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Best Ever Protest Songs

boxwine_in_hellboxwine_in_hell Posts: 1,263
edited July 2006 in Other Music
The political slant on the latest PJ album got me thinking about this? What are the greatest protest songs not including the latest PJ album. Here's a few that come to mind.

Get Up, Stand Up - Bob Marley
War - Bob Marley
Stop Whispering - Radiohead
Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Revolution - The Beatles
Grievance - PJ
Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
Blowin in the Wind - Dylan

Actually you could fill up a few pages of Dylan and Marley protest songs. I better stop before this gets out of hand. Have fun thinking of a few. You might even want to go way off the board and think of Gordon Lightfoot or something....lol
one foot in the door
the other foot in the gutter
sweet smell that they adore
I think I'd rather smother
-The Replacements-
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • pearlzepfanpearlzepfan Posts: 456
    This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
    "I'm a thief, and I dig it"
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Masters Of War - Dylan
    All of Neil Young's new record
    Bushleaguer
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    pennywise or nofx
    Ron: I just don't feel like going out tonight
    Sammi: Wanna just break up?

  • pearlzepfanpearlzepfan Posts: 456
    keeponrockin wrote:
    Masters Of War - Dylan
    All of Neil Young's new record
    Bushleaguer


    My only problem with Bushleaguer is that Ed pretty much names George Bush. Thus making the song dated and almost irrelevent once George W. is out of office (as long as another member of the family doesn't ever take office)
    "I'm a thief, and I dig it"
  • Pearl Jam and toastPearl Jam and toast Posts: 4,475
    yeah bushleaguer isn't really timeless.

    Most of the Avocado however..

    and 1/2 full.. green disease.. etc.


    Why hasn't "Stop, Hey, What's that sound?" by Buffallo Springfield been mentioned yet?



    Hard Rain - Dylan
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • brhf9brhf9 Posts: 1,475
    'This old town's changed so much.
    Don't feel like I belong,
    Too many protest singers,
    Not enough protest songs.'
    'Go easy, step lightly, stay free!'

    You have been banned for the following reason:
    inappropriate post.

    'Too many people on this earth. We need a new plague.' - Dwight Schrute
  • spatspat Posts: 644
    eve of destruction by barry mcguire
    My favorite Pearl Jam song: "Corporate Greed Boat Asshole Behind a Counter in the Oval Office"
  • tybirdtybird Posts: 17,388
    Biko-Peter Gabriel (matches the emotion of Ohio-by CSNY, which should be on any list of great protest songs.)
    Putting People on the Moon-Drive-by Truckers
    Combat Rock or Faraway by Sleater-Kinney
    All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    A ton of Dylan songs,

    Blowin' in the wind
    Only a pawn in their game
    masters of war
    lonesome death of hattie carroll
    oxford town
    I kinda think gates of eden is as well in its own way
    Hurricane
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • SkooledSkooled Posts: 147
    Bad religion - Let them eat war
  • uninnocentuninnocent Posts: 1,565
    spat wrote:
    eve of destruction by barry mcguire

    that's easily the best protest song that i can name.
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    Pearl Jam and toast wrote:
    Why hasn't "Stop, Hey, What's that sound?" by Buffallo Springfield been mentioned yet?




    you must be talking about for what it's worth :)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • "Imagen" my thoughts"Imagen" my thoughts Posts: 27
    buffalo springsfield- stop children whats that sound- protest song when i watched forest gump
    led zeppelin- tangerine
    nirvana- heart shape box
    pink floyd- dark side of the moon- kinda like what this world is turning too
  • El_KabongEl_Kabong Posts: 4,141
    -Jimi Hendrix's star spangled banner at woodstock (listen closer, bombs and guns oging off, an ambulance going by, taps, abck to ssb....:D), machine gun

    -john lennon - Sunday, Bloody Sunday and most of 'sometime in new york'

    -radiohead - dollars and cents, most of hail ot the thief, electioneering

    system of a down - boom, war, deer dance, prison song

    -tool - intolerance

    ani difranco - your next bold move, serpentine, self-evident, willing to fight, decree, reprieve, millennium theater, evolve, my iq, grand canyon, animal, subdivision, fuel, coming up, trickle down, tis of thee,

    -rage against the machine - well...all of it! ghost of tom joad...

    -john fogerty - fortunate son

    dead kennedys...

    godspeed you black emperor
    standin above the crowd
    he had a voice that was strong and loud and
    i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
    eager to identify with
    someone above the crowd
    someone who seemed to feel the same
    someone prepared to lead the way
  • MohabMohab Posts: 310
    bruce cockburn - various
  • signaltonoisesignaltonoise Posts: 241
    Definitely BIKO by Peter Gabriel

    also: Know Your Rights (The Clash) and We Shall Overcome (was it originally Peter Seeger's??)
    Per sognare altri mondi non è mai troppo tardi
    Another world is possible
  • pjalive21pjalive21 Posts: 2,818
    Edwin Starr- WAR
  • AstroFanAstroFan Posts: 193
    pearlzepfan wrote:
    My only problem with Bushleaguer is that Ed pretty much names George Bush. Thus making the song dated and almost irrelevent once George W. is out of office (as long as another member of the family doesn't ever take office)

    "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
    We're finally on our won.
    This summer I haear the drumming,
    Four dead in Ohio. "

    I don't think 'Bushleaguer' is anywhere near as good as 'Ohio', but that's an example of a great song standing the test of time despite blatantly referencing a political figure.

    Also, the Buffalo Springfield song is called "For Whats It's Worth".
  • offhegoes24offhegoes24 Posts: 16
    When the President talks to God- Bright Eyes

    It's free on itunes so download it
    "Alcoholism is a disease. But it's, like, the only disease you can get yelled at for havin'. Damnit, Otto! You're an alcoholic! Damnit, Otto, you have LUPUS!"
    Mitch Hedberg (RIP)
  • yerreyyerrey Posts: 183
    straight to hell, clampdown, the call-up, etc - the clash!
  • offhegoes09offhegoes09 Posts: 328
    War Pigs--Sabbath.
    Best protest song imo
    "The whole world will be different soon"
  • Milhouse VanHoutenMilhouse VanHouten Posts: 755
    I'd consider "Entertain" by Sleater-Kinney to be a protest song, and it sure as hell rocks the pants off all those who are wearing pants as they listen to it:

    entertain

    so you want to be en-entertained?
    please look away (don’t look away)
    we’re not here ’cause we want to entertain
    go away (don’t go away)
    reality is the new fiction they say
    truth is truer these days, truth is man-made
    if you’re here ’cause you want to be entertained
    go away, please go away

    if your art is done, johnny get your gun
    join the rank and file, on your TV dial

    you come around looking 1984
    you’re such a bore, 1984
    nostalgia, well you’re using it like a whore
    it’s better than before, ah it’s better than before
    you come around sounding 1972
    you did nothing new, 1972
    where’s the “Fuck You”?
    where’s the black and blue? (3x)

    if your art is done, johnny get your gun
    join the rank and file, on your TV dial

    hey! look around they are lying to you
    they are lyin’, ha! they are lyin’ and
    can’t you see it is just a silly ruse?
    they are lying, and I am lying too
    and all you want is entertainment,
    rip me open it’s so free, yeah

    if your art is done, johnny get your gun
    join the rank and file, on your TV dial

    don’t drag me down, I’m not fallin’ down (2x)

    1,2,3!
    if you want to take a shot at me
    well, get in line, line
    1,2,3!
    baby, I’ve had all my shots
    and I’m fine

    1,2,3!
    if you haven’t had enough of me
    well get in line, line
    1,2,3!
    yeah, you deserve it now
    it’s all right

    1,2,3!
    we can drown in mediocrity
    it feels sublime, sublime
    1,2,3!
    yeah it sounds like someone
    pushed the rewind
    (Dont drag me down, I’m not falling down (2x))

    1,2,3!
    now, give it to me easily
    my feeble mind needs time
    1,2,3!
    yeah, you make it sweet
    and syrupy with rhyme
    (Dont drag me down, I’m not falling down (2x))

    Dont drag me down, I’m not falling down (2x)

    if your art is done, johnny get your gun
    join the rank and file, on your TV dial

    the grip of fear
    is already here
    the lines are drawn
    whose side are you on?
    "Of course it hurts. You're getting fucked by an elephant."
  • pearlzepfanpearlzepfan Posts: 456
    AstroFan wrote:
    "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
    We're finally on our won.
    This summer I haear the drumming,
    Four dead in Ohio. "

    I don't think 'Bushleaguer' is anywhere near as good as 'Ohio', but that's an example of a great song standing the test of time despite blatantly referencing a political figure.

    Also, the Buffalo Springfield song is called "For Whats It's Worth".


    Ok, you're right there, I didn't even consider that song, but like you said, Bushleaguer is no where near as good as Ohio. And unlike Ohio, Bushleaguer is not about any real specific topic, Eddie is just bashing the man for who he is, which is fine of course.
    "I'm a thief, and I dig it"
  • Thumbing My WayThumbing My Way Posts: 1,073
    Ben Harper - Black Rain

    RATM - Know Your Enemy
    "I Miss You Already!!!!!"

    "Sorry is the fool who trades his love for high-rise rent, Seems the more you make equals the loneliness you get"

    .NJD.
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