Looking for some good protest music

[albionmoonlight]

I am going to make myself a playlist of cool fight the power/stick it to the man/protest songs. Sometimes, I am just in that mood. And I thought that FOFC would have no shortage of ideas for songs to put on the list.

Here's what I have so far (in no particular order):

DEMOCRACY--Leonard Cohen
FIGHT THE POWER--Public Enemy
STRANGE FRUIT--Billie Holiday
GUNS OF BRIXTON--The Clash (Nouvelle Vague Version)
HEAD LIKE A HOLE--Nine Inch Nails

I have no doubt that FOFC can enhance the heck out of this list.

Edit to add--songs can be about specific things (e.g., Strange Fruit). But I want them to have a timeless quality, too (e.g., Strange Fruit). I am not really interested, in other words, in the latest anti-Bush song out there, especially if it is not a good song.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Killing in the Name Of - Rage Against The Machine (and probably quite a few others from this group)

[Lathum]

Citizens CIA- Dropkick Murphyes
Fortunate Sun- CCR

[Draft Dodger]

not my cup of tea, but I would say the Sex Pistol's Anarchy in the UK

[Desmond]

Well I can stand beside
Ideals I think are right
And I can stand beside
The idea to stand and fight
I do believe
There’s a dream for everyone
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

There’s room enough here
For science to live
And there’s room enough here
For religion to forgive
And try to understand
All the people of this land
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

That poverty could be
Just another ugly thing
And bigotry would be
Seen only as obscene
And the ones that run this land
Help the poor and common man
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

The dream is still alive
Some day it will come true
And this country it belongs
To folks like me and you
So let the voice of freedom
Sing out through this land
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

From the east coast
To the west coast
Down the Dixie Highway
Back home
THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

[Critch]

"The World Turned Upside Down" - Billy Bragg

[DaddyTorgo]

we shall overcome :-P

[CraigSca]

Not really a protest song against establishment, but a good song against persecution is "Seagull" by Ride.

[CraigSca]

dola

"Listen to the Flower People" by Spinal Tap

[markprior22]

I don't know if you are into "older" protest music but I thought of "Power to the People" by John Lennon and "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band

[VPI97]

Killing in the Name Of - Rage Against The Machine
#1 on my list.

Also, Talkin' Bout A Revolution - Tracy Chapman (although I really like the version Living Colour used to do, if you can find it)

[thesloppy]

American Ruse - MC5

[lungs]

Volunteers - Jefferson Airplane

[lordscarlet]

I don't know if you are into "older" protest music but I thought of "Power to the People" by John Lennon and "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band

Not sure if this is what you're looking for either, but one of my top choices is "The Fish Cheer" by Country Joe McDonald

[Toddzilla]

American Idiot by Green Day if you're not sick to death of them by now

[Toddzilla]

Fortunate Sun- CCR+1 - fabulous choice

[lungs]

Not sure if this is what you're looking for either, but one of my top choices is "The Fish Cheer" by Country Joe McDonald

Gimme an F!

Gimme a U!

Gimme a C!

Gimme a K!

What's that spell?!

What's that spell?!

What's that spell?!

[cuervo72]

Not particularly angry sounding songs, but you might add Ohio, and For What It's Worth.

(I remember this topic coming up here before)

[Tiphnie]

hmm some of my favorites are

Recipe for Hate- Bad Religion
or
One Trillion Dollars by Anti Flag

[Draft Dodger]

another excellent PE song - Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos.
and NWA's Fuck tha Police.

both covered by RATM, not-so-coincidentally.

[Klinglerware]

The eastern world it is exploding, violence flaring and bullets loading...

[korme]

WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT

[cartman]

War - Edwin Starr
Keep on Rockin' the Free World - Neil Young
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag - Country Joe and The Fish

[JPhillips]

Working Class Hero - John Lennon
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - The Pogues

[cartman]

Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil
Alice's Restaurant - Arlo Guthrie

[Maple Leafs]

Bush Killa - Paris

Anything by Public Enemy

My Violent Heart - Nine Inch Nails

[sabotai]

Know Your Enemy - Rage Against The Machine
War? - System of a Down
Prison Song - System of a Down
Refuse/Resist - Soulfly
Back To the Primative - Soulfly
A Drug Against War - KMFDM

[hawk4669]

"Let Them Eat War" by Bad Religion

Cheers!

[Karlifornia]

The Happiest Place On Earth-Desaparecidos

[Coffee Warlord]

War Again - Oingo Boingo
War Pigs - Sabbath
Aenima - Tool
World Coming Down - Type O Negative

[DaddyTorgo]

masters of war - bob dylan and / or eddie vedder

[DaddyTorgo]

shit...i'm dissapointed in the contemporariness of the songs suggested by my fellow FOFCers. There are so many classic protest songs from the Vietnam era and the civil rights struggle guys

[thesloppy]

shit...i'm dissapointed in the contemporariness of the songs suggested by my fellow FOFCers. There are so many classic protest songs from the Vietnam era and the civil rights struggle guys

If this is just a fancy way to say Rage Against the Machine sucks ass then I totally concur.

[Greyroofoo]

Pink Floyd: The Fletcher Memorial Home

[Senator]

Letter From LBJ
LYNDON JOHNSON TOLD THE NATION
(Tom Paxton)

[Tigercat]

If this is just a fancy way to say Rage Against the Machine sucks ass then I totally concur.

I agree. Rage provided great protest music for frat boys I knew in college; it was seriously their idea of being political. I consider Rage to be good/significant "protest music" as much as I consider NFL Europa to be great football.

[Cringer]

Just about any song from Fifteen/Jeff Ott. If you like the music that is. I do. Will try to remember to make a list sunday when i am home, of other bands and songs.

[cthomer5000]

My top Rage Against The Machine songs are:

No Shelter
Sleep Now In The Fire

[Buccaneer]

shit...i'm dissapointed in the contemporariness of the songs suggested by my fellow FOFCers. There are so many classic protest songs from the Vietnam era and the civil rights struggle guys

For what it's worth, when I read the title, that was the only thing I thought of. Protest songs written by white boys in the last 15 years are silly and contrived.

I would pick, off the top of my head:

Revolution
Abraham, Martin and John
War
Eve of Destruction
Give Peace a Chance

[cthomer5000]

GUNS OF BRIXTON--The Clash (Nouvelle Vague Version)


The Nouvelle Vague version?!

[cthomer5000]

Protest songs written by white boys in the last 15 years are silly and contrived.

Please tell me Rage Against The Machine isn't covered by this blanket statement.

[stevew]

99 Luftbaloons
Something by the Dead Kennedys
something off of "Hypocracy is the Greatest Luxury" by the Disposable heroes.

[highfiveoh]

Bob Dylan - Hurricane

[Shkspr]

Please tell me Rage Against The Machine isn't covered by this blanket statement.

Covered? The blanket was tossed at them.

Oh, speaking of silly white boy songs of protest:

"Fight For Your Right (to Party)" - Beastie Boys

[sabotai]

This thread sure has taken a predictable turn.

[Schmidty]

Goofy's Concern - Butthole Surfers

Peace Train - Yusuf Islam er....Cat Stevens

Rock Hard Times - Eels

Revolution - Grandaddy

Electric Uncle Sam - Primus

Polish Mule - Stephen Malkmus

[cartman]

Mmmmbop - Hansen
Lump - Presidents of the US
Waiting for Tonight - JLo

[Cringer]

Maybe some of the old farts should look into what white boys of the last 15 years write protest songs about before they make ignorant statements. Do you believe there have been no injustices in the world since the 70's?

[albionmoonlight]

The Nouvelle Vague version?!

There's a bit of personal history there. Pretty boring story, and longer than it needs to be. But, hey, it's my playlist :)

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I've got a lot of songs to sample over the next few days. And feel free to keep them coming.

[cartman]

Maybe some of the old farts should look into what white boys of the last 15 years write protest songs about before they make ignorant statements. Do you believe there have been no injustices in the world since the 70's?

If the singers never wore onions on their belts, as was the fashion at the time, then phooey on them!

[cthomer5000]

Buccs statement just cracked me up since the 2 guys that define R.A.T.M. are African-American and Mexican-American.

[Oilers9911]

Blowin in the Wind and The Times They Are a Changin.

[Lathum]

Some of you guys are ridiculous

[thesloppy]

Hey, I just want to clarify that I'm not some crusty old dude knocking the modern music, or trying to say that modern injustices can't inspire a proper protest song, and I'm not trying to be some indie music nerd saying how my music taste is more evolved than your music taste, I mean I've listened to some heinous shit in my days...I've got a closet full of Fishbone, Red Hot Chili Peppers cassette tapes that I hope nobody ever finds. PM dawn cassingles and shit. Sir Mix-a-Lot on wax. So again, I wasn't trying to say anything profound or speak for anybody else's music taste, or trying to suggest what anybody else should listen to, or judge anybody's taste in any way...


..I'm just saying Rage Against The Machine suck fucking ass.

[Lathum]

Hey, I just want to clarify that I'm not some crusty old dude knocking the modern music, or trying to say that modern injustices can't inspire a proper protest song, and I'm not trying to be some indie music nerd saying how my music taste is more evolved than your music taste, I mean I've listened to some heinous shit in my days...I've got a closet full of Fishbone, Red Hot Chili Peppers cassette tapes that I hope nobody ever finds. PM dawn cassingles and shit. Sir Mix-a-Lot on wax. So again, I wasn't trying to say anything profound or speak for anybody else's music taste, or trying to suggest what anybody else should listen to, or judge anybody's taste in any way...


..I'm just saying Rage Against The Machine suck fucking ass.

stick to goverment mule then

[Greyroofoo]

Roger Waters: The Bravery of Being out of Range

[Lathum]

You know it is funny how FOFC music threads and FOFC threads about celebrity women always end up the same.

People act like they would never go "slumming" with things the majority like because god forbid the unknown people would lable them as conformists

[Crapshoot]

Hmm.


- Bob Dylan - Masters of War
- Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a Changing
- Pete Seeger- Where Have all the Flowers Gone
- N.W.A - Fuck da Police
- Crosby, Stills, Nash - Ohio
- The Pogues - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
- The Clash - London Calling, or perhaps Rock The Casbah

I think some of these have already been mentioned, but all are great songs. The Pogues and Pete Seeger in particular - they're mild, gentle, slow paced, and kill you far more in terms of their protest. I defy someone not to be affected by Where have all The Flowers Gone

[Lathum]

dola-

Rage Against the Machine RAWKS

[Lathum]

If you like slow I recomend The green Fields of France by Dropkick Murphys

[Schmidty]

PM dawn cassingles and shit.

What's wrong with PM Dawn? :(

[thesloppy]

Iron Maiden - Run To the Hills
Bobby Fuller/The Clash/Green Day/etc.etc.- I Fought the Law
Johnny Paycheck - Take This Job and Shove It
James Brown - Funky President
Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
FEAR - I Don't Care About You
Geto Boyz - Fuck A War (undeniably best protest song by a midget evar)

[thesloppy]

What's wrong with PM Dawn? :(

Shall we set adrift on memory bliss?

[thesloppy]

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[Schmidty]

Shall we set adrift on memory bliss?

The camera pans the cocktail glass,
Behind a blind of plastic plants;
I found the lady with the fat diamond ring.
Then you know I cant remember a damn thing.
I think its one of those de ja vu things,
Or a dream thats tryin to tell me something.
Or will I ever stop thinkin about it.
I dont know, I doubt it.
Subterranean by design,
I wonder what I would find if I met you,
Let my eyes caress you,
Until I meet the thought of missess princess who?
Often wonder what makes her work.
I guess Ill leave that question to the experts,
Assuming that there are some out there.
Theyre probably alone, solitaire.
I can remember when I caught up
With a pastime intimate friend.
She said, bet youre probably gonna say I look lovely,
But you probably dont think nothin of me.
She was right, though, I cant lie.
Shes just one of those corners in my mind,
And I just put her right back with the rest.
Thats the way it goes, I guess.

Baby you send me
Set adrift on memory bliss of you

Careless whisper from a careless man,
A neutron dance for a neutron fan;
Marionette strings are dangerous things,
I thought of all the trouble they bring.
An eye for an eye, a spy for a spy,
Rubber bands expand in a frustrating sigh.
Tell me that shes not dreaming.
Shes got an ace in the hole,
It doesnt have meaning.
Reality used to be a friend of mine,
cause complete control, I dont take too kind.
Christina applegate, you gotta put me on.
Guess whos piece of the cake is jack gone?
She broke her wishbone and wished for a sign.
I told her whispers in my heart were fine.
What did she think she could do?
I feel for her, I really do.
And I stared at the ring finger on her hand,
I wanted her to be a big pm dawn fan,
But I had to put her right back with the rest.
Thats the way it goes, I guess.

Baby you send me...
Set adrift on memory bliss of you


I miss you, 1991. :(

[DaddyTorgo]

Maybe some of the old farts should look into what white boys of the last 15 years write protest songs about before they make ignorant statements. Do you believe there have been no injustices in the world since the 70's?

lying in shackles on a urine-sodden mattress? nope...don't think there's been that much to "protest" about since the 70's, or early 80's at least, for the most part.

Mourn yes, protest no.

with the exception of this whole iraq-mess

[cthomer5000]

lying in shackles on a urine-sodden mattress? nope...don't think there's been that much to "protest" about since the 70's, or early 80's at least, for the most part.

Mourn yes, protest no.

with the exception of this whole iraq-mess

Ignorance is bliss then I suppose. Keep it up, buddy. Keep it right up.

[lordscarlet]

If you like slow I recomend The green Fields of France by Dropkick Murphys

+1,000,000

[Lathum]

Iron Maiden - Run To the Hills


LMAO

I realize I am doing a little trolling here but I find it hysterical that the guy who say Rage Against the Machine sucks lists Iron Maiden as his first suggestion

[st.cronin]

What's wrong with PM Dawn? :(

Heck, what's wrong with Fishbone.

[highfiveoh]

lying in shackles on a urine-sodden mattress? nope...don't think there's been that much to "protest" about since the 70's, or early 80's at least, for the most part.

Mourn yes, protest no.

with the exception of this whole iraq-mess

ROFL

[Critch]

If you like slow I recomend The green Fields of France by Dropkick Murphys

Eric Bogle's original version is better.

(And his original of The Band Played Waltzing Matilda was better than the Pogues version too.)

[thesloppy]

I realize I am doing a little trolling here but I find it hysterical that the guy who say Rage Against the Machine sucks lists Iron Maiden as his first suggestion

Hey man, I will freely admit my musical taste is horrible, if it makes you feel any better you can picture me sitting around listening to one of those Fisher Price record players with the orange and the green records. I've knowingly and willingly spent money on KC and the Sunshine Band, and would again!.



....but none of that changes the fact that Rage Against the Machine sucks fucking ass.

[Buccaneer]

Buccs statement just cracked me up since the 2 guys that define R.A.T.M. are African-American and Mexican-American.

Then they wouldn't be qualified as white boys protest music. There are quite a few good protest bands in the past 15 years, and one can certainly choose RATM. Those are not what I was referring to.

[DaddyTorgo]

Ignorance is bliss then I suppose. Keep it up, buddy. Keep it right up.

so you're saying there are things that these groups are singing about that are on the level of apartheid?

[Crapshoot]

so you're saying there are things that these groups are singing about that are on the level of apartheid?

Yeah. I think Darfur and Rwanda are far far worse than apartheid.

[DaddyTorgo]

Yeah. I think Darfur and Rwanda are far far worse than apartheid.

those are things to PROTEST though. Those are things to mourn...to be sad about. at least in the case of rwanda. I can see how you could protest re: darfur I suppose

[Mac Howard]

Too many to name but you might visit this site:

http://www.bobdylan.com/moderntimes/music/albumsMain.html

[Tigercat]

You know it is funny how FOFC music threads and FOFC threads about celebrity women always end up the same.

People act like they would never go "slumming" with things the majority like because god forbid the unknown people would lable them as conformists

Does Rage have some good music? Yes, so I would vote "hot," or the "rock" equivalent. But this isn't a Rock or Not thread. This is good protest songs thread.

Rage's essence isn't about protest, its about bitching and moaning about a capitalist society that as a major label signed act you LIVE OFF OF AND FEED. Thats not protesting. Thats bitching and moaning and caring more about the "brilliance" in one's own head instead of actually trying to make a change.

[Karlifornia]

Does Rage have some good music? Yes, so I would vote "hot," or the "rock" equivalent. But this isn't a Rock or Not thread. This is good protest songs thread.

Rage's essence isn't about protest, its about bitching and moaning about a capitalist society that as a major label signed act you LIVE OFF OF AND FEED. Thats not protesting. Thats bitching and moaning and caring more about the "brilliance" in one's own head instead of actually trying to make a change.

Word.

[highfiveoh]

Rage's essence isn't about protest, its about bitching and moaning about a capitalist society that as a major label signed act you LIVE OFF OF AND FEED. Thats not protesting. Thats bitching and moaning and caring more about the "brilliance" in one's own head instead of actually trying to make a change.

You don't have a clue as to what you're talking about.

[Schmidty]

You don't have a clue as to what you're talking about.

Very well thought-out critique. Bravo.

[highfiveoh]

Very well thought-out critique. Bravo.

Hey thanks.

[Cringer]

so you're saying there are things that these groups are singing about that are on the level of apartheid?

Please tell us where the line is for things worthy and unworthy of protest.

I believe one line in the original post talked about songs 'sticking it to the man.' In my opinion songs protesting things that piss someone off is just that, a protest. So just because you don't find NAFTA, the G7 (or G8 now), capitalism, imperialistic government, possible wrongly imprisoned persons, and other things, something to protest, others do.

BULLSHIT POLITICIANS
Every fucking day our cities tell us what they think of justice. They lock the courageous away as the cowards plaster the cracks spreading through the monolith. But if this man isn’t freed, this city burns. “On this Day of Remembrance let us not kneel and pray for the dead. Let us stand and activate for the living, to rescue those about to die” at the hands of bullshit politicians; bloated pin-dick motherfuckers who bow and curtsy to the seats of power. We’ll never learn and nothing will ever change as long as we stay this course of followers and slaves. I can’t believe we’re still content reshuffling the same old decks of kings and queens and faux-democracies. I say we hand it back to the bullshit politicians. Brick by brick, wall by wall


Sounds like a protest song to me.


Now excuse me, I must go write a protest song about the government continually screwing with the american truckers. :D

[Lathum]

Very well thought-out critique. Bravo.

but accurate.