The Marsh Family sings 'Gasoline'

Today's shorter post begins with "Gasoline" - Marsh Family parody of "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, on the rising cost of fuel & inflation.

This week the average price of diesel in UK petrol stations rose above £2.00 a litre for the first time, just one of many consequences of the surge in worldwide prices caused by the Iran war. Donald Trump and his policies are also hammering his own electorate in the inflated costs at the pump and in the grocery store. So we figured we'd put a parody together to reflect on this, and to give us the chance to sing an all-time classic Dolly Parton number. She was lost to the world a few weeks ago, leaving the planet much diminished in sparkle and heart, but still able to celebrate her incredible legacy of musical belters and of philanthropy, warmth, and support (especially for education and charities). "Jolene" was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1973, its desperate lyrics apparently based on a true story, and also written by Parton within a day or so of another of the most expressive tracks in the country genre, "I Will Always Love You"! Alfie's back at uni now, but found a moment to post-record the bass to give it some umph!

Time for some math. One pound sterling converts to $1.32, so that's $2.64 per liter. There are 3.78541 liters per gallon, so that's $9.99 per gallon for diesel. Yikes! They're having it worse than we are, although they are used to higher fuel prices, and it's not their doing. As I wrote in Stewart, Meyers, and Kimmel take closer looks at Xi's state visit plus 'The Daily Show's and Kimmel's Emmys and recycled in Silly and serious closer looks at taxpayer-funded campaign ads from Seth Meyers and Leeja Miller:

As for Republicans opposing the war and distancing themselves from Pervert Hoover, I think that's as much because of the war's effect on fuel prices as anything else. I lived through the stagflation of the 1970s and today looks a lot like 50 years ago. It reminds me that people get more upset about inflation than unemployment. That's one of the reasons I used to be all over gas prices; they affect people's mood and political choices, as the GOP is figuring out and Pervert Hoover is ignoring. I think he's too focused on the third thing he cares about after self-aggrandizement and self-enrichment, revenge. He can't get over how Iran has frustrated him.

And everyone is paying for it.

Also, like The Marsh Family sings 'Stormtroops and Freikorps Again', this song is a tribute to a recently passed artist, in this case Dolly Parton.

The Marsh Family also sings original songs. I'm embedding one, "Fingertips" (Official Music Video) - by The Marsh Family.

The official music video for The Marsh Family - FINGERTIPS.

We are releasing it on World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September), and wish to point viewers to the vital work of The Samaritans (here in the UK and Ireland). We're supporting their vision and their vital efforts to provide a 24/7 listening service - so that whatever challenges someone might be facing, they can find a moment of genuine human connection, and a safe, judgement free, confidential space to be heard.
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The song is from our debut album "Hollow Chapters" which came out in March 2026 and has been in the UK Folk Album Charts for six months. Thanks to everyone who supported the project on Kickstarter and Patreon.

This was also a fundraiser for Suicide Prevention Month. The link to it is at the video itself on YouTube.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for another brief entry tomorrow.