Content starts here
CLOSE ×
Search
Reply
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
149,136 Views
1019
Report
Regular Contributor

The Beatles - Revolution. 

5,966 Views
0
Report
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

5,931 Views
2
Report
Contributor

Nice.
6,226 Views
0
Report
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.
5,936 Views
0
Report
Contributor

And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

 

5,917 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

For what it's worth - Buffalo Springfield

 

American Idiot - Green day

5,961 Views
0
Report
Newbie

"Monster" by Steppenwolf

5,879 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

Something Happening Here - Crosby, Stills and Nash

5,671 Views
0
Report
Contributor

CCR  Fortunate Son

5,654 Views
0
Report
Contributor

"What about me?"

Quicksilver Messenger Service

 

5,647 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

"Simple Song of Freedom" by Bobby Darin

5,562 Views
1
Report
Periodic Contributor

" Come and sing a simple song of freedom,
sing it like you've never done before"......
4,681 Views
0
Report
Contributor

"Ain't gonna study war no more" by Leadbelly

5,485 Views
0
Report
Contributor

Voulenteers by Jefferson Airplane

5,419 Views
0
Report
Contributor

Shape of Things to Come - Max Frost and the Troopers

 

For What it's Worth - Buffalo Springfield

5,423 Views
0
Report
Contributor

The Eve of Destruction.

5,414 Views
0
Report
Trusted Contributor

War -the Edwin Starr version

5,388 Views
0
Report
Social Butterfly

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

5,404 Views
0
Report
Contributor

"Almost Gone"    by  Graham Nash & James Raymond

5,402 Views
0
Report
Contributor

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.

5,453 Views
0
Report
Contributor

American Joe....bluegrass...IronHorse

5,497 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

"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.

5,488 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

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)

 

5,436 Views
1
Report
Contributor

"Draft dodger Rag"  Phil Oachs

5,329 Views
0
Report
Conversationalist

We Have a Lot to Drink About - Jimmy Buffett

5,402 Views
0
Report
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!!!

5,393 Views
0
Report
Conversationalist

Eve of Distruction - Barry McGuire

5,334 Views
0
Report
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!!!

5,333 Views
1
Report
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
5,019 Views
0
Report
Silver Conversationalist

War Song - Neil Young & Graham Nash

5,137 Views
0
Report
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Users
Need to Know

"I downloaded AARP Perks to assist in staying connected and never missing out on a discount!" -LeeshaD341679

AARP Perks

More From AARP