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Location: Upper Left USA | Been catching up on the week in posts. Read the the scorcher on politics - DGT (don't go there)!
Heard it said that if you are not a Liberal in your 20's you have no heart, if you are not a conservative by your 30's you have no mind! I would add that if you don't vote you don't matter (and shouldn't complain).
But the question is - and our children may read this - What song stirred you most to take a political stand or action? When and where?
Peace |
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Location: NJ | CSN&Y - "Ohio" |
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Location: PA | ahhh teen angst. I got caught up in the PRMC debacle which resulted in the parental advisory labels. There were a bunch of artists involved but for me it was Frank Zappa testifying in DC.....when he said "If it isn't illegal to DO IT, why should it be illegal to sing about it??" I miss FZ. |
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Location: Charlotte NC | "The Shortest Story" by the greatest story teller Harry Chapin. A song about child hunger/starvation. It is the song that helped motivate me to go on a 10 day mission trip to Rupea Romania last year and to begin contributing regularly to a local shelter here in the states. The song is barely over a minute long, but very powerful in my opinion. I guess the action wasn't exactly "political", but close enough.
The Shortest Story (Harry Chapin)
I am born today. The sun burns it's promise in my eyes.
Mama strikes me. I draw a breath and cry. Above me a cloud softly tumbles through the sky.
I am glad.....To be alive.
It is my seventh day. I taste the hunger and I cry.
My brother and sister cling to mama's side.
She squeezes her breast, but it has nothing to provide. Someone weeps.....I fall asleep.
It is twenty days today, Mama does not hold me anymore.
I open my mouth, but I am too weak to cry.
Above me a bird slowly crawls across the sky.
Why is there now.....nothing to do but die? |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | I sorely miss Frank Zappa. I registered to vote at a FZ concert with the cooperation of the League of Women Voters, which on the surface appeared to be an unlikely colaboration, but they must have gotten a few thounsand new voters signed up.
As for influential political songs, my favorite is "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire. Forty years later it's still very powerful and relevant. |
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Location: Tennessee | "Gimme Some Truth" - John Lennon. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | "Monster" - Steppenwolf. (the whole suite "Monster/Suicide/America") Overblown though it may be, it showed the truth as John Kay saw it and made clear that the dissent was meant as honest patriotism.
"Ohio" by CSN&Y was in there, too.
Roger |
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Location: Midland, MI | "This Land is your Land" over at JibJab is the first song that has prompted me into any sort of politcal action. It really moved me...to another country where my first political action will be to change my citizenship.
(OK, enough sarcasm...)
Everytime I hear one of those 'patriotic' songs on the local country station, I am (almost) moved to (minor) political action...like writing to those artists. Their hearts are in the right place, but their message is not patriotic, it's nationalistic and there's a difference. The worst part is, if you express any amount of disagreement with said message (or the similar message spouted on other media) you are instantly dismissed as 'unpatriotic' and Un-American. G-d, now I'm all worked up...feh, let it go, man...deep breaths...
I'm glad I live in this country...at least I can get worked up about the crap they play on the radio. :) |
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Location: Warrenton, Virginia | not just one song stirred me.....but here are a few
blowing in the wind/dylan
Southern Man/young
ohio/young
yankeedoodle/dixie/chet
born in the usa/bruce
this land is your land/woody
boy named sue/cash
boxer/simon
everybody's talkin/neilsen
after the goldrush/young
walkon/young
zuma/young
out on a weekend/young |
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Location: Florida | The Star Spangled Banner |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | uncle john's band |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Theme from an Imaginary Western |
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Location: SunShine State | 16 Tons |
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Location: Converse, Texas | CSN&Y Ohio ... it REALLY got me into politics! |
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Location: Vernon, CT | The songs that fit that category for would be"
For What It's Worth/Buffalo Springfield
Abraham, Martin and John/Dion
Ohio/CSN & sometimes Y
Star Spangled Banner/Jimi Hendrix version
Revolution/The Beatles
John L. |
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Location: Germantown, MD | Initially it was "For What It's Worth," followed in short order by "Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" and "Ohio." These days, "Imagine."
Peace |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Thanks all.
Re Cruster's post:
Why is it unpatriotic to burn the flag out of love in protest but Billy-Bob-Bubba-Joe can cover his pickup truck with Walmart U.S. flags (made in China) and drive them until they are nothing but threads?
Ray Charles singing "America" sets the bar for me. Hearing the National Anthem when our athletes stand on the dias during the Olympic games. It makes me feel no so much a part of a Country but more like a part of this Planet.
I will look forward to hearing the Greek National Anthem play soon with the Blue and White flying. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I've heard of political situations and topics inspiring song writers and music, but never really thought about it the other way around. |
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Location: Sierra Madre, CA | For what it's worth: Buffalo Springfield
Idiot wind: Bob Dylan
God on our side: Bob Dylan
It's a hard rain gonna fall: Bob Dylan
Who'll stop the rain: John Fogerty
Deja vu all over again: John Fogerty
Have you ever seen the rain: John Fogerty
Born in the U.S.A.: Bruce Sprinsteen
The Rising: Bruce Springsteen
End of the Innocence: Don Henley
Rocking in the free world: Neil Young
I won't back down: Tom Petty
Goodnight Saigon: Billy Joel |
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Location: SoCal | Marine Corps Hymn
From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
On the land as on the sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.
and the last verse:
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines." |
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Location: Kent, England | No Man's Land (also known as The Green Fields of France) written and performed by Eric Bogle, also recorded by Davy Arthur and the Furies.
All about the First World War - a great anti war song.
Cheers
Terry |
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Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by MWoody:
Re Cruster's post:
Why is it unpatriotic to burn the flag out of love in protest but Billy-Bob-Bubba-Joe can cover his pickup truck with Walmart U.S. flags (made in China) and drive them until they are nothing but threads?
Hey, now, if you're going to start making my points for me, please make sure "Have you forgotten?" or "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" is playing in the background. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Upper Left USA | You hear it too?
I like it when the voices are really quiet so they can hear the background music playing as well! :eek: |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I'm going to vote for Lisa and the OFC Party ticket! |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | as Best as I can Remember the First real acoustic songs I learned and Got Excited about were..
Diary, IF, and Make it With You by Bread
Operator By Jim Croce
After that it was on to Beatles songs..
Wish I knew how to play Blackbird and Here comes the Sun The right way! I'll figure it out eventually. |
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Location: NJ | heroin by the velvet underground |
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Location: hatzic lake, bc, canada. | gotta agree with woody ,Ray Charles singing America,just gives me the shivers.Gates of Eden by Bob Dylan.Who was that guy singing the national anthem at the DNC last night??? I can't remember a time that i havent sat there cringeing listening to some "star" doing there "rendition",that guy just nailed it. |
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Location: Wooster, Ohio | Here Comes The Sun - - Optimistic and timeless
One of the few secular songs I still play.
Steve |
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Location: Havertown, PA | Ohio / CSN&Y
For What It's Worth / Buffalo Springfield
I'd Love To Change The World / Alvin Lee
Abraham, Martin and John / Dion
16 Tons / Tennessee Ernie Ford
Imagine / John Lennon
But I'd have to say the one that stirred me most, even as a young lad was
The Ballad of the Green Beret / Barry Sandler - circa '66 |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Mine's a couple of songs by Peart, Lee and Lifeson (also known as Rush) with the following lyrics (correct me if I made a mistake):
"an ill wind comes arising
across the cities of the plain
there's no swimming in the heavy water
no singing in the acid rain
red alert, read alert..."
-- from Distant Early Warning
"so the Maples formed a union
and demanded equal rights
the Oaks are just too greedy
we will make them give us light ...
... and The Trees are all kept equal
by hatchet, ax and saw ..."
-- from The Trees |
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Location: NJ | "Remember when the music
Came from wooden boxes strung with silver wire
And as we sang the words, it would set our minds on fire,
For we believed in things, and so we'd sing.
Remember when the music
Brought us all together to stand inside the rain
And as we'd join our hands, we'd meet in the refrain,
For we had dreams to live, we had hopes to give.
Remember when the music
Was the best of what we dreamed of for our children's time
And as we sang we worked, for time was just a line,
It was a gift we saved, a gift the future gave.
Remember when the music
Was a rock that we could cling to so we'd not despair,
And as we sang we knew we'd hear an echo fill the air
We'd be smiling then, we would smile again.
Oh all the times I've listened, and all the times I've heard
All the melodies I'm missing, and all the magic words,
And all those potent voices, and the choices we had then,
How I'd love to find we had that kind of choice again.
Remember when the music
Was a glow on the horizon of every newborn day
And as we sang, the sun came up to chase the dark away,
And life was good, for we knew we could.
Remember when the music
Brought the night across the valley as the day went down
And as we'd hum the melody, we'd be safe inside the sound,
And so we'd sleep, we had dreams to keep.
And I feel that something's coming, and it's not just in the wind.
It's more than just tomorrow, it's more than where we've been,
It offers me a promise, it's telling me "Begin",
I know we're needing something worth believing in.
So I remember when the music
Came from wooden boxes strung with silver wire
And as we sang the words, it would set our minds on fire,
For we believed in things, and so we'd sing.
And so we'd sing . . . "
- Harry Chapin |
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Location: nyc | all of lauryn hill unplugged
pick a song by bob marley
stevie wonder - "big brother" and "you havent done nothing"
john |
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Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by jdemic:
pick a song by bob marley
Ok, I'll take 'Three Little Birds' for $100, Alex! :)
Or maybe Tosh's Bush Doctor?
:) |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by jdemic:
a
pick a song by bob marley
john
"No Woman, No Cry" |
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Location: Ontario, Canada | American Pie by Don Mclean especially after someone explained all the references in the song. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | "American Pie by Don Mclean especially after someone explained all the references in the song."
I would love an explainatin of the song!!!
I thought it was unstrung lyrical meandering! I've also heard it was over Buddy Holly's crash!
IMWTK :( |
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Location: Central Oregon | It was about the airplane crash that killed Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper & Richie Valens. The name of the airplane was 'American Pie'.
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Location: 6 String Ranch | well there you have it then. |
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Location: Charlotte NC | Wasn't American Pie also a slam towards Elvis? I was told once that he was the reference in the part that has the line "No angel born in hell, could break that Satan's spell.." No idea if that's true or not. |
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Location: NJ | The impetus of the song stemmed from when McLean was a kid and he was delivering newspapers the day after the crash.
A lot of the lyrical references had to do with popular music history:
The Jester was supposed to signify Bob Dylan.
The King and Queen were Elvis and (I THINK) Patsy Cline.
The Marching Band - Beatles (Sgt. Pepper).
Satan - Mick & the Stones.
Girl Who Sang The Blues - Joplin.
Those were the completely obvious ones that I could recall . . . . there's a BUNCH of 'em.
The song first came out when I was entering high school. Luckily, in my freshman year, I was able to get the one obligatory "cool" English teacher that let us bring the song in and spend an entire week "disecting" it.
I would imagine that there's probably a webpage somewhere that pretty much disseminates the whole thing down into minute details . . |
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Location: NJ | Found it:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/american-pie/ |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I knew there was a good reason that you guys are 3 hours ahead of me!
Thanks! ;) |
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Location: Tennessee | Don't forget "Lennon read a book on Marx" ... supposedly a slam on John's song Imagine which many folks were saying at the time was a plea for world communism. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | The problem with communism is that nobody actually practices it. We are totally unable.
Do check out website Cliff posted! It even has the chords toward the end.
then we will discuss the meaning of "2001, a space odessy". :eek: |
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Location: Converse, Texas | Great find, Cliff! |
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Location: Ontario, Canada | Glad the American Pie thing stirred up some dialogue. Didn't know the name of the plane was American Pie...thanks.
Lots of reference to Mick and the Stones. Apparently Don M didn't like them. "Jack be nimble Jack be quick Jack Flash sat on a candle stick. Was that a reference to a stones concert where there was a fire. Hope someone can clarify that one.Also reference to the cold war...sock hops..lots of social political stuff from the 50's and 60's (I think) |
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Location: Indiana | Monster probably was the first to stir me up. Others were:
Ohio-CSN&Y
Indian Reservation-PR&R
Song for America-Kansas
For what it's worth, the most moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner that I can remember hearing was by Robert Guillaume (yep, Benson).I don't remember when or where it was, but I will never forget the way it was done. |
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Location: Central Oregon | Originally posted by Guy C:
Glad the American Pie thing stirred up some dialogue. Didn't know the name of the plane was American Pie...thanks.
Lots of reference to Mick and the Stones. Apparently Don M didn't like them. "Jack be nimble Jack be quick Jack Flash sat on a candle stick. Was that a reference to a stones concert where there was a fire. Hope someone can clarify that one.Also reference to the cold war...sock hops..lots of social political stuff from the 50's and 60's (I think)
Fwiw, in David Crosby's autobiography he states that in London you could buy heroin from the pharmacy if you were a registered addict. The heroin came in tablets commonly called 'jacks' on the street which could be mixed with water & heated over a flame (candle?) to turn it into an injectable liquid. Or they could be crushed & lined out on tinfoil & heated from underneath while inhaling the smoke- 'Chasing the Dragon'. He used to go there with Cass Elliot & buy 'em.
Crosby states in the book that these 'jacks' were what the Stones 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' was written about.
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What Song stirred you to action?