Freethought & Rationalism Archive

GunnerJ · 02-07-2003, 09:30 AM

Re protest songs used for jingoistic purposes: It's my feeling that this is intentional. People see the flags waving and the all-American kids having fun on the jeans commercials, and they don't even bother to listen to the lyrics anymore, and would become irrate if anyone suggested that "Fortunate Son" is protest music. Thus, the song loses its power.

Anyway, as for a completely NON-ambiguous war protest song that's really very topical (if you don't mind a modern sounds) is "War?" by System of a Down. Here're the lyrics: War?

Danya · 02-07-2003, 09:52 AM

To the tune of "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands"...

If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq.
If the markets are a drama, bomb Iraq.
If the terrorists are frisky, Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky, Bomb Iraq.

If we have no allies with us, bomb Iraq.
If we think someone has dissed us, bomb Iraq.
So to hell with the inspections, Let's look tough for the elections,
Close your mind and take directions, Bomb Iraq.

It's "pre-emptive non-aggression", bomb Iraq.
Let's prevent this mass destruction, bomb Iraq.
They've got weapons we can't see, And that's good enough for me
'Cos it's all the proof I need Bomb Iraq.

If you never were elected, bomb Iraq.
If your mood is quite dejected, bomb Iraq.
If you think Saddam's gone mad, With the weapons that he had,
(And he tried to kill your dad), Bomb Iraq.

If your corporate fraud is growin', bomb Iraq.
If your ties to it are showin', bomb Iraq.
If your politics are sleazy, And hiding that ain't easy,
And your manhood's getting queasy, Bomb Iraq.

Fall in line and follow orders, bomb Iraq.
For our might knows not our borders, bomb Iraq.
Disagree? We'll call it treason, Let's make war not love this season,
Even if we have no reason, Bomb Iraq.

Flyboy · 02-07-2003, 02:11 PM

Oh oh I love protest songs (don't know why considering that I was not even alive during the Vietnam war).

You have to mention:
Blowing in the wind, Dylan
Eve of Destruction, McGuire
Ohio, Crosby Stills Nash and Young
Where have all the Flowers Gone, Kingston Trio

Marduk · 02-07-2003, 02:35 PM

Bob Dylan "Masters of War"
Jefferson Airplane "Wooden Ships"
Steppenwolf "Monster"
Tull "War Child"
Sabbath "War Pigs"

Ensign Steve · 02-07-2003, 03:48 PM

I agree about "War Pigs" from Black Sabbath.

And I want to add "Back to the Front" from Metallica. And I think Metallica has a few other good ones, but I can't come up with them off the top of my head.

Maybe "Civil War" from Guns n' Roses, that song is OK, IMHO.

Also, "Knocking on Heaven's Door". Is that the Beatles or the Stones? Please don't hate me for asking, I am not firing on all cylinders today!

Jen

Hedwig · 02-07-2003, 03:49 PM

I was in Girl Scouts for several years and at sleep away camp we'd always have a sing-a-long after dinner. For some reason we had quite a few protest songs in there. I can't remember who sings it but for some reason the song "One Tin Soldier" sticks out. It talks about how these people who live in a valley hear of a treasure that belongs to the people who live on a mountain nearby and how they send a message to the mountain people telling them to relenquish their treasure to them. When the mountain people said they'd share their treasure, it wasn't good enough for the people of the valley and they wage war on the mountain people. At the end the valley people triumph and when they pull up the rock that hid the treasure they find a simple plaque reading "Peace on Earth". I can't remember the entire song but I know the chorus goes:

"Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of heaven
And you can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumphets blowing
Come the judgement day.
On the bloody morning after,
One tin soldier rides away."

The other song that sticks out from that period in my life was the song (again, I have no idea who wrote it) "Broomstick Cowboy". It's a mother encouraging her son to enjoy his childhood because one day he'd be sent away to war where he might very well kill his brother or his friend. The last part goes:

"Dream on, my little broomstick cowboy,
Dream while you can.
For soon you'll be a dreadful thing, my son,
You'll be a man."

Ensign Steve · 02-07-2003, 03:52 PM

Sorry, I forgot to mention one more. It's called "Boom!" from System of a Down. It's on the new CD, "Steal This Album"

Nikolai · 02-07-2003, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hedwig
I was in Girl Scouts for several years and at sleep away camp we'd always have a sing-a-long after dinner. For some reason we had quite a few protest songs in there. I can't remember who sings it but for some reason the song "One Tin Soldier" sticks out. It talks about how these people who live in a valley hear of a treasure that belongs to the people who live on a mountain nearby and how they send a message to the mountain people telling them to relenquish their treasure to them. When the mountain people said they'd share their treasure, it wasn't good enough for the people of the valley and they wage war on the mountain people. At the end the valley people triumph and when they pull up the rock that hid the treasure they find a simple plaque reading "Peace on Earth". I can't remember the entire song but I know the chorus goes:

"Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of heaven
And you can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumphets blowing
Come the judgement day.
On the bloody morning after,
One tin soldier rides away."

The other song that sticks out from that period in my life was the song (again, I have no idea who wrote it) "Broomstick Cowboy". It's a mother encouraging her son to enjoy his childhood because one day he'd be sent away to war where he might very well kill his brother or his friend. The last part goes:

"Dream on, my little broomstick cowboy,
Dream while you can.
For soon you'll be a dreadful thing, my son,
You'll be a man."

Here is what I foundhttp://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/tin.htm

Apperently it was written by Lambert-Potter, sung by Coven (who is that?)

Hedwig · 02-07-2003, 04:32 PM

Thanks, Nikolai.

I can't believe it...I actually do still have the whole thing memorized.

Straight Hate · 02-07-2003, 04:45 PM

Unearth, "Only The People"
Turmoil, "Killing Today For A Better Tommorrow"

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02-07-2003, 09:30 AM	#11
GunnerJ Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: a place where i can list whatever location i want Posts: 4,871	Re protest songs used for jingoistic purposes: It's my feeling that this is intentional. People see the flags waving and the all-American kids having fun on the jeans commercials, and they don't even bother to listen to the lyrics anymore, and would become irrate if anyone suggested that "Fortunate Son" is protest music. Thus, the song loses its power. Anyway, as for a completely NON-ambiguous war protest song that's really very topical (if you don't mind a modern sounds) is "War?" by System of a Down. Here're the lyrics: War?

02-07-2003, 09:52 AM	#12
Danya Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: USA Posts: 638	To the tune of "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands"... If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq. If the markets are a drama, bomb Iraq. If the terrorists are frisky, Pakistan is looking shifty, North Korea is too risky, Bomb Iraq. If we have no allies with us, bomb Iraq. If we think someone has dissed us, bomb Iraq. So to hell with the inspections, Let's look tough for the elections, Close your mind and take directions, Bomb Iraq. It's "pre-emptive non-aggression", bomb Iraq. Let's prevent this mass destruction, bomb Iraq. They've got weapons we can't see, And that's good enough for me 'Cos it's all the proof I need Bomb Iraq. If you never were elected, bomb Iraq. If your mood is quite dejected, bomb Iraq. If you think Saddam's gone mad, With the weapons that he had, (And he tried to kill your dad), Bomb Iraq. If your corporate fraud is growin', bomb Iraq. If your ties to it are showin', bomb Iraq. If your politics are sleazy, And hiding that ain't easy, And your manhood's getting queasy, Bomb Iraq. Fall in line and follow orders, bomb Iraq. For our might knows not our borders, bomb Iraq. Disagree? We'll call it treason, Let's make war not love this season, Even if we have no reason, Bomb Iraq.

02-07-2003, 02:11 PM	#13
Flyboy Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 412	Oh oh I love protest songs (don't know why considering that I was not even alive during the Vietnam war). You have to mention: Blowing in the wind, Dylan Eve of Destruction, McGuire Ohio, Crosby Stills Nash and Young Where have all the Flowers Gone, Kingston Trio

02-07-2003, 02:35 PM	#14
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	Bob Dylan "Masters of War" Jefferson Airplane "Wooden Ships" Steppenwolf "Monster" Tull "War Child" Sabbath "War Pigs"

02-07-2003, 03:48 PM	#15
Ensign Steve Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Augusta, Georgia, United States Posts: 1,235	I agree about "War Pigs" from Black Sabbath. And I want to add "Back to the Front" from Metallica. And I think Metallica has a few other good ones, but I can't come up with them off the top of my head. Maybe "Civil War" from Guns n' Roses, that song is OK, IMHO. Also, "Knocking on Heaven's Door". Is that the Beatles or the Stones? Please don't hate me for asking, I am not firing on all cylinders today! Jen

02-07-2003, 03:49 PM	#16
Hedwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,921	I was in Girl Scouts for several years and at sleep away camp we'd always have a sing-a-long after dinner. For some reason we had quite a few protest songs in there. I can't remember who sings it but for some reason the song "One Tin Soldier" sticks out. It talks about how these people who live in a valley hear of a treasure that belongs to the people who live on a mountain nearby and how they send a message to the mountain people telling them to relenquish their treasure to them. When the mountain people said they'd share their treasure, it wasn't good enough for the people of the valley and they wage war on the mountain people. At the end the valley people triumph and when they pull up the rock that hid the treasure they find a simple plaque reading "Peace on Earth". I can't remember the entire song but I know the chorus goes: "Go ahead and hate your neighbor, Go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of heaven And you can justify it in the end. There won't be any trumphets blowing Come the judgement day. On the bloody morning after, One tin soldier rides away." The other song that sticks out from that period in my life was the song (again, I have no idea who wrote it) "Broomstick Cowboy". It's a mother encouraging her son to enjoy his childhood because one day he'd be sent away to war where he might very well kill his brother or his friend. The last part goes: "Dream on, my little broomstick cowboy, Dream while you can. For soon you'll be a dreadful thing, my son, You'll be a man."

02-07-2003, 03:52 PM	#17
Ensign Steve Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Augusta, Georgia, United States Posts: 1,235	Sorry, I forgot to mention one more. It's called "Boom!" from System of a Down. It's on the new CD, "Steal This Album"

02-07-2003, 04:32 PM	#19
Hedwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,921	Thanks, Nikolai. I can't believe it...I actually do still have the whole thing memorized.

02-07-2003, 04:45 PM	#20
Straight Hate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 4,171	Unearth, "Only The People" Turmoil, "Killing Today For A Better Tommorrow"

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