Songs That Refer To Historical Events

Ballad Of Spring Hill:  Peter, Paul & Mary (mining disaster)

The British are coming, Weezer

Snoopy vs. The Red Baron: The Royal Guardsmen  (the song refers to the real-life WW I German flying ace Baron von Richthofen)

Iron Maiden:

Alexander The Great

Historical biography

The Trooper

1854 Crimean War, Charge of the Light Brigade

Aces High

WWII

Run To The Hills

Plight of Native Americans

Death Of The Celts

Roman conquest of Britain

… for openers

Following in the steps of Iron Maiden is the Swedish metal band, Sabaton.

Like Maiden, their songs are almost all based on historical events, They even have a YouTube channel, Sabaton History, dedicated to the historical significance behind each song. It’s been used by teachers in classrooms for history study.

The Great War

WWI

Christmas Truce

WWI, 1914, a brief cease fire observed on the Western Front where both sides sang Christmas carols to each other. It’s a tear jerker, for sure.

The Lost Battalion

WWI, the nine companies of the US 77th Division that were surrounded by German forces in the Argonne Forest, 1918.

Bismark

The legendary German battleship of WWII and it’s eventual demise

…and there are many more

Wind Of Change, Scorpions

The fall of the Iron Curtain

Give peace a chance, John Lennon

Avalon Of The Heart:  Van Morrison (King Arthur legend)

Black Friday:  Steely Dan (9/24/1869)

Burn On:  Randy Newman (1969 Cuyahoga River fire in Cleveland)