by Jesse Keith Butler, performed by Jonathan Seiling, 2026

Through the Dust, Workers' Version lyrics by Jesse Keith Butler, performed by Jonathan Seiling, 2026

Through the Dust, Harmonica Only performed by Jonathan Seiling, 2026

The following Depression-era songs are also sung by Anders in Through Winds of Prairie Dust. 

Click on those with links to hear the recordings:

Big Rock Candy Mountains by Harry McClintock, 1928

Red River Valley  performed by Harry McClintock, 1928

Hard Times Come Again No More by Stephen Foster

Whirlwinds of Danger / March Song of the Workers by Wacław Święcicki in Polish, translated by Douglas Robson, 1920s.