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December 2003
Posts: 13996
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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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | CSN&Y - "Ohio" |
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February 2002
Posts: 52
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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April 2004
Posts: 71
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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December 2003
Posts: 1071
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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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | "Gimme Some Truth" - John Lennon. |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
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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May 2004
Posts: 2850
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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April 2004
Posts: 265
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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January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | The Star Spangled Banner |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | uncle john's band |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Theme from an Imaginary Western |
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Posts: 49
Location: SunShine State | 16 Tons |
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Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | CSN&Y Ohio ... it REALLY got me into politics! |
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March 2004
Posts: 201
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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January 2003
Posts: 146
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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December 2003
Posts: 13996
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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December 2001
Posts: 7237
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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March 2002
Posts: 23
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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August 2003
Posts: 4619
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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May 2004
Posts: 76
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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May 2004
Posts: 2850
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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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
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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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | I'm going to vote for Lisa and the OFC Party ticket! |
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April 2003
Posts: 2503
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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What Song stirred you to action?
