Personal Favorite Protest Songs

Now I couldn't write about all the protest songs that I wanted to, because time wouldn't allow it, but here is a handful of songs that I love:
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival:


CCR is one of my favorite bands of all time. Fogarty wrote this song to protest the fact that it was the working class people being sent to Vietnam while "senators, millionaires, and military sons" would not be involved because they were fortunate.

Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young


This song was inspired by the Kent State shootings in the spring of 1970. The students were protesting and the National Guard shot at the large crowd. Four students died, causing outrage across the nation. These powerful lyrics contain a direct blow to the Nixon administration.

Give Peace a Chance - John Lennon


The Beatles were on the verge of breaking up when this song was released. This was also recorded on John and Yoko's honeymoon bed-in, in which they stayed in bed in protest of the war. The song was an anthem of the anti-war movement.

Get Up, Stand Up - Bob Marley


Although not in protest of the Vietnam War, this song became an anthem for those who were oppressed everywhere. Marley wrote many songs about oppression, such as Redemption Song, and War. Marley brought reggae music to the masses along with messages of peace, and this song is popular to this day.

Masters of War-Bob Dylan


Bob Dylan, as I have posted about before, is the quintessential protest singer of the Vietnam War era. I had a hard time picking a favorite, but I felt that this had a powerful message. Obviously, "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'" were more popular, but Dylan was such an excellent artist and writer.

Sources:
Heart, S.F. (2011). Protest songs. Retrieved from http://www.sfheart.com/protest/index1.html

Fogarty, J. (Lyricist). (1969). Fortunate Son [Recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival]. On Willy and the Poor Boys [Medium of recording: Record]

Young, N. (Lyricist). (1970). Ohio [Recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]. [Medium of recording: Record]

Lennon, J. (Lyricist). (1969). Give Peace a Chance [Recorded by Plastic Ono Band]. [Medium of recording: Record]

Marley, R. (Performer). (1973). Get Up, Stand Up [Recorded by Bob Marley and the Wailers]. On Burnin' [Medium of recording: Record]

Dylan, B. (Performer). (1963). Masters of War. On The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan [Medium of recording: Record]

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