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PROTEST & REBELLION SONGS.."get it off your chest"

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Recognized Social Butterfly

PROTEST & REBELLION SONGS.."get it off your chest"

The only stipulation here is that the song should be commentary,  controversial, expressing a rebellious, protesting "frame of mind"; generally, or speciffically, about society, culture, economics, wealth, poverty, politics, war, peace, relationships, etc, etc, etc.

 

How about some songs which, when you heard them, you thought, "Yeh, those lyrics tell it like it is!" or maybe you were offended by the controversial lyrics.

 

Your song selection may be from any time period in history and about any topic you choose, old songs and new songs.

 

Please be free to post protest & rebellion songs which either you agreed with or which "honked" you off.

 

Here is an opportunity to "Get it off your chest!" Go ahead and briefly include memorable lyrics of the song if you like [ if you remember 🙂 ]

 

To begin.....here's a protest song:     Subterranean Homesick Blues     Bob Dylan

 

 


Merely OneTokeOTL
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Regular Contributor

The Beatles - Revolution. 

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Regular Contributor

"Survival" by the O'Jays

 

"Keep on Pushin'" by the Impressions

 

"Wake Up Everybody" by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

 

"We're a Winner" by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions

 

"Why Can't We Live Together" by Tim Thomas and also by Sade

 

"Blowin' In the Wind" by Stevie Wonder, original by Bob Dylan

 

"You Haven't Done Nothin'" by Stevie Wonder

 

"Livin' for the City" by Stevie Wonder

 

"The Ghetto" by Donnie Hathaway

 

"Someday We'll All Be Free" by Donnie Hathaway

 

"The Ballad of Sad Young Men" by Roberta Flack

 

"Abraham, Martin and John" by Dion and also by Smokie Robinson and the Miracles

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Nice.
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Periodic Contributor

The best version of "Abraham, Martin and John" I ever heard was done by Moms Mabely. Check it out I think you will like it.
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And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

 

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For what it's worth - Buffalo Springfield

 

American Idiot - Green day

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Newbie

"Monster" by Steppenwolf

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Periodic Contributor

Something Happening Here - Crosby, Stills and Nash

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CCR  Fortunate Son

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"What about me?"

Quicksilver Messenger Service

 

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"Simple Song of Freedom" by Bobby Darin

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Periodic Contributor

" Come and sing a simple song of freedom,
sing it like you've never done before"......
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"Ain't gonna study war no more" by Leadbelly

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Voulenteers by Jefferson Airplane

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Shape of Things to Come - Max Frost and the Troopers

 

For What it's Worth - Buffalo Springfield

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The Eve of Destruction.

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Trusted Contributor

War -the Edwin Starr version

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Social Butterfly

"I Ain't Goin ta War and No One Can Make Me" by the Rebels Without a Cause (country)

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"Almost Gone"    by  Graham Nash & James Raymond

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Fortunate Son. We have too many of those in positions of power. Song itself has the most snarling guitar riff at beginning for emphasis.

 

Masters of War. The anger is palpable to very last line.

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American Joe....bluegrass...IronHorse

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"The Price You Got Pay To Be Free" "Compared To What" - Les McCann and Eddie Harris.

"The Message" - Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five.

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Wow!  You've got me remembering so many fine songs.  Here are some I can think of:

 

Working Class Hero -- John Lennon

Gimme Some Truth -- John Lennon

Going Up Country -- Canned Heat (this is an "I'm done fighting, I'm leaving" type protest song)

Volunteers -- Jefferson Airplane (& just about everything they did felt like protest.  And Grace Slick was so cool!)

Another Brick in the Wall -- Pink Floyd (hey, teacher, leave those kids alone!)

I Stand for You -- Michael McDonald (An I will stand beside you at your protest song.)

Too Much of Nothing -- Peter, Paul & Mary

Sixteen Tons -- Tennessee Ernie Ford (. . . and whadd'ya get?  Another day older & deeper in debt.)  

The World is a Ghetto -- War (now maybe this is somebody who should be protesting, but is really in a funk about the world he's living in and can't get his mojo working yet.  "Yet" being the operative word.)

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime -- Judy Collins version  (Sweet, sad protest of an American betrayed.)

All Along the Watchtower -- Jimi Hendrix version  ("There must be somewhere out of here, said the Joker to the Thief.  There's just too much confusion.  I can't get no relief."  This is a protest song wrapped up in prophecy.  Spooky.)

Fight the Power -- Isley Brothers

Freedom Words -- Colour Club

Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) -- Melanie

Smiling Faces Sometimes -- the Undisputed Truth (Protesting jerks in general & I just love their name!)

Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler) -- Marvin Gaye

If I Had a Hammer -- Trini Lopez

This Land is Your Land -- Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings version

Time Has Come Today -- Chambers Brothers  (I've become "psychedelecized" and am no longer playing along with the rest of society!)

I'm Your Captain -- Grand Funk Railroad (anti-war)

Shapes of Things -- Yardbirds (anti-war)

Radioactive -- Imagine Dragons (no nukes)

Lakota -- Joni Mitchell (protesting treatment of native peoples)

Who's Gonna Stand Up? -- Neil Young  (protesting for mother earth)

 

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Contributor

"Draft dodger Rag"  Phil Oachs

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Conversationalist

We Have a Lot to Drink About - Jimmy Buffett

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Periodic Contributor

We Shall Overcome!  May be as appropriate today as it was during the Civil Rights movement, considering what's going on in Washington DC these days!!!

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Conversationalist

Eve of Distruction - Barry McGuire

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Periodic Contributor

We Shall Overcome!

 

May be as appropriate today as it was during the Civil Rights movement...considering what's going on in Washington DC these days!!!

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Honored Social Butterfly

 

Pink Floyd   Another Brick In The Wall

 

"The key to success is to keep growing in all areas of life - mental, emotional, spiritual, as well as physical." Julius Erving
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Silver Conversationalist

War Song - Neil Young & Graham Nash

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