Protest songs

[Sox]

 

[ladyislingering]

"....you knew her, and found her dead on the ground...."



One of the most memorable and striking images of the 70s.

 

[Death on Credit]

Where to begin...






Just about any Phil Ochs song would do, really.

 

[Nololob]

Awww man, this song is wicked-groovy.

Some info about it:

Keith Emerson from pioneering progressive rock trio The Nice burns an American flag onstage at the 8th National Jazz & Blues Festival in Sunbury, August the 10th 1968. Two months before, Emerson burnt a painting with the American stars and stripes during the band’s appearance at charity event “Come Back Africa” at London’s Royal Albert Hall, 26th June 1968, provoking big controversy. The event was in aid of the International Defence and Aid Fund to commemorate Human Rights Year and South African Freedom Day and was attended by US celebrities, dignitaries and statesmen, including Marlon Brando.

The members from The Nice have later apologized for that on numerous occassions. Ironically, one of the most popular songs from the band is a tribute to the U.S., a version of Leonard Bernstein’s “America”. Keith Emerson has said: “We did the concert as a protest. We were the only rock band in the show and we showed our protest by burning a painting of the American flag. The sounds of the guitar and the drums were crashing all around us from the speakers, and after I finished drawing the flag, I lit it on fire as a sign of protest. This did not go over well at all with the audience… There was no applause at the end of the number, and a great many of them walked out.”
The Nice were banned from ever playing the Royal Albert Hall again, but Keith Emerson played again at the venue 24 years later with Emerson, Lake and Palmer, in October 1992.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

 

[architect]

 

[ladyislingering]

YES.
I almost forgot about this one.

Some info about it:

Keith Emerson from pioneering progressive rock trio The Nice burns an American flag onstage at the 8th National Jazz & Blues Festival in Sunbury, August the 10th 1968. Two months before, Emerson burnt a painting with the American stars and stripes during the band’s appearance at charity event “Come Back Africa” at London’s Royal Albert Hall, 26th June 1968, provoking big controversy.

Keith Emerson has said: “We did the concert as a protest. We were the only rock band in the show and we showed our protest by burning a painting of the American flag. The sounds of the guitar and the drums were crashing all around us from the speakers, and after I finished drawing the flag, I lit it on fire as a sign of protest. This did not go over well at all with the audience… There was no applause at the end of the number, and a great many of them walked out.”

A very bold move. That took some serious balls. It's a shame their intentions were misconstrued so badly, though.

Here's another classic. It doesn't get much more straightforward and honest than this.

Edwin Starr - "War"



War, friend only to the undertaker.

 

[LG]

Here's a classic from one of my favorite bands.

Clampdown by the Mighty Clash.



1-2-3-4!
Hey, hey!
Ooh!
the kingdom is ransacked
the jewels all taken back
and the chopper descends
they're hidden in the back
with a message on a half-baked tape
with the spool going round
saying im back here in this place
and i could cry
and there's smoke you could click on

What are we gonna do now?
Taking off his turban, they said, is this man a Jew?
’Cos working for the clampdown
They put up a poster saying we earn more than you!
When we're working for the clampdown
We will teach our twisted speech
To the young believers
We will train our blue-eyed men
To be young believers

The judge said five to ten but I say double that again
I'm not working for the clampdown
No man born with a living soul
Can be working for the clampdown
Kick over the wall 'cause government's to fall
How can you refuse it?
Let fury have the hour, anger can be power
D'you know that you can use it?

The voices in your head are calling
Stop wasting your time, there's nothing coming
Only a fool would think someone could save you
The men at the factory are old and cunning
You don't owe nothing, so boy get runnin'
It's the best years of your life they want to steal

But, you grow up and you calm down and
You're working for the clampdown
You start wearing the blue and brown and
You're working for the clampdown
So you got someone to boss around
It makes you feel big now
You drift until you brutalize
You made your first kill now

In these days of evil presidentes
Working for the clampdown
But lately one or two has fully paid their due
For working for the clampdown
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong!
Working for the clampdown
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong!
Working for the clampdown

Yeah I’m working hard in Harrisburg
Working hard in Petersburg
Working for the clampdown
Working for the clampdown
Ha! Gitalong! Gitalong
Begging to be melted down
Gitalong, gitalong
Work
Work
And I give away no secrets – ha!
Work
More work
Work
Work

 

[hawk11]

 

[TheFeldster]

When it happens on the street.... we call that "a crime"