A single word change turns one of the most recognizable kiss-off lines in American rhythm and blues into a protest refrain. Instead of telling Jack to hit the road and never come back, the Santa Fe Raging Grannies direct their version at federal immigration authorities. Swapping “Jack” for “ICE” gives the mid-century pop classic an immediate focus. The contrast between an upbeat, familiar standard and a pointed political rewrite turns the dismissive refrain into a chant that crowds can quickly pick up.
The song’s structure is well suited to spontaneous group participation. Songwriter Percy Mayfield penned “Hit the Road Jack,” but Ray Charles made the tune world-famous with his 1961 recording, anchored by a tight call-and-response between Charles and the Raelettes. The recording earned a Grammy Award in 1962 and entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013. That back-and-forth translates easily to group singing, with a solo singer delivering the verse and the crowd answering with the title hook.
According to the video’s channel notes, the Santa Fe chapter adapted the song to address Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security. The group encourages activists to use the song at local demonstrations, crediting the rewritten lyrics simply to “Granny Marcy.” The channel also provides a repeating four-chord progression of A minor, G, F, and E.
The video was published on the group’s YouTube channel on February 6, 2026. As of September 15, 2026, it had accumulated more than 1.1 million views and roughly 216,000 likes. That engagement made it a YouTube hit for the local group.
The Raging Grannies have used theatrical satire and recognizable melodies since the movement began in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1987. Operating through autonomous local chapters, the network now counts more than 60 active groups and describes its activism as nonviolent. The Santa Fe members have a history of distributing songs for crowds to sing together. At the city’s No Kings demonstration in June 2025, members provided song sheets for a reworking of “We Shall Not Be Moved.”
The Santa Fe group’s songbook continues to grow alongside its public appearances. In September 2026, the international Raging Grannies archive catalogued another immigration-enforcement tune from the local chapter. Written by Linda Hassemer, “Gotta Stop the Raids” sets new activist verses to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s hit “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” Like the earlier adaptation, it uses a familiar rock song that crowds can quickly join in singing.