One in particular bluntly adresses the general frustration and anger (at the government) many were experiencing because of the Vietnam War. This song is: I-Feel-Like-I'm Fixin'-to-Die Rag by Country Joe & The Fish (1965). This song was a huge tool in the anti-war movement. The lyrics speak directly to the complaints, protests, and fear that were circulating at the time. I've noticed that many songs have political messages engrained within them, particularly those at wartime (just look at Woodstock).
There are a couple lines by Country Joe McDonald that pretty much say it all:
"Well, Come On All Of You, Big Strong Men,
Uncle Sam Needs Your Help Again.
He's Got Himself In A Terrible Jam
Way Down Yonder In Vietnam
So Put Down Your Books And Pick Up A Gun,
We're Gonna Have A Whole Lotta Fun. "
Uncle Sam Needs Your Help Again.
He's Got Himself In A Terrible Jam
Way Down Yonder In Vietnam
So Put Down Your Books And Pick Up A Gun,
We're Gonna Have A Whole Lotta Fun. "
This opening stanza speaks directly to the audience of the time. Men, regardless of race or location were being drafted to fight. There is sarcasm in these lyrics, poking fun at "Uncle Sam" and his tendency to get into trouble. He notes the specific irony in the fact that the US government was encouraging young men to give up on their college or educational plans in order to fight. Deep sarcasm is deeply sensed and felt in the last line. McDonald had served in the war, and expressed sentiments felt by many of his fellow veterans and Americans.
This song became almost a theme-song of protestors, and packs an immense deal of emotion into a relatively short song that reached out to an enormous audience. Check out different songs from the 60's and you'll find an overwhelmingly large number of them address the war directly or indirectly through speaking about peace.
Some you might recognize are:
"Revolution" -The Beatles; "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" -The Animals; "Ohio" -Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; "Masters of War" -Bob Dylan; "Come Together"- The Beatles; "Give Peace a Chance" or "Imagine" -John Lennon; "Light My Fire" - The Doors
Yesterday I heard that an album came out by John Legend called "Wake Up!", that covers protest songs from the sixties and seventies. The purpose of singing already created protest songs is to show that they are still releveant today. John Legend admits that it is not as common to create protest songs today, because they are not as popular. I think it is very interesting that you say songs from the past included a lot of protest songs. Even though the war in Iraq and Afghanistan became very unpopular, it seems like very little popular music spoke out against the war, because musical artists want to be neutral, to gather the largest audience of fans, rather than sing about what is important to them.
ReplyDeleteTrevor, I tend to disagree with you that contemporary artists won't voice their opinion in an attempt to remain neutral. There were many songs written-not in a direct attack against Iraq, but war in itself. A couple I can think of are
ReplyDelete1. 16 Military Wives-The Decemberists
2. The General-Dispatch
3. American Idiot Album-Green Day
4. Neon Bible Album-Arcade Fire
It's rather comforting to see that artists still have the strength and ability to voice their opinion.
First, I'd like to say how happy this post made me. Everytime I hear "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin-to-Die-Rag", it really hits me hard. Not necessarily the lyrics, but how the straightforward lyrics go with such a simple, straightforward song structure. However, not all artists do this. There are some artists nowadays that voice their opinion in a very obvious way, while others are a little more subtle.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Trevor that artists nowadays don't voice their opinion. Some do, and even so, voicing an opinion doesn't necessarily mean that it is addressed in the lyrics. For example, Charles Mingus, a major jazz musician, wrote a song called "Fables of Faubus". It speaks out against the governor of Arkansas at the time, yet it does not have any words. It simply speaks through the music, and this track came out in 1959.
Just the opposite, Eminem voices his opinions against President Bush virtually without a censor, as do many other rap artists. I wouldn't go as far as to say that artists now are being neutral. People express their thoughts in different ways, whether it be through the music or the lyrics.
I really enjoyed this post!
ReplyDeleteI really do think music plays a huge role in activism and protesting. I believe Trevor has a point. In the sixties, the Beatles were the biggest band around and are notorious for their protest songs. Yet if you look at today, a lot of "mainstream" artists like Rihanna or Kesha only sing "club songs." That's not to say that there are not big name artists today who don't write protest songs. Like Outkast with Bombs over Baghdad or Intervention by Arcade Fire. But in comparison to the greats of the past, Bruce Springsteen, Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, etc., I don't think the "greats" of today are as concerned with politics as they are with partying.