In honor of the upcoming political election, and the current state of affairs, I offer up my list of the top political/protest/anti-war songs ever.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
In honor of the upcoming political election, and the current state of affairs, I offer up my list of the top political/protest/anti-war songs ever.…
Article comments
76 - Gayl
I need some easy verses to known tunes to use at rallies for Democrat candidates in this Republican haven of western Montana, and eastern Washington. Can anyone out there help me?
77 - bob
this page sucks my son was trying to do his homework and this page was no help to him at all
78 - Gina
Totally agree. Phil Ochs is the best!!
Bob Dylan and McGuire are no-brainers too. (blowing in the wind by Dylan. great)
I would add Randy Newman's Political Science, Country Joe McDonald has a good song, other than the great fish cheer one: Kiss my Ass.
Five Man Electrical Band: Stanger
Lennon: Imagine
Tom Paxton: What did you learn in school today
Tim Hardin: Simple Song of Freedom
And hey, if you know french, check out some'Cowboys Fringants'lyrics and, once more, I urge you all to listen to Phil Ochs, protest master
79 - JV
At work I have an ITunes "monthly special" that I share out every month. Next month's theme is gonna be "Protest" so this list was very helpful to help decide what I should include.
Also, to add to the discussion, the band Midnight Oil had a protest song or 2 ;-)
80 - Jakey Paige
i didnt have enough time to read through everything but i dont know if anybody mentioned
The Doors - Unknown Soldier
or
Cat Stevens - Peace Train.
Im not sure how many people here are in to System of a Down but im just a music lover, i listen to anything and everything.
System of a Down - Soldier Side
even if you dont like that type of music you should at least check out the lyrics.
81 - Ralph DeMattia
Right, you crybaby as*****es! WAR never solved anything;;; except maybe Slavery; Fascism; Nazism; and Communism. We owe all this freedom to you jerk-offs!!!
82 - sparks
no idea if the person who left this comment will ever return to find a response -
"I am trying to locate the name and artist that did this anti-war song in the midst of the Viet Nam rage. It was by a female vocalist who sings of her son returning from the army: "I know you won't finish...that tree house he started...the summer before he went away; and though he comes...to church with me on Sunday, he sits there, but he doesn't pray. He keeps things inside, like there's something to hide, and he's traded root beer for gin...congratulations, you sure made a man out of him.
Any help??"
because it was a long time ago...
but the song is called "congratulations (you sure mad a man out of him)" by arlene harden
83 - Luke
What about "War Pigs"? Just cause it's metal doesn't make it relevant.
84 - jennifer
what is really missing and really the biggest question is where are the songs of protest today? we do have some- but they are not striking the chords that gather people to do just that- protest
85 - Douglas Mays
Jennifer!!! My sentiments, EXACTLY!!! I don't really hear much in the line of activism and protest. Now days it all just comes across as whining and complaining. No real force behind the message.
best,
DM
86 - rustie
system of a down is not a protest band they are anti-turkist fascists.
87 - Anti-Turk Facist
Bombs over Baghdad has nothing to do with the war in Iraq did the person who made this even listen to that song? If you want to have it be a criticism of new hip hop thats fine but either change the 'money lyric' about that or listen to the effin song.
88 - Ruvy
#84 â€" April 17, 2008 @ 01:17AM â€" jennifer
what is really missing and really the biggest question is where are the songs of protest today? we do have some- but they are not striking the chords that gather people to do just that- protest
#85 â€" April 17, 2008 @ 03:20AM â€" Douglas Mays
Jennifer!!! My sentiments, EXACTLY!!! I don't really hear much in the line of activism and protest. Now days it all just comes across as whining and complaining. No real force behind the message.
Come on? What are you going to protest?
You Americans have very serious problems - you're stuck in Iraq, and you can't afford to stay there; yet you can't afford to leave! That's affecting your economy and bringing you down slowly. And these economic issues do not necessarily lend themselves to song. It's not like singing about the bad old boss and his gang of goons.
Go ahead, put all that into a protest song.
You need a dirge like "American Pie" to accomplish what you want, and you need a writer who can get it really popular, without feeling the need to cash in on the popularity.
Guys like Don MacLean are not found in the A&P, you know....
89 - Tink
I'm not sure if this was addressed somewhere here, but even if it has it is worth being said here again. For all those who said "Where are the Dylan songs?" Learn your protest song lineage! "Blowin' in the Wind" was WRITTEN by Dylan and covered by Peter, Paul, & Mary (PPM) among others. I will admit that PPM do sing my favorite version but give credit were credit is due...80% of PPM songs are covers! And if you like protest music check out the latest PPM release of new material "In These Times" 2004...almost every song is political and FYI most are indeed excellent covers of lesser know artists.
90 - rob dog
where is hurricane by bob dylan?!
91 - James
IF YOU DONT HAVE BOB DYLAN ON YOUR IPOD THEN YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE A LIST OF THE BEST PROTEST SONGS AS U ARE CLUELESS OF WHAT A TRUE PROTEST SONG SOUNDS LIKE AND ALL THE SONGS ON THERE ARE INFLUENCED BY THE GREAT BOB WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT
92 - jako
Joe Grushecky, What Did You Do in the War
Did you give'em hell like vice president Quale?
93 - Carmen Smith
why are you americans obsessed with Bruce Springsteen- he is as corporate as they come!!!
94 - Carmen Smith
how about Linton Kwesi Johnston???
95 - Carmen Smith
Ruvy you are right on. Are you canadian?
96 - Lochgelly
Bob Segar's Feel Like a Number
totally underrated protest song
97 - fuckyou
to the song "gimme shelter", there is also another song by Rage Against the Machine (RATM) called "no shelter" thats realyl good.
the thin line between entertainment and war
The front line is everywhere, there be no shelter here
American eyes, American eyes
View the world from American eyes
Bury the past, rob us blind
And leave nothing behind
98 - Mike
I've been looking for the lyrics to an environmental protest song sung to the tune of, "Put your hand in the hand..." Does anyone know where I might find them?
The chorus goes:
"Put your hand in the hand of the man who pollutes the water,
Put your hand in the hand of the man who defiles the sea.
If you do this you'll see in your reflection brother,
A member of the fascist bourgeoisie
99 - Haanskiiez
Zombie by the Cranberries! I ran across that while looking for a song to sing for my Protest themed music assingment, as I was looking for a female singer... if you have any more gimme a yell :)
100 - MLMarvin
War Pigs - Black Sabath...anti war, and will get you stoked
101 - MLMarvin
Dylan's mentor - at least musically was Woody Gutherie. FYI Arlo's (of Alice's Rest. fame) dad....
102 - MLMarvin
Right, you crybaby as*****es! WAR never solved anything;;; except maybe Slavery; Fascism; Nazism; and Communism. We owe all this freedom to you jerk-offs!!!
You are absolutely right. War with a vision of a conclusion and a strategy that could be adapted to those engaged with so that the vision can be attained. Or at least enough change is made to get on the track of the vision.
War also solved the problem of being under the realm of the King of England in a little dispute called the Revolutionary War.
1770's oorah!
103 - Dickies Scrubs
I always thought the Sting song was named Russia and not Russians. Oh boy, thanks for pointing that out. And I second Bring the Boys Home, great song and should definitely be in the list.
104 - Burrowing Owls
People are fired up about Occupations...a music video primer on the demonstrations and the reactions.
105 - Leadbottom
Iris Dements... wasteland of the free,
my god what an honest and heartfelt singer songwriter