It was 2001 and the third solo album by Natalie Merchant, known to many as the singer from the 10000 Maniacs, had already been recorded when the September 11 attacks meant that the album cover with children wearing gas masks, which had actually already been made, could not be used. Friends, the record company and others were against it and in the end the somewhat old-fashioned picture was taken with her and used. This is how an American mother was imagined in 2001 😉
The song is a folk-country song that addresses capitalism and the greed for money in America. In the video an NPR Tiny Desk Live Session of the song (and then some others)