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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: t.jack Date: 04 Sep 09 - 08:22 AM This song i wrote,i call it "SOME MOTHERS SON" I HAVE FISHED OFF THE GRAND BANKS AND SEEN THE WHALES SPOUT BUT THE FISH HAVE ALL GONE LIKE THE TIDES THAT ROLL OUT. SO I`M OFF TO ALBERTA TO WORK THE TAR SANDS OR CARRY A GUN TO AFGHANASTAN. OH MOTHER DEAR MOTHER THE BANK TOOK ME BOAT NO MORE WILL YOU SEE HER SAIL THE EAST COAST FOR THE WATERS ARE EMPTY NO FISH DO THEY HOLD I`M OFF TO ALBERTA I`M GONE DOWN THE ROAD. LOWER THE FLAG FOR ME WHEN I LEAVE HOME OH MOTHER DEAR MOTHER I`M COLD AND ALONE BUT DON`T WRAP ME IN IT IF I FIRE A GUN IN SOME OTHER LAND AT SOME MOTHERS SON. WAVE YOUR HAND FREELY LIKE THE CLOTHES ON THE LINE WAVE AT THE GRAYHOUND AS SHE PASSES BY FOR HES OFF TO ALBERTA TO PUT OIL IN THE DRUM HES OFF TO ALBERTA HES SOME MOTHERS SON. DON`T WRAP THE FLAG ROUND ME IF I FIRE A GUN IN SOME FOREIGN LAND AT SOME MOTHERS SON. NORMAN DOUCETTE |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,guest Date: 17 Aug 07 - 12:47 AM Canadian band Tanglefoot's Steve Ritchie's ong "Vimy" about the battle of Vimy Ridge WW1--will move you to tears.It can be found on the cd Music in The Wood.Incredible |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,NEIL Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:26 PM WOW, WHAT A GREAT WEBSITE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PARTIAL TO "I AIN'T MARCHING ANYMORE", BUT MAN, THAT PENNY EVANS SONG BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER A SONG STEELEYE SPAN USED TO DO THAT BEGAN: WHAT DID THE WIFE OF THE SOLDIER GET FROM THE (UNKNOWN WORD) CITY OF PRAGUE? |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Banjiman Date: 16 Aug 07 - 03:35 AM Two great songs that I haven't seen mentioned on the thread: The Malvinas (Dave Rogers) & Ghost Story (Jim Woodland). These are both about the Falklands but certainly cover universal themes. Roy Bailey does a brilliant job of both of them (as he does with most things). Otherwise No Man's Land and The Bands Played Waltzin' Matilda. Eric Bogle's own versions please (though the version of Waltzin' Matilda that started the thread by the Pogues is also pretty good) For something new which addresses Iraq have a listen here: To Be A Soldier |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Guitaropsimath Date: 16 Aug 07 - 01:23 AM The ones that made me think the most were (are) Universal Soldier, Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye, Sam Stone, and When a Soldier Makes it Home, but that Steve Goodman song about Penny Evans should be taught in school. Doug |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Mike B. Date: 14 Aug 07 - 11:40 PM A rather obscure 1916 rewrite of "Onward Christian Soldiers" (from the I.W.W.'s Little Red Songbook). Christians At War (John F. Kendrick) Onward, Christian soldiers! Duty's way is plain; Slay your Christian neighbors, or by them be slain. Pulpiteers are spouting effervescent swill; God above is calling you to rob and rape and kill. All your acts are sanctified by the Lamb on high; If you love the Holy Ghost, go murder, pray and die. Onward, Christian soldiers! Rip and tear and smite! Let the gentle Jesus bless your dynamite. Splinter skulls with shrapnel, fertilize the sod; Folks who do not speak your tongue deserve the curse of God. Smash the doors of every home, pretty maidens seize; Use your might and sacred right to treat them as you please. Onward, Christian soldiers! Eat and drink your fill; Rob with bloody fingers, Christ okays the bill. Steal the farmers' savings, take their grain and meat; Even though the children starve, the Savior's bums must eat. Burn the peasants' cottages, orphans leave bereft; In Jehovah's holy name, wreak ruin right and left. Onward, Christian soldiers! Drench the land with gore; Mercy is a weakness all the gods abhor. Bayonet the babies, jab the mothers, too; Hoist the cross of Calvary to hallow all you do. File your bullets' noses flat, poison every well; God decrees your enemies must all go plumb to hell. Onward, Christian soldiers! Blight all that you meet; Trample human freedom under pious feet. Praise the Lord whose dollar sign dupes his favored race! Make the foreign trash respect your bullion brand of grace. Trust in mock salvation, serve as tyrant's tools; History will say of you: "That pack of Goddamn fools." |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Rich(Bodhránaí gan ciall) Date: 14 Aug 07 - 05:35 PM Rush - Territories Lyrics by Neil Peart I see the Middle Kingdom between Heaven and Earth Like the Chinese call the country of their birth We all figure that our homes are set above Other people than the ones we know and love In every place with a name They play the same territorial game Hiding behind the lines Sending up warning signs The whole wide world An endless universe Yet we keep looking through The eyeglass in reverse Don't feed the people But we feed the machines Can't really feel What international means In different circles, we keep holding our ground Indifferent circles, we keep spinning round and round We see so many tribes overrun and undermined While their invaders dream of lands they've left behind Better people...better food...and better beer... Why move around the world when Eden was so near? The bosses get talking so tough And if that wasn't evil enough We get the drunken and passionate pride Of the citizens along for the ride They shoot without shame In the name of a piece of dirt For a change of accent Or the color of your shirt Better the pride that resides In a citizen of the world Than the pride that divides When a colored rag is unfurled |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Rich(bodhránaí gan ciall) Date: 14 Aug 07 - 05:30 PM Being just past the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki reminded me of this song Manhattan Project, Lyrics by Neil Peart Imagine a time when it all began In the dying days of a war A weapon that would settle the score Whoever found it first would be sure to do their worst They always had before... Imagine a man where it all began A scientist pacing the floor In each nation, always eager to explore To build the best big stick To turn the winning trick But this was something more... [Chorus:] The big bang took and shook the world Shot down the rising sun The end was begun and it hit everyone When the chain reaction was done The big shots tried to hold it back Fools tried to wish it away The hopeful depend on a world without end Whatever the hopeless may say Imagine a place where it all began Gathered from across the land To work in the secrecy of the desert sand All of the brightest boys To play with the biggest toys More than they bargained for... [Chorus] Imagine a man when it all began The pilot of 'Enola Gay' Flying out of the shockwave on that August day All the powers that be, and the course of history Would be changed forevermore |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,MikefromDorch Date: 11 Aug 07 - 05:25 PM I've read through the entire thread but no-one's mentioned a great song by the Belgian/French singersongwriter Jacques Brel, called La Colombe. Judy Collins did a great version of it in the 1960s. It tells of the conscripts boarding a train to go off to fight (presumably in Algeria) and is written from the poihnt of view of one of the soldiers asking 'Why?'. The last verse, from memory (English version): And why your face undone With jagged lines of tears That gave in those first years All peace I've ever known? And why these days ahead When I must let you cry And live prepared to die As if our love were dead? Nous n'irons plus aux bois. La colombe est blesse. Nous n'irons plus aux bois, Nous allons la tuer The dove has torn a wing But no more songs of love We are not here to sing We're here to kill the dove |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GRex Date: 11 Aug 07 - 09:43 AM Waltzing Matilda is the one that moves me the most. Another favourite is one where every verse starts: He was only fifteen. and the first line of the choruis is: And the sergeant said "Son, you must shoulder your gun." I haven't yet found the title for, or, the writer's name for this song. Can anybody help please? Another favourite is a song re WW1 by Barry Wake, (a local singer/ songwriter) called 'Tomorrow's Sun'. GRex |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: kendall Date: 11 Aug 07 - 07:36 AM I used to think The Band Played Waltzing Matilda until I heard The Sun is Burning in the Sky. Now the sun has come to earth, Shrouded in a mushroom cloud of death, Death comes in a blinding flash Of hellish heat and leaves a smear of ash. And the sun has come to earth. Now the sun has disappeared All is darkness anger pain and fear Twisted sightless wrecks of men Go groping on their knees and cry in pain And the sun has disappeared... That's what a nuclear war will look like. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE YEAR OF THE DRUM (Wendy Joseph) From: JennyO Date: 11 Aug 07 - 05:58 AM Here is a good Australian one, which was actually posted by jacko@nz on this thread in 2003. He didn't know the author, but mentioned that he thought Martin Wyndham-Read sings it. I have only heard it performed by Wongawilli myself. The lyrics and the comments below are from Wongawilli's website. I will post them here because I think these words are probably the most accurate ones - particularly the spelling of the town, Mannum. I've actually posted it on a previous thread too, but it still hasn't made it into the DT. This song from Wendy Joseph describes the tragic effects of the World Wars on several generations of the people of Mannum and the use of music to entice young men to war. Mannum is a small town on the lower Murray River and has the distinction of having lost more men per head of population in both World Wars than any other town in South Australia. THE YEAR OF THE DRUM (Wendy Joseph) My name is Jack Gresham, I grew up in Mannum, That river boat town I loved well, I married Meg Davis, we had us two children, One day our family bliss turned to Hell. For in nineteen fourteen, 'twas the year of the drum, The guns and the Government called me to come, Past melaleuca and tall shining gums, I drifted away down the Murray. My name is Meg Davis and I work down at Shearers, Making wagons and stirrups and hames, The war it is raging, the men are all fighting, The women toil here making fuel for the flames. For it's nineteen fifteen and the men have all gone, They're fighting in Europe so we carry on, We're keeping the candles lit bright here at home, To light their way back up the Murray. My name it is Mary and I am an orphan, My father was killed in the war, My mother Meg Davis, an upstanding lady, She drowned in the Murray the year I turned four. It was nineteen sixteen when the telegram came, The death of her soldier its message proclaimed, My Mum lost her footing due to tears and the rain, She slipped on the banks of the Murray. My name it is Billy and I am a soldier, I just got my orders to-day, My wife's name is Mary, she's as fair as a sunset, I hate to be leaving her lonely this way. But the year's forty two, 'tis the year of the drum, The guns and the Government call me to come, Past melaleuca and tall shining gums, I'm drifting away down the Murray. But the year doesn't matter, there's always a drum, The guns and the Governments call men to come, But the town still grows strong in her tall shining sons, While her daughters light lamps by the Murray. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YE From: Don Firth Date: 10 Aug 07 - 03:08 PM Like trying to nominate "the world's greatest folk singer" or "the best guitarist in the galaxy," I take a dim view of most attempts at picking a "greatest" when it comes to songs or performers. [Now, "World's Most Abyssmal Idiot Elected to High Political Office," I could venture some strong opinions, but that's for another thread, and one below the line.] However, as to very powerful anti-war songs, yes, I'd say there are some good ones. Sometimes it's not the song itself, but how it's sung. One of the most powerful anti-war songs I've ever heard is the well-known Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye—as Walt Robertson sang it. He sang what I later learned was a somewhat abbreviated version. He certainly knew the other verses, but he sometimes invoked "minstrel's prerogative" and made choices, to better express his own feelings about a matter. These were the words and the verses that he sang : Johnny, I Hardly Knew YeNo "While goin' the road to sweet Athy" (removing it from a third-person narrative and bringing it right home and making it very personal); no anatomical assessment of the damage ("Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg") and the rest of the bitterness in that verse; and no idealistically angry vows about "They'll never take our sons again." The way Walt sang it (which is the way I also sing it), it depicts a deeply personal tragedy in one family—which, by implication, is a situation possible for any family that has someone off in the wars. Rather than an angry—let's face it—propaganda song, it brings it home, and says, "This could be you" when you first see your soldier returned from the wars. For a touch of bitterness in an anti-war song, it would be had to beat Eric Bogle's And the Band Played 'Waltzing Matilda' (the line, ". . . and I asked myself the same question."). He seems to have a real knack for packing a lot of communicable emotion into a song. Or even a single line. To me, one of the most powerful anti-war songs I've ever heard (and just recently learned) is his The Green Fields of France (or No Man's Land). Both songs from my notebook of song-sheets (both on disk and hard-copy): The Green Fields of France (No Man's Land)Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:10 AM The first time I ever heard "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye" performed live in a coffee house, it was done with great dignity and passion, along with an obvious reverence to its origins and deeper meaning. It, along with "Mrs. McGrath," speak eloquently of conscripted soldiers, treated like "cannon fodder," as they have been for centuries. There have been many others, Dylan's "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," among many more contemporary songs. Gordon Lightfoot's "Patriot's Dream" also comes to mind. But, it is hard to argue with the real poignancy of the historical material and the poor souls that inspired it. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: The Sandman Date: 10 Aug 07 - 10:11 AM Tommys Lot by Dominic Williams,recorde by Dick Miles and Geoff Higginbotham. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,THE ONE Date: 10 Aug 07 - 09:44 AM ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND WONDERFUL.!! |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: John on the Sunset Coast Date: 10 Aug 07 - 12:01 AM I may have missed these above-- Tommy Makem's "Four Green Fields" and another one which slipped by me whilst I was typing the above song....senior moment! |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Mitch Gawlik Date: 09 Aug 07 - 03:34 PM A fair amount to pick from, but I'd go with: Masters Of War - Bob Dylan I Ain't Marching Anymore - Phil Ochs And a song that applies now: Cops Of The World - Phil Ochs |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 08 Aug 07 - 09:06 PM O they say that the war's nearly won, And declare there's a change in the wind; Amd my feet stumble on, and a year's come and gone And they say that the war's nearly won. Sweet peace, when will you come again? You turn like a far star alone. Will I ever be blessed with your innocent rest, And be free and be safe and be home? Still they say that the war's nearly won, And declare there's a change in the wind- And the years stumble on, and a thousand years gone, And they say that the war's nearly won. 1971 Jean Ritchie CELEBRATION OF LIFE Geordie Music Publishing Co. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,cflpeace Date: 08 Aug 07 - 07:46 PM From one who loves the already-mentioned "Mothers, Daughters, Wives," "Great Peace March," "Masters of War," "With God on our Side," and "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda"... From one that really appreciates Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." because it shows how this country dumps the vets into the street after they've used them up... From one who says that "Good Morning Vietnam" was by far the greatest anti-war film (I know, I wasn't asked that) because it was the only film I know that protested wars not only for what they do to "our" soldiers, but also from the perspective of the ones called "the enemy"... And, from one who is surprised to not see Jackson Browne's "Lives in the Balance" ("I want to know who the men in the shadows are, I want to hear somebody asking them why They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are But they're never the ones to fight or to die. And there are lives in the balance, There are people under fire, There are children at the cannons, And there is blood on the wire.")... ... I just wanna add Holly Near and David Rovics. What could surpass Holly Near's "It Could Have Been Me" or "No More Genocide in My Name!"? Check out anything by Holly Near (http://hollynear.com). Holly sings both of the first two songs I listed at the top of this piece; she wrote the second. Some can be found at hollynear.com/lyrics; others can be googled. She wrote "It Could Have Been Me," in the sixties and updates it often, so there's a Viet Nam verse and an Central America one, among others: A woman in the jungle so many wars away, Studies late into the night, defends the village in the day. Although her skin is golden like mine will never be, Her song is heard and I know the words And I'll sing them until she's free. It could have been me, but instead it was you, So I'll keep doing the work you were doing as if i were two: I'll be a student of life, a singer of songs, A farmer of food and a righter of wrong. It could have been me, but instead it was you And it may be me dear sisters and brother Before we are through But if you can work for freedom Freedom, freedom, freedom I can too. http://www.hollynear.com/lyrics/it.could.have.been.me.html Then there is the work of David Rovics (http://www.davidrovics.com/), the guy that wrote of bombing a village in Afghanistan, "Not one terrorist died there, but maybe some were born." This Jewish folksinger has the courage to sing out for Palestinian rights as well as against anti-Semitism and Naziism. (He has toured Palestine with that, and is now touring Hiroshima and Nagasaki and other Japanese cities.) He gives away his mp3s at: http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?BandID=111310, but I suggest you buy his stuff too. Check out: You ask me how it is That I dare to take a side You say I loathe myself For pointing out that you have lied You say it's tribal warfare But I disagree For the dynamics of the situation Are not difficult to see On one side is the fighter jet On the other side the stone On one side is the slave On the other is the throne For the many there are checkpoints While foreign soldiers rule the street For one side there is victory But the people don't accept defeat. The word you need to know is occupation The very definition of a land without a nation And if peace is what you're after then let us not deceive It will come on the day the tanks return to Tel Aviv. Read and hear it at: http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?BandID=111310&content=lyrics&SongID=753230 But, hey you all, if you're reading all this, we gotta make sure we get it - as both Holly and David know so well: 1) Our songs have gotta be not just anti-war, but pro-justice, pro-peace, and celebrations of life, and 2) it's not enough to sing these songs; we gotta work all our lives for peace. Peace, cflpeace |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: akenaton Date: 08 Aug 07 - 03:28 PM I agree wiuth Ard Macha and Stringsinger, "johnny I hardly knew ya" is the best. Mary Black did a wonderful version with De Danaan. Makes your blood run cold; and the bastards are still there, murdering and mutilating......and we let them do it...Ake |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Songster Bob Date: 07 Aug 07 - 10:56 PM There is no greatest anti-war song ever because, just like with making things fool-proof, nature invents a better fool, no matter the strength of the anti-war song, some son-of-a-bitch goes and starts an even less-defendable war, overwhelming whatever song you can come up with. It might be better to divide the songs up between specific wars, wars in general, the stupidity of wars, the cost of wars, etc., etc. I'm reminded of one that John and Tony are given to sing, one from the "Big War," (#1) that went: If you want to see the sergeant, I know where he is, I know where he is, I know where he is, If you want to see the sergeant, I know where he is, Drinking up the company's rum. I saw him, I saw him, Drinking up the company's rum -- I saw him, Drinking up the company's rum. If you want to see the captain, I know where he is, etc. Drunk on the dugout floor, etc. ... Colonel ... In Paris at the Folies Bergere, etc. ... General ... Pinnin' another medal on his chest, etc. and the last verse: If you want to see the privates, I know where they are, I know where they are, I know where they are. If you want to see the privates, I know where they are -- Hangin' on the old barbed wire. I saw them, I saw them, Hangin' on the old barbed wire -- I saw them, Hangin' on the old barbed wire. Peppy, singable, cynical, and so bloody true as to make you cry. That's an anti-war song for me. Bob |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: bobad Date: 07 Aug 07 - 09:55 PM John Brown by Bob Dylan John Brown went off to war to fight on a foreign shore. His mama sure was proud of him! He stood straight and tall in his uniform and all. His mama's face broke out all in a grin. "Oh son, you look so fine, I'm glad you're a son of mine, You make me proud to know you hold a gun. Do what the captain says, lots of medals you will get, And we'll put them on the wall when you come home." As that old train pulled out, John's ma began to shout, Tellin' ev'ryone in the neighborhood: "That's my son that's about to go, he's a soldier now, you know." She made well sure her neighbors understood. She got a letter once in a while and her face broke into a smile As she showed them to the people from next door. And she bragged about her son with his uniform and gun, And these things you called a good old-fashioned war. Oh! Good old-fashioned war! Then the letters ceased to come, for a long time they did not come. They ceased to come for about ten months or more. Then a letter finally came saying, "Go down and meet the train. Your son's a-coming home from the war." She smiled and went right down, she looked everywhere around But she could not see her soldier son in sight. But as all the people passed, she saw her son at last, When she did she could hardly believe her eyes. Oh his face was all shot up and his hand was all blown off And he wore a metal brace around his waist. He whispered kind of slow, in a voice she did not know, While she couldn't even recognize his face! Oh! Lord! Not even recognize his face. "Oh tell me, my darling son, pray tell me what they done. How is it you come to be this way?" He tried his best to talk but his mouth could hardly move And the mother had to turn her face away. "Don't you remember, Ma, when I went off to war You thought it was the best thing I could do? I was on the battleground, you were home . . . acting proud. You wasn't there standing in my shoes." "Oh, and I thought when I was there, God, what am I doing here? I'm a-tryin' to kill somebody or die tryin'. But the thing that scared me most was when my enemy came close And I saw that his face looked just like mine." Oh! Lord! Just like mine! "And I couldn't help but think, through the thunder rolling and stink, That I was just a puppet in a play. And through the roar and smoke, this string is finally broke, And a cannon ball blew my eyes away." As he turned away to walk, his Ma was still in shock At seein' the metal brace that helped him stand. But as he turned to go, he called his mother close And he dropped his medals down into her hand. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Liz Carter Date: 07 Aug 07 - 09:50 PM There's been some incredible anti-war songs written, including Christmas in the Trenches and Masters of War. For some new, great anti-war songs regarding the current madness in Iraq, check out Busy Makin' Money, War Machine, and Ain't No Water at http://cdbaby.com/cd/burlsheldon |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Stringsinger Date: 05 Aug 07 - 02:17 PM I cast my vote for the late Tommy Makem's rendition of "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya'" as well as "Mrs. McGrath". Of course Eric Bogle's epic. To me the best songs are the least breast-beating and the most folk-concise. I'll put in for Derroll Adam's "Portland Town" since I knew Derroll about the time he wrote it and we had long talks about the futility of war. Tommy Sand's "There Were Roses" and "The Music of Healing" gets my vote too. Any good anti-war song is the greatest song ever in my book. Frank Hamilton |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Frogette Date: 05 Aug 07 - 09:57 AM See this thread has been restarted so I'm going to nominate Les Sullivan's Battle of Jutland Roses of No Mans Land Menim Gate Sullivan's Farewell Reaper Smiled Forever in Peace Little Julie Loved Flowers Harvest of Iron have a look at his myspace. May not be the best EVER but certainly very good. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Jim Lad Date: 05 Aug 07 - 04:37 AM The Grave The grave that they dug him had flowers Gathered from the hillside in bright summer colours And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone And he's gone. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Ard Mhaca Date: 05 Aug 07 - 04:16 AM In all the tributes to Tommy Makem on Youtube, listen to him singing "Johnny I hardly knew ya", and Tommy`s rendition would sway me in nominating this song as a real contender for the greatest anti-war song. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Uncle Phil Date: 05 Aug 07 - 12:13 AM There's a Wall in Washington – Iris Dement "But her heart it breaks 'cause all that is left, Is this wall in Washington." Dover, Delaware – The Duhks "Sing a love song for the first to fall, And keep singing 'til they fight no more" |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: robomatic Date: 04 Aug 07 - 12:17 PM Dylan: Blowin' In The Wind Lehrer: So Long Mom, I'm Off To Drop The Bomb We Will All Go Together When We Go The following appears on a bicentennial recording from my New England Town s'posedly from the American Revolutionary Era, sounds more Irish than anything else: When I was young I used to be As fine a lad as ever you'd see The Prince O' Wales he says to me "Come join the British Army!" Toora loora loora loo They're lookin' for monkeys up in the zoo And if I had a face like you I'd join the British Army! |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Sailorboy Date: 04 Aug 07 - 11:26 AM 'Roland the headless Thompson Gunner' By the late Warren Zevon |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: jacqui.c Date: 04 Aug 07 - 11:20 AM The Sun Is Burning In The Sky is the one that sums it all up for me. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Dan Schatz Date: 04 Aug 07 - 11:14 AM When a thread gets to be over 200 posts, the best I can usually do is skim - but I'm sure my favorite hasn't been listed, since it isn't well known (yet). During the height of the Bosnian War, Lois Lyman (who wrote "Wiscasset Schooners" and "Going On") read a newspaper article about a particularly gruesome slaughter of six children. The song she wrote, "Sarajevo" is, hands down, the best anti-war song I've ever heard - every bit as powerful and simple as "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" or "Come Away Melinda." The line that brings me to tears is repeated at the end of each verse - "What has war to do with children?" Without Lois's permission, I'm hesitant to post the full lyrics - but I give you the first three verses: Children watch the snow drifting down, drifting down - Children watch the snow drifting down, drifting down - Footprints in the snow of a sleepy town What has war to do with children? Footprints in the snow where the children played - Footprints in the snow where the children played - Teardrops in the snow where six were laid. What has war to do with children? Teardrops in the snow where the mothers cried - Teardrops on the snow where the mothers cried - Laying down the flowers where their children died What has war to do with children? It gets more powerful from there. Other than the title and the presence of snow in the lyrics, the song could be about almost any war ever fought. I think of both Iraq and Afghanistan - and Darfur, and Uganda, and all the others. Dan Schatz |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: saulgoldie Date: 04 Aug 07 - 10:40 AM Silly me. I just browsed the forum and discovered that I had already posted the same thing earlier. D'oh! |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: saulgoldie Date: 04 Aug 07 - 10:36 AM I'll second (or third, or fourth) Christmas in the Trenches and The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. There are a lot of other excellent mentions. I didn't read the whole (long) thread. But I wonder if this one has been mentioned: Cranes Over Hiroshima by Fred Small http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/cranesov.htm |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Desdemona Date: 04 Aug 07 - 08:50 AM "The Ballad of the Green Berets," for who can listen to it and not see the whole business for the ludicrous enterprise that it generally is...? ~D |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Ron Wilson Date: 04 Aug 07 - 08:43 AM "Once Was the Time of Man" which I heard by the Limeliters. And you might check out :http://www.poetry-archive.com/s/the_battle_of_blenheim.html |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,cromdubh Date: 15 Mar 05 - 03:07 PM A silent Night, Christmas in the trenches, By Cormac MacConnell. Anyone hear of it? |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Joe_F Date: 15 Mar 05 - 09:53 AM Christians at War (in DigiTrad) --- Joe Fineman joe_f@verizon.net ||: A potato without pepper is like a kiss without a moustache. :|| |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: goodbar Date: 14 Mar 05 - 09:59 PM some bogle and dylan songs. 'i ain't marching anymore' by phil ochs. they're not folk, but crass does some of my favorites, particularly the christ the album version of 'major general despair'. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Dave'sWife Date: 14 Mar 05 - 04:19 PM Somebody mentioned: The Village of Brambleshire Wood which is off the Irish Rovers album TALES TO WARM YOUR MIND, which is one of the few Rovers things not to be out on CD these days. Thrice I've bid on a piece of mint Vinyl of this record on EBAY and thrice, the sellers ahve failed to deliver the goods. This was THE album of Irish-American Folkie childhood and drat..I cannot get a decent copy to run myself a CD off of. Does anybody have this on Vinyl on good condition and would be willing to sell it to me? Or better yet, is there some import CD of any of the unavailable songs on this album? About half the songs can be found on CD, but the ones that cannot are the ones we love. Brambleshire Wood is one of those Anti-War songs I have always wanted since it appears to be referring to WWI. help! I'll keep trying Ebay, but I have feeling no real copy exists. I do have a copy but it's the one we scratyched up as kids and snaps, crackles and pops more than a bowl of rice crispies. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,just passin through Date: 03 Jul 04 - 05:22 PM i do not know the name of the group, or many of the words, but the ending, after the battle: the valley people, after killing the mountain people, turned over the 'stone' to get the treasure: "peace on earth was all it said" i leave the details to someone else. This is "One Tin Soldier," by Coven. It is played over the opening credits sequence of the film Billy Jack. Great song. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Just passin through Date: 03 Jul 04 - 05:12 PM Can't believe no one's mentioned Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"! Also, the Clash's extraordinary "London Calling" is something of an anti-war song. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST Date: 03 Jul 04 - 01:03 PM The duo Small Potatoes has a great one in "One Thousand Cranes, One Thousand Candles". And there is the old ballad "Just Before The Battle, Mother". |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST,Betsy Date: 03 Jul 04 - 11:32 AM To register ( especially in young children's minds ) the futility of it all, you can't beat the Grand old Duke of York. I note some one mentions Martin Whyndam Read earlier - he also used to sing a song " William White " (I think that may be the title) about a teacher in N.S.W. who woudn't go to Vietnam , and , Allan Taylor's song which opens " Oh the morning lies heavy on my Father ......." apologies I'm not sure of the exact title of that either. Problem with Eric Bogle's Waltzing Matilda - not withstanding the factual criticism of Guest 19 Dec 03 - 10:48 AM ,is that I've heard it sang too many times by shitty , over-rehearsed , self indulgent performers, but, to temper that remark, I must say I was stunned the very first time I heard it , and for many times after, however, nowadays its' singing, and I stress, - in the earlier described manner , usually presents me with the ideal opportunity to visit either the bar or the bog. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: rich-joy Date: 02 Jul 04 - 10:06 PM Is it possible for the Mudcat Pixies to split this thread into Parts I and II ??!! : some of us don't have fast inner-city 'puter connections ... Thanks, Cheers! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: rich-joy Date: 02 Jul 04 - 10:03 PM If I Were Free (to speak my mind) - Travis Edmonson - as sung by Peter, Paul and Mary - recently here on a thread ... Agent Orange (they killed me in Vietnam - and I didn't even know) - Muriel Hogan - as sung by Kate Wolf (lyrics here on Mudcat too) ... Cheers! R-J |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: GUEST Date: 20 May 04 - 04:15 PM You are aware that yours is the sort of provincialism which causes wars, surely, John? |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 20 May 04 - 01:16 AM best anti war song is either No Mans Land, or Waltzing Matilda, [both in the dt], if anyone disagrees, they are stupid. |
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Subject: RE: Greatest Anti-War Song Ever? From: emjay Date: 20 May 04 - 01:12 AM Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye is quite a bit older, I believe. When Johnny Comes Marching Home dates to the American Civil War. |
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