Protest Songs That Matter

[stooka]

get up, stand up and check out this interesting list of 20.............................. then post your shortlist.

 

 

update: scroll down to view just the list of songs.

[yermom]

My notes on that list:

I really liked that Garth Brooks song when I was a kid (I was ten and grew up in Oklahoma).

As a teen, I loved DK's "California Uber Alles"...still do.

"Little Boxes" is awesome...thank you to "Weeds!"

"Strange Fruit" is mesmerizing...you'd be crazy not to be hypnotized by that on your first listen.

Who doesn't love Marvin Gaye?

 

I also would count Black Flag's "Rise Above" as a great song for raging against the man.

...and any number of Dylan songs.

[Lammycat]

Since Country Joe's "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die" didn't even make the cut, I'll say the greatest protest song ever goes to:

 

 

Beastie Boys: "Fight For Your Right"

 

Protesting against: Living at home under the oppression of mom and dad.

[LouieB]

How about a protest song about a list you have to open each individual window to get to protest songs....worst content web design issue ever (all I had to do was get to Green Day and I gave up......I gave up after Garth Brooks....)

 

LouieB

[Reni]

my favorites on that list are Melvina Reynolds and Billie Holiday. No matter how many times I hear Strange Fruit, it is still hard to listen to.

[mountain bed]

You know, if

one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and

they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it,in harmony,

they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them.

And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in

singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an

organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said

FIFTY PEOPLE A DAY walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and

walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

 

And that's what it is , the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and

all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the

guitar....

 

If ya wanna end war & stuff ya gotta sing LOUD.

 

[stooka]

How about a protest song about a list you have to open each individual window to get to protest songs....worst content web design issue ever (all I had to do was get to Green Day and I gave up......I gave up after Garth Brooks....)

 

LouieB

 

 

 

 

20 'Get Up, Stand Up' - Bob Marley & The Wailers

19 'Minority' - Green Day

18 'We Shall Be Free' - Garth Brooks

17 'We're Not Gonna Take It' - Twisted Sister

16 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' - Kanye West

15 'I Ain't Marching Anymore' - Phil Ochs

14 'Clampdown' - The Clash

13 'California Uber Alles' - Dead Kennedys

12 'Little Boxes' - Malvina Reynolds

11 'F--- tha Police' - N.W.A.

10 'Allentown' - Billy Joel

09 'World Wide Suicide' - Pearl Jam

08 'Maggie's Farm' - Bob Dylan

07 'Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud' - James Brown

06 'Boom!' - System Of A Down

05 'Strange Fruit' - Billie Holiday

04 'War' - Edwin Starr

03 'Take This Job and Shove It' - Johnny Paycheck

02 'Fight the Power' - Public Enemy

01 'What's Going On' - Marvin Gaye

[Reni]

where's "Suck My Left One" by Bikini Kill? Classic.

[W(TF)]

Nice to see N.W.A. on the list, but Twisted Sister/Pearl Jam/Billy Joel/Johnny Paycheck...GMAFB?! There's a subtle difference between protesting and bitching.

 

Notable omissions.... Woody Guthrie (This Land), Springsteen (Tom Joad), loads of early Dylan, CSNY (Ohio), and on and on.

[napoleon]

no rage?

 

are you kidding me?

[Reni]

Dead Men Don't Rape - 7 Year Bitch

 

[viatroy]

Come you masters of war

You that build all the guns

You that build the death planes

You that build the big bombs

You that hide behind walls

You that hide behind desks

I just want you to know

I can see through your masks

 

You that never done nothin'

But build to destroy

You play with my world

Like it's your little toy

You put a gun in my hand

And you hide from my eyes

And you turn and run farther

When the fast bullets fly

 

Like Judas of old

You lie and deceive

A world war can be won

You want me to believe

But I see through your eyes

And I see through your brain

Like I see through the water

That runs down my drain

 

You fasten the triggers

For the others to fire

Then you set back and watch

When the death count gets higher

You hide in your mansion

As young people's blood

Flows out of their bodies

And is buried in the mud

 

You've thrown the worst fear

That can ever be hurled

Fear to bring children

Into the world

For threatening my baby

Unborn and unnamed

You ain't worth the blood

That runs in your veins

 

How much do I know

To talk out of turn

You might say that I'm young

You might say I'm unlearned

But there's one thing I know

Though I'm younger than you

Even Jesus would never

Forgive what you do

 

Let me ask you one question

Is your money that good

Will it buy you forgiveness

Do you think that it could

I think you will find

When your death takes its toll

All the money you made

Will never buy back your soul

 

And I hope that you die

And your death'll come soon

I will follow your casket

In the pale afternoon

And I'll watch while you're lowered

Down to your deathbed

And I'll stand o'er your grave

'Til I'm sure that you're dead

[Reni]

In defense of humans

Lay down your power trip

Stop toying with emotions and relationships

Cause you don't rise when people fall

 

In defense of humans

Lay down your politics

They're all big money and media tricks

Cause you don't rise when people fall

 

I see you rot this world

I see you ride this world

I see you rape this world

On, off, on, off, on, off

And I don't like what I see

Greed

 

In defense of humans

Lay down your human pride

We're born into our bodies

No chance to decide

Cause you don't rise when people fall

 

In defense of humans

Lay down your sticks and stones

Weapons and violence are better off left alone

Cause you don't rise when people fall

 

I see you rot this world

I see you ride this world

I see you rape this world

On, off, on, off, on, off

And I don't like what I see

Greed

 

You don't rise when people fall

[stooka]

Should one want to take it up a notch..................PBS Independent Lens has a user friendly BRIEF history of protest music.

[HighFives]

http://www.protest-records.com/mp3/index.html

[markosis]

"Anti-procrastination Song" by S.O.D. (0:03 seconds)

 

Protesting against: procrastination

[stooka]

With all due respect to the thousands of protest songs and the many crimes against humanity that inspired them, my personal favorite is Revolution - The Beatles.

[Tweedling]

I've thought long and hard.

De La Soul- "Stakes Is High"

protesting ignorance

[mpolak21]

You know, if

one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and

they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it,in harmony,

they may think they're both faggots and they won't take either of them.

And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in

singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an

organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said

FIFTY PEOPLE A DAY walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and

walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

 

And that's what it is , the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and

all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the

guitar....

 

If ya wanna end war & stuff ya gotta sing LOUD.

 

 

I could listen to nothing but this song for days on end, and I usually do in the week heading up towards Thanksgiving.

 

--Mike

[brittboas]

Artist: Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul

Song: I Am A Patriot

 

And the river opens for the righteous, someday

I was walking with my brother

And he wondered what was on my mind

I said what I believe in my soul

It ain't what I see with my eyes

And we can't turn our backs this time

 

I am a patriot and I love my country

Because my country is all I know

I want to be with my family

With people who understand me

I got nowhere else to go

I am a patriot

 

And the river opens for the righteous, someday

I was talking with my sister

She looked so fine

I said baby what's on your mind

She said I want to run like the lion

Released from the cages

Released from the rages

Burning in my heart tonight

 

I am a patriot and I love my country

Because my country is all I know

 

And I ain't no communist, and I ain't no capitalist

And I ain't no socialist

and I sure ain't no imperialist

And I ain't no democrat

And I ain't no republican either

And I only know one party

and its name is freedom

I am a patriot

And the river opens for the righteous, someday

[brittboas]

Sunday Bloody Sunday

 

Yes...

I can't believe the news today

Oh, I can't close my eyes

And make it go away

How long...

How long must we sing this song

How long, how long...

'cause tonight...we can be as one

Tonight...

 

Broken bottles under children's feet

Bodies strewn across the dead end street

But I won't heed the battle call

It puts my back up

Puts my back up against the wall

 

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

 

And the battle's just begun

There's many lost, but tell me who has won

The trench is dug within our hearts

And mothers, children, brothers, sisters

Torn apart

 

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

 

How long...

How long must we sing this song

How long, how long...

'cause tonight...we can be as one

Tonight...tonight...

 

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

 

Wipe the tears from your eyes

Wipe your tears away

Oh, wipe your tears away

Oh, wipe your tears away

(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

Oh, wipe your blood shot eyes

(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

 

Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

Sunday, Bloody Sunday (Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

 

And it's true we are immune

When fact is fiction and TV reality

And today the millions cry

We eat and drink while tomorrow they die

 

(Sunday, Bloody Sunday)

 

The real battle just begun

To claim the victory Jesus won

On...

 

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Sunday Bloody Sunday...

[brittboas]

WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE

(Pete Seeger)

 

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time passing.

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time ago.

Where have all the flowers gone?

The girls have picked them ev'ry one.

Oh, When will you ever learn?

Oh, When will you ever learn?

 

young girls

They've taken husbands ev'ry one.

young men

They're all in uniform.

soldiers

They've gone to graveyards ev'ry one.

graveyards

They're covered with flowers ev'ry one.

flowers

Young girls have picked them ev'ry one.

[LouieB]

20 'Get Up, Stand Up' - Bob Marley & The Wailers

19 'Minority' - Green Day

18 'We Shall Be Free' - Garth Brooks

17 'We're Not Gonna Take It' - Twisted Sister

16 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' - Kanye West

15 'I Ain't Marching Anymore' - Phil Ochs

14 'Clampdown' - The Clash

13 'California Uber Alles' - Dead Kennedys

12 'Little Boxes' - Malvina Reynolds

11 'F--- tha Police' - N.W.A.

10 'Allentown' - Billy Joel

09 'World Wide Suicide' - Pearl Jam

08 'Maggie's Farm' - Bob Dylan

07 'Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud' - James Brown

06 'Boom!' - System Of A Down

05 'Strange Fruit' - Billie Holiday

04 'War' - Edwin Starr

03 'Take This Job and Shove It' - Johnny Paycheck

02 'Fight the Power' - Public Enemy

01 'What's Going On' - Marvin Gaye

Actually I did look at all these songs even though I made a joke about the website issue. Some of these songs aren't really protest songs. Many of them are topical to be sure, but don't seem to be "protesting" anything.

 

LouieB

[froggie]

Numbers 8 & 10 are my favourites there out of what i've heard

[howdjadoo]

The Doors-Five To One

 

Tons of Steve Earle banter