The Complete Guitar Player Songbook According to Wikipedia... "A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change..."
In American history these movements for social change have occured when portions of the general public have been disfranchised, disrespected, discriminated against, or simply dissatisfied with the status quo.
During these times of political upheaval and unrest, people come together for a common cause in order to make their voices heard by the powers that be. This is democracy in action. Great songs are sometimes written around such events which help express the intense emotions of the collective whole. These so called "protest songs" often become closely associated with the movement's sense of purpose and self-identity.
Here are some well known protest songs you might recognize:
In American history these movements for social change have occured when portions of the general public have been disfranchised, disrespected, discriminated against, or simply dissatisfied with the status quo.
During these times of political upheaval and unrest, people come together for a common cause in order to make their voices heard by the powers that be. This is democracy in action. Great songs are sometimes written around such events which help express the intense emotions of the collective whole. These so called "protest songs" often become closely associated with the movement's sense of purpose and self-identity.
Here are some well known protest songs you might recognize:
1. We Shall Overcome - Rev. Charles Tindley (Civil Rights Movement)
The lyrics of the original hymn were adapted and often sung during protests and marches for freedom by civil rights advocates under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Blowin In the Wind - Bob Dylan (Civil Rights/Vietnam War)
"Blowin' in the Wind" has been described as an anthem of the 1960s civil rights movement, and it later became identified with the Vietnam War protest movement.
3. Give Peace a Chance - John Lennon (Vietnam War)
The song quickly became the anthem for the Vietnam War protest movement, and was sung by as many as half a million demonstrators in Washington, D.C. at the Vietnam Moratorium Day, on 15 October 1969.
4. Sunday, Bloody Sunday - U2 (Irish Civil Rights Conflict)
One of U2's most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot at civil rights marchers.
5. Let's Impeach the President - Neil Young (Iraq War)
A stinging rebuke against President George W. Bush and the War in Iraq and a call for political action to be taken to impeach him.
Speaking of protest songs...
Last week I ruffled some feathers when I posted Neil Young's song Southern Man along with Lynyrd Skynyrd's song Sweet Home Alabama on my blog. Though comments were invited, I didn't really expect the personal attacks that I received. This just demonstrates how easy it is to be misunderstood.
Even though the song's lyrics seem to speak of an earlier time, it is my belief that Neil Young wrote Southern Man in protest against the discrimination many black Americans were experiencing in the South during the 1960s. This is poetry in action.
It is commonly believed that Neil Young wrote this song after he was pulled out of a bar in Alabama in 1969 and beaten up by three men because he had long hair. This was just another form of discrimination that was all too common at the time.
It might surprise you to learn that Neil Young was a fan of Sweet Home Alabama and was proud to have his name used in the song! Lynyrd Skynyrd was even trying to arrange a concert where Neil Young would join them on the song and sing the line "A southern man don't need me around anyhow," but they couldn't pull it off because of scheduling conflicts.
Van Zant and Young respected one another as artists. Their camaraderie was a good example of how to let bygones be bygones and give peace a chance. This is something we could all learn and benefit from in an age of rage.
Till next time...
Keep practicing!
The lyrics of the original hymn were adapted and often sung during protests and marches for freedom by civil rights advocates under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Blowin In the Wind - Bob Dylan (Civil Rights/Vietnam War)
"Blowin' in the Wind" has been described as an anthem of the 1960s civil rights movement, and it later became identified with the Vietnam War protest movement.
3. Give Peace a Chance - John Lennon (Vietnam War)
The song quickly became the anthem for the Vietnam War protest movement, and was sung by as many as half a million demonstrators in Washington, D.C. at the Vietnam Moratorium Day, on 15 October 1969.
4. Sunday, Bloody Sunday - U2 (Irish Civil Rights Conflict)
One of U2's most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot at civil rights marchers.
5. Let's Impeach the President - Neil Young (Iraq War)
A stinging rebuke against President George W. Bush and the War in Iraq and a call for political action to be taken to impeach him.
Speaking of protest songs...
Last week I ruffled some feathers when I posted Neil Young's song Southern Man along with Lynyrd Skynyrd's song Sweet Home Alabama on my blog. Though comments were invited, I didn't really expect the personal attacks that I received. This just demonstrates how easy it is to be misunderstood.
Even though the song's lyrics seem to speak of an earlier time, it is my belief that Neil Young wrote Southern Man in protest against the discrimination many black Americans were experiencing in the South during the 1960s. This is poetry in action.
It is commonly believed that Neil Young wrote this song after he was pulled out of a bar in Alabama in 1969 and beaten up by three men because he had long hair. This was just another form of discrimination that was all too common at the time.
It might surprise you to learn that Neil Young was a fan of Sweet Home Alabama and was proud to have his name used in the song! Lynyrd Skynyrd was even trying to arrange a concert where Neil Young would join them on the song and sing the line "A southern man don't need me around anyhow," but they couldn't pull it off because of scheduling conflicts.
Van Zant and Young respected one another as artists. Their camaraderie was a good example of how to let bygones be bygones and give peace a chance. This is something we could all learn and benefit from in an age of rage.
Till next time...
Keep practicing!
1 comments:
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Margaret
http://guitarlearntoplay.net
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