favourite protest songs?

[MitchyInge]

want the ultimate playlist

Most of Muse's latest stuff!

'Uprising' for example.

I still think We Shall Overcome beats nearly everything. Sends shivers down my spine.

I do like the Ditchling carol as well though. Really gives the two fingers to all those miserable bastards who get catsbumming about poor people spending money on tat at christmas.

Stand down Margaret
the Beat

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen

Does God Save the Queen by The Sex Pistols count? Certainly anti-establishment.

Ohio by Crosby Still Nash and Young in response to the 4 students shot dead at Kent State University by the National Guard.

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio."
("Ohio" lyrics by Neil Young)

It's still hard to believe I had to write this song. It's ironic that I capitalized on the death of these American students. Probably the most important lesson ever learned at an American place of learning.

David Crosby cried after this take."
from liner notes of the Decade album

One in Ten-UB40
Ain't gonna play Sun City-Little Stevens (?)
Biko-Peter Gabriel
Up against the wall-Tom Robinson

War (What is it good for?) Edwin Starr

Dear Mr President-Pink
One-Metallica

I'm a Rambler
The Green Fields of France

The Jarrow Song.

Whatifineverbothered

isit the same Dr Mr President by non blondes?
4 non blondes

I remember this from the early 90's

Just checked .....It's a different song although (boring fact alert) Linda Perry (4non blondes) was involved with some of Pink's music, she co wrote and produced Missundaztood.

The Streets are Ours - King Blues

here

Chimp in a 3 Piece Suit - King Blues

I love these lyrics:

Him say that there ain't no money for education
This a two step back in progress of creation
Now we see you're not afraid to cheat and lie
Sexing up the propaganda on you're alibi
Him a smug bastard and you know that I hate him
Head up the buttock of a backward nation
I can decide for myself what I think is wrong
When him a kill, him a steal, him a lie, him a bomb

Him a chimp in a 3 piece suit Lord
Him a chimp in a 3 piece suit
Him a chimp in a 3 piece suit Lord
A man, a monkey in a 3 piece suit

All She wants to do is dance by Don Henley

'Protest against the U.S. involvement with the Contras in Nicaragua. All Americans wants to do is dance, while the molotov cocktails, and sales of guns and drugs are going on around her. And the boys (the CIA, NSA, etc.)are making a buck or two.

Chanel Z by B52s
Not only an anti media rant but also protests against the Regean regime.

Dire Straits as a protest band? Telegraph road deals with social breakdown and Brothers in arms clearly protests about war.

I never thought about the Rolling Stones being political until I discovered that 'Under cover of the night' was about "the Disappeared" under Pinochet. Sting ("They Dance Alone, Cueca Solo") and Pink Floyd ("Fletcher Memorial Home"-refers to meat packing glitterati)also protest about the situation in Chile then.

A personal favorite of mine is 'I was only 19' by Redgum. It's an Austrialian folk song. It's a first person account of the Vietman war and the effect of Agent Orange.
(different to the Paul Hardcastle one which concentrates on the average age of the
conscript)

REN also sang about Agent Orange in their song Ornage Crush,

Crikey I'm sure this list could go on for weeks. Numerous songs by Pogues, Levellers, The men they couldn't hang and others of that genre, Kate Bush with Army Dreamers, Stuf by The Dead Kennedys, Elvis Costello with 'Tramp the dirt down' ie what he would like to do with Thatcher's grave (He wasn't a fan!) Even Status Quo got in on the act with a cover of 'your in the army now'

Any of u2's early stuff more or less!!

There were loads of anti - apatheid records. 'I ain't gonna play sun city'for one

Crikey just re read the title thread! It says favourite protest songs..... and there's me thinking of songs that protest.

Ok, calm.... I've already stated Ohio in an earlier post as being a fav but I also like Redgum's I was only 19
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urtiyp-G6jY
THEN SOMEONE CALLED OUT ?CONTACT? AND THE BLOKE BEHIND ME SWORE AND WE HOOKED IN THERE FOR HOURS, THEN A GOD-ALMIGHTY ROAR. FRANKIE KICKED A MINE THE DAY THAT MANKIND KICKED THE MOON. GOD HELP ME, HE WAS GOING HOME IN JUNE.

Heartbreak stuff

Pure hearbreak

Free World by Kirst MacColl Not sure what my favourite protest song is but this is up there. Lyrics are great especially in view of current govt:

I thought of you when they closed down the school
And the hospital too
Did they think that you were better?
They were wrong
You had so many friends
They all left you in the end
'cause they couldn't stand the patter

And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by a struggle
Going down
You've got to walk into the water
With your sister and your daughter
In this free world

If I wore your shades could I share your point of view?
Could I make you feel better?
Paint a picture, write a letter?
Well I know what you're saying
But I see the things you do
And it's much too dangerous
To get closer to you

And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by the struggle
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)

And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by the struggle
And the ghettoes are full of mercedes benz
And you'd never hurt a friend
Who wouldn't tell you

It's cold and it's going to get colder
You may not get much older
You're much too scared of living
And to die is a reliable exit
So you push it and you test it
With 'thunderbird' and 'rivin'

And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united in the struggle
In this free world baby
Got to take it got to grab it
Got to get it up and shag it
In this free world

Going down
You've got to get into the water
Like a lamb goes to the slaughter
In this free world baby
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)

Oh Said that reminds me of another protest that I love

Keep rockin' in the free world Neil Young
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdiCJUysIT0

I always get a lump at:

I see a woman in the night
With a baby in her hand
Under an old street light
Near a garbage can
Now she puts the kid away, and she's gone to get a hit
She hates her life, and what she's done to it
There's one more kid that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool.

God I love Neil Young!

Gotta be Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine.
Maybe Uprising by Muse. City of Delusion by Muse but wasn't a single so most people won't know it.