In a world moving at dizzying speed, Doug Mishkin’s new album Tip of the Spear is a necessary slow dance with history, humanity, and hope. Released on April 15, 2025, this 12-track collection is a masterclass in storytelling, blending Mishkin’s lifelong commitment to social justice with the kind of personal introspection that makes folk music so eternally resonant. It’s not just an album; it’s a tapestry, one that weaves together civil rights struggles, personal triumphs and losses, and the ongoing challenge of living with empathy in a fractured world.
From the moment Tip of the Spear opens with “Save Your Prayers,” Mishkin signals that this will be an album unafraid to stare hard truths in the eye. His voice, weathered but unwavering, delivers a plea not for hollow hopes, but for real action. It’s a bold thesis statement for a record that understands the stakes of our time—and the ways in which music can still make a difference.
Tracks like “If They’d Been Black” and “Reading Names (George Floyd)” cut especially deep. Mishkin refuses to look away from systemic injustice, instead choosing to spotlight the pain and resilience embedded in America’s ongoing struggle with race. His lyrics aren’t didactic; they’re human. They ache. They ask questions that don’t have easy answers. It’s this emotional honesty that elevates Tip of the Spear beyond a protest album—it’s a mirror, held up to a society still wrestling with its soul.
Yet Mishkin knows that true storytelling must also capture joy, love, and the delicate beauty of everyday life. On songs like “The Delicious Part” and “Suite: Sweet Sycamore Street,” he turns inward, reflecting on family, memory, and the small, perfect moments that give life meaning. “Who Knew,” a playful and touching tribute to the joys of grandparenthood, offers one of the album’s most radiant smiles. It’s clear that Mishkin doesn’t see life as a series of separate compartments—politics here, love there—but as a continuous, messy, glorious whole.
Musically, the album stays true to the folk roots that first captivated Mishkin at a young age, when he sat spellbound around campfires, listening to the songs of Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, and Tom Paxton. Acoustic guitars, gentle harmonies, and sparse yet purposeful arrangements give Tip of the Spear an intimacy that feels almost like a conversation between old friends. Mishkin’s voice carries the weariness of battles fought, but also the unwavering optimism of someone who believes the fight is worth it.
One of the most powerful moments comes with the reimagining of “Woody’s Children.” Originally recorded in 1986, this song stands as both a tribute and a challenge. Celebrating the artists who used their music as weapons for change, Mishkin breathes new life into the anthem, reminding us that Guthrie’s legacy is not something to relegate to history books—it’s a living, breathing call to action. With lines like “we are all Woody’s children,” Mishkin refuses to let listeners sit passively. Instead, he invites everyone to pick up the torch, to sing louder, to care deeper.
The title track, “Tip of the Spear,” sums up the album’s spirit perfectly. It’s about being willing to be at the forefront of change, even when it’s hard, even when it’s dangerous. Mishkin doesn’t pretend it’s easy. His songs don’t offer tidy resolutions. But they do offer courage—the kind that only grows stronger in community and song.
Doug Mishkin’s Tip of the Spear couldn’t have arrived at a better moment. In an era when algorithms push us toward instant gratification and surface-level distraction, Mishkin asks us to sit still, to listen carefully, and to feel deeply. These 12 songs remind us that storytelling, when done with heart and humility, still has the power to change lives. Mishkin may sing about heartbreak and injustice, but he never lets despair have the last word. Instead, he leaves us with a simple, urgent belief: that in the face of brokenness, music can still mend.
By the time the final notes of Tip of the Spear fade away, you’re left not just with melodies in your ears but with a call vibrating in your bones—a call to live more fully, to love more fiercely, and to fight for a better world with whatever tools you have. In Doug Mishkin’s hands, a guitar becomes more than an instrument; it becomes a lifeline, a promise, and a revolution.
