The flood of controversy that preceded the release of Steve Earle's Jerusalem album is easy to forget. I wrote this back on July 22:

It's no secret how I feel about Steve Earle, one of the first Cool Tunes features was a rave review of his illustrious career, and he just seems to be getting better with age. I like his latest collection of B-sides and outtakes, called Sidetracks, so much that when I was asked to name two albums to run out and buy RIGHT NOW, I named it and the new Chuck Prophet.

So I am concerned about all of the stink arising from his new song, "John Walker's Blues." A Reuters report says that it was

Recorded in Nashville by the maverick Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Steve Earle, "John Walker's Blues" is a stately ballad punctuated by the sound of Arabic prayers, and makes reference to Lindh's interest in music videos, boy bands, and religious fanaticism.

Over a layered backdrop of electric guitars recorded backward, the song serves as a kind of nightmarish funhouse-mirror version of Fess Parker's classic "Ballad of Davy Crockett" of the 1950s:

"We came to fight the jihad, our hearts were pure and strong. We filled the air with our prayers and we prayed for our martyrdom. Allah has some other plans, a secret not revealed. Now they're dragging me back with my head in the sack to the land of the infidel. If I should die, I'll rise up to the sky like Jesus."

The song is featured on Earle's forthcoming album "Jerusalem," which touches on a number of political and social issues including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

It offers a rare sympathetic view of Lindh, the Californian dubbed the "American Taliban" after he was captured fighting alongside troops of Afghanistan's fundamentalist Muslim rulers in November.

The Reuters piece is sober and restrained compared to one in the NY Post, "TWISTED BALLAD HONORS TALI-RAT."

American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh is glorified and called Jesus-like in a country-rock song to be released soon by maverick singer-songwriter Steve Earle. The controversial ballad called "John Walker's Blues" is backed by the chanting of Arabic prayers and praises Allah.

Earle's lyrics describe the United States as "the land of the infidel." Those fighting Osama bin Laden's declared jihad against the United States and Jews are said to have hearts "pure and strong."

The song says when Lindh dies, he will "rise up to the sky like Jesus."

The Post report goes on to say:

Music-industry heavyweights are already expressing outrage over the controversial song, and many predict it will be banned from the majority of radio playlists when it is released in late September.

"This puts [Earle] in the same category as Jane Fonda and John Walker and all those people who hate America," said Nashville talk-show host Steve Gill.

Phil Valentine, another Nashville DJ, said Earle had lost his way in trying to rebuild his faltering career as an alternative country performer.

"He's off the charts on this one," Valentine said. "It's politically insane."

As if these people were going to play the new Steve Earle anyway. Earle's audience is a combination of alt-country, Texas fans who have stayed with him on his eccentric ride, roots rockers, and adventuresome folkies. Mainstream Nashville pop country hasn't had any use for Earle since he weighted about 150 lbs over 15 years ago. So these DJ's are just town prefects assailing a long-gone prodigal anyway.

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