Greatest war protest songs

Subject: Favourite war protest songs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 07:07 AM

I suppose you could say I am anti-war and as such I appreciate many anti-war songs....The ones I know however, are limited and I would like to know more please...can you help. Some of my favourites are:-
"What Have They Done to the Rain?" (Malvina Reynolds) from the 60's
"Brothers in Arms" (Dire Straits)
"Green Fields of France" [No Man's Land] (Eric Bogle)
"The Town I Loved So Well" (Luke Kelly)

Perhaps if you just put a couple of your favourites I might pick up on some good stuff.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Peace
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 07:18 AM

Make Love Not War

Abraham, Martin and John – Dick Holler/Dion
All the Weary Mothers of the Earth – Joan Baez
Blowin' in the Wind – Bob Dylan
Draft Dodger Rag – Phil Ochs
Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire
For What It's Worth – Stephen Stills/Buffalo Springfield
Fortunate Son – John Fogarty/Creedence Clearwater Revival
Get Together – The Youngbloods
Give Peace a Chance – John Lennon
I Feel like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag – Country Joe McDonald
I Ain't Marchin' Anymore – Phil Ochs
I Don't Want to Be a Soldier – trad.
If I Had a Hammer – Pete Seeger & Lee Hays
Imagine – John Lennon
Masters of War – Bob Dylan
Ohio – Neil Young
People Got to Be Free – The Rascals
Run through the Jungle – John Fogarty/Creedence Clearwater Revival
7 O'clock News/Silent Night – Simon & Garfunkel
Signs – Five Man Electrical Band
Sky Pilot – Eric Burdon & The Animals
Society's Child – Janis Ian
Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin' – Bob Dylan
Universal Soldier – Buffy Sainte-Marie
The Unknown Soldier – The Doors
War – Bob Marley & The Wailers
War – The Temptations
The War Is Over – Phil Ochs
We Can Change the World – Graham Nash
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? – Pete Seeger & Joe Hickerson
With God on Our Side – Bob Dylan

The above are from a google of

Anti War Songs: 566+ new and classic peace songs

There are many mp3 downloads available, and the site is filled with info and links to still other sites.

I really like about fifteen of the above and absolutely love certain of them.

BM

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 07:20 AM

Yes I had forgotten "Universal Soldier"..and to think I used to sing it!.
Thanks Brucie..you're a pal.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: cetmst
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 07:33 AM

Go to "Greatest Anti-War Song Ever" thread

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: freda underhill
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 07:40 AM

And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda – Eric Bogle

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 08:04 AM

CLICK HERE--PREVIOUS THREAD

OR are you trying to differentiate between "Protest" and "Anti-War?" I could see a difference there. If you aren't though, I would have added to the other thread and refreshed it.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: number 6
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 08:33 AM

Bob Dylan's 'With God on Our Side' has to be one of the most profound anti war songs.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 08:59 AM

Thanks cemst and spaw...welcomed.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Once Famous
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 09:20 AM

I don't know how anyone could leave off "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" by Ed McCurdy.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 09:22 AM

Generally mentioned but often only well into the thread is John McCutcheon's Christmas in the Trenches. It's powerful because it makes no political statement but rather in a few lines shows us the stark reality of what we do in war.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: EagleWing
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 09:28 AM

The Sun Is Burning by Ian Campbell (though whether that's anti-war or "ban the bomb" is a matter for opinion I guess.

Across the Hills (sung by Ian Campbell written by Leon Rosselson)

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: breezy
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 09:56 AM

Flowers in the Guns

Little Play Soldiers – Marty Cooper

The Year of the Drum – Wendy Joseph

Flanders March – Huw Williams

Jimmy Newman – Tom Paxton


Happy New Year, may peace prevail one and all.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Peace
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 10:15 AM

One Tin Soldier

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: mg
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 10:39 AM

If you want to find the sergeant etc. [The Old Barbed Wire]...I doubt it is a protest song originally...just a very good description. mg

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 11:40 AM

Eric Bogle has already had a couple of mentions -All the Fine Young Men !
Then The Late Keith Marsden deserves recognition for Normandy Orchards
and St Aubin sur Mer.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 12:31 PM

Add:-

"Christmas 1914", now known to be true, tho thought to be a myth for many years.

And how could any list not include:-

"High Germany"

"Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye"

I would also suggest Ron Trueman Border's powerful song "Scared" tho it is perhaps more anti violence, than anti war.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: sixtieschick
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 12:31 PM

"I Feel like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" by Country Joe and the Fish echoes of the dark absurdity of the Vietnam War.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: sixtieschick
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 01:25 PM

Oy vey. I was speaking on the phone with my college roommate from 1970 and trying to type this at the same time. Let me try again:

"I Feel like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" by Country Joe and the Fish

Great black humor and a major crowd pleaser at Vietnam protests in the Bay Area. Always preceded by the "Fish Cheer" or one of it variations.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,Ravenman
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:00 PM

One that is not so well known; "Protocol" by Gordon Lightfoot.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: JedMarum
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:05 PM

Greatest war protest songs?

I suppose it depends upon which you think was the greatest war.


;-)

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Cats
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:08 PM

For me it has to be Poor Murdered Men by Jon Heslop

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:17 PM

Have you heard Les Barker/Martin Carthy's "Such a War Has Never Been"?
I've often heard Les Barker dismissed as a clown - just goes to show you how disturbing clowns can be.

KYBTTS

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:19 PM

GS, me old mucker, I think you'll find Eric Bogle called his song 'No Man's Land' - it was retitled 'The Green Fields Of France' when the Irish stole it and claimed it as one of their traditional songs. Remind me on Friday and I might, just might, sing it.

Glad to hear you're on the mend old lad.

S:0)

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:34 PM

From a different perspective:

Dead little girl of Hiroshima [I Come and Stand at Every Door]

Come Away Melinda

or more recent:

Where do you lie my Father [Whaur Dae Ye Lie?]

Robyn

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: DonMeixner
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:37 PM

"I Come and Stand at Every Door"

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 02:44 PM

John. If you are going to sing that song on Friday....illness, aye nor death, will keep me away.....Looking forward to seeing you on New Years Eve..been a long time eh?? I have so missed the Folk scene whilst I have been ill.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: goodbar
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 03:25 PM

a bunch of phil ochs songs, those eric bogle ones others mentioned, crass songs.......

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 05:29 PM

I find almost all anti-war songs unbearably mawkish.

One great exception is "When the Boys are on Parade", by NZ writer Marcus Turner.

If you don't know it already, try to make a point of hearing it. Andy Irvine has recorded it on his latest CD.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: andymac
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 03:05 AM

Why are some of the best songs about the worst of subjects?
Here are some of my favourites though I'm sure there are plenty of others I've forgotten...

Childhoods End
The Writing of Tipperary
Eve of Destruction
Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
Jimmy Newman
Grave
The Ballad of Penny Evans
Lots of Little Soldiers
Portland Town

Andy

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 05:01 AM

A matter of opinion, Goodbar, but isn't that what the 'Cat's for?

Glad you're back GS. I'm brushing the words to 'NML' up right now.

S:0)

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Peace
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 05:20 AM

"Business Goes on as Usual". I think it was written by Silverstein and I know it was done by the Mitchell Trio (maybe even the Chad Mitchell Trio).

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Peace
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 05:22 AM

I can't remember if anyone has mentioned Ochs' "There But for Fortune". That is a gem. Great lyrics and fantastic melody.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: goodbar
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 01:43 PM

Strollin' Johnny,


what???

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Songster Bob
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 02:34 PM

There have been NO "Great" war protest songs, because we're still fighting 'em, so all those damned songs failed.

Dammit!

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 06:46 PM

Songster Bob, I don't think this is an indictment of anti-war songs - more of human nature! Just as socialism has been called a great concept for the wrong people, too many human beings seem to be unable to grasp the concept of peace. I'm afraid we'll have to live with that, but it shouldn't stop people singing (and writing) anti-war songs.

Thanks for mentioning Mike Harding's Christmas 1914. (I know I'm in a minority but I prefer it to Christmas in the Trenches.) The Observer ran an article featuring the last known surviving soldier of the Great War, Scotsman Alfred Anderson (108 years); in its Christmas edition. Some years back another 'last' survivor was reported to have died, but they must have been updating their files.)

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 06:51 PM

Aforementioned "Business Goes on as Usual" is actually by the wonderfully prolific Fred hellerman & Fran Minkoff (writers of many of 'our' classics such as "Come Away Melinda")

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 07:02 PM

Good point Bob, but we must never, ever giveup writing and singing them.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: freda underhill
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 07:02 PM

Nursery Rhyme

In 1916 during the First World War a poet named Frank Wilmot (who wrote under the name Furnley Maurice) turned his revulsion at the conscription of young people into this poem. It was set to music in the mid 1950s by Chris Kempster, and when he sang it at a folk session thirty years later, this led to Miguel Heatwole writing an arrangement of it for the Solidarity Choir. That version is on the choir's CD "Ten Years Strong".

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: pdq
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 07:26 PM

Gordon Lightfoot's "Leaves of Grass" is polite and quite poetic but an anti-war song it is.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 09:57 AM

The first I really remember is "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye." But there are so many: for something seasonal how about Jonah Lewey's " Wish I could be home for Christmas" or John Lennon's " Happy Xmas, war is over."

And as to whether the songs fail; well there are more people opposed to war now than ever before but the dangers of complacency are as great as ever. There are always waves in peoples attitudes but it is important to keep the head of pressure acting in the right direction.
love Robbie

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 02:46 PM

Small Potatoes' song "1000 Candles, 1000 Cranes" deserves a prominent place in such a list. And "There Were Roses" sung by our own Seamus Kennedy, among many others, Makes a profound comment on that other kind of war.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 03:50 PM

Goodbar, you describe 'those other Eric Bogle songs others mentioned' as 'crass songs'. It's a matter of opinion. I don't share yours. Nor do a very great many other people. But that's OK because that's what the 'Cat's for - exchanging views. Got it now?
S:0)

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: goodbar
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 06:00 PM

oh, no. you misunderstood me. i was listing a few of my favorite artists who do some great protest songs. among them was the band crass. i wasn't using it as an adjective to describe the bogle songs, but naming the band crass as another group that does great protest songs. sorry for not being clear.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Jun 21 - 10:12 PM

"Old Man Atom (Talking Atomic Blues)" Ozie Waters; song by Vern Partlow & Irving Bibo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlxqCoCzq1U

Lyrics are provided at the link.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Jun 21 - 10:31 PM

Pursuant to the 03 Jun 21 - 10:12 PM post, the song is of interest because there is so much 'precious little' about it on the www. The song was released near the beginning of the McCarthy Era (1950-4) so it makes me wonder if it was hushed up. Does anyone out there know anything about it?? (I know it's not a great song, but it's certainly ahead of its time in terms of A-bomb protest.)

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Jun 21 - 10:42 PM

There is an excellent write-up about the song at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Partlow

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GerryM
Date: 03 Jun 21 - 10:58 PM

At the Sam Hinton website, the page about Old Man Atom, it says,

Sam recorded Old Man Atom in 1950 for ABC Eagle, a small independent label.
Influential New York disc jockey Martin Block played the record on his show 'Make Believe Ballroom.' Overwhelming listener response prompted Columbia Records to acquire the rights for national distribution.
From all indications, it promised to be one of the year's biggest novelty records. RCA Victor rush-released a cover version by the Sons of the Pioneers.
Bing Crosby was reportedly ready to record Old Man Atom for Decca when right-wing organizations began attacking Columbia and RCA Victor for releasing a song that reflected a Communist ideology.
Buckling under pressure, both Columbia and RCA Victor withdrew Old Man Atom from distribution.
Old Man Atom is still in print as track #3 on Washington Square Memoirs: The Great Urban Folk Boom.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Jun 21 - 11:06 PM

Thank you, GerryM.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Lighter
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 07:55 AM

"Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye" started out as a music-hall gross-out joke in 1867.

Strange but true.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 11:18 AM

In Flanders Fields; Coope Boyes and Simpson "The more we learn about war, the more important it becomes to sing about peace."

Peace has been a recurring theme of the powerful and distinctive singing and songwriting of the English acappella trio Barry Coope, Jim Boyes and Lester Simpson. It was the strength of their writing about the events of the First World War that led Piet Chielens, Co-ordinator of the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ieper, to commission them to compose and perform for the Flemish arts organisation, Peace Concerts Passendale in 1993.

They eventually took part in five different Peace Concert productions in Belgium and England, performing on former battlefields like Hill 60, among the memorials at Tyne Cot and at the request of the town of Passendale for their eightieth anniversary commemoration of the battle of Passchendaele. These experiences then inspired their words and music production, In Flanders Fields, which combines their own writing with the biting humour of the Tommies' wartime observations and music.

Songs like Jim Boyes' "Flanders" and Lester Simpson's, "Standing in Line" and Barry Coope's singing of "Robin's Song" were also the reason that the author, Michael Morpurgo, asked them to join him in concert performances of his novel Private Peaceful, with its message of the futility of war and, later, in the adaptation of The Best Christmas Present in the World, his story about the Christmas Truce of 1914. In Flanders Fields is the culmination of this involvement, bringing together newly written songs, existing and first time recordings of songs from Peace Concerts Passendale and songs and music of the "War to end all Wars".

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: RTim
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 12:00 PM

Les Sullivan's song - The Battle of Jutland.....6,000 plus British Navy dead and 105 years ago this week - And For What???
An example of the song:
https://soundcloud.com/tim-radford/battle-of-jutland

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 01:29 PM

The Young'uns (my favorite currently active folk group) have a lot of anti-war songs; my two favorites are:

Three Sailors (spotify link)
Lapwings (youtube link)

As far as I know, both are original

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 01:41 PM

And a few from Buffy St Marie;

Universal Soldier
Moratorium - Bring our brothers home
Soldier Blue

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: gillymor
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 01:51 PM

Did anyone mention The King's Shilling performed by Karan Casey or the Richard Thompson composition "How Will I Ever Be Simple Again"?
The ones that focus on the innocent victims of war are the ones that hit me the hardest.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: gillymor
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 01:54 PM

The Recruiting Sargeant- The Levellers with the Copper Family

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 02:45 PM

Link in a thread I started:

Gorizia, tu sei maledetta

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 03:30 PM

Christians at War
Written in 1912, just in time to prevent World War I.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Raedwulf
Date: 04 Jun 21 - 03:36 PM

RTim - As a New York newspaper at the time assessed Jutland succinctly: ‘The German Fleet has assaulted its jailer, but it is still in jail.’ Jutland, on the tactical level, was indeterminate; on the strategic, it was a British victory. The Imperial German Navy never undertook another serious fleet action. The 6,000 didn't die "For What", for nothing. It should also be pointed out that German casualties weren't light; more than 2,500. Alas, that we fought at all! :/

As for "war protest", I side with HenryP. "My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity." Wilfred Owen. The most moving words you will find (and, being fairly placid as a rule, I am not easily moved) are the ones from WWI, in my opinion, when poetry was yet more popular than nowadays. My favourite is not one of the better known ones; not a Sassoon, Owen, Blunden, Brookes, Rosenberg; but by Ewart Alan Mackintosh. I've posted it at least twice before here, so I'll confine myself now to linking In Memoriam

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: David C. Carter
Date: 05 Jun 21 - 04:56 AM

John Prine's Song "Sam Stone".

The Story of a war vet.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 05 Jun 21 - 05:48 AM

The fiddle and the drum.

When the tigers broke free.

Survivor leave.

Robin

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,James Phillips
Date: 05 Jun 21 - 09:35 AM

One of the oldest, certainly:

Will Ye Go To Flanders as sung by Tony Cuffe/Ossian

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,Liane
Date: 06 Jun 21 - 01:21 PM

Did anyone already mention "I Ain't Marching Anymore," by Phil Ochs?

"It's always the old who lead us to the wars,
Always the young who fall.
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun:
Tell me, was it worth it all?"

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 04:07 PM

The Ballad of Ira Hayes by Peter LaFarge, Waist Deep in the Big Muddy by Pete Seeger.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: Elmore
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 05:16 PM

The post just above was Elmore, not guest. My bad.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: BTMP
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 06:05 PM

I’ve always thought John Prine’s “Sam Stone” was a very powerful anti-war song. So many young men & women returned from Viet Nam and never got over what they had seen and experienced.

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,jOhn
Date: 09 Jun 21 - 02:26 AM

https://youtu.be/d-Zw1e1pmn8

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: GUEST,John P
Date: 09 Jun 21 - 02:40 PM

As an aside, during the cold war I had a poster on my wall that said, "If we're going to have protest songs for World War III, we'd better write them now."

Subject: RE: Greatest war protest songs
From: robomatic
Date: 09 Jun 21 - 03:43 PM

John P: Songs 2,3, and 4 are for you! Numbers 4 and 5 need some updating.

Country Joe MacDonald - I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag


Tom Lehrer - We'll All Go Together


Tom Lehrer - So Long Mom (A Song For WW III)

Flanders & Swann - 20 Tons of TNT

Tom Lehrer - Who's Next?