Top 5 Political Songs?

[Earth_First]

...what would YOUR list look like?

1. Grateful Dead "Throwing Stones"
2. Neil Young "Ohio"
3. Dead Kennedy's "Holiday in Cambodia"
4. Elvis Costello "Peace in Our Time"
5. Stevie Wonder "Higher Ground"

[NightTrain]

1. Only five? Geez, you're a stern taskmaster!

But what the hell? I can take a stab at it!

Rank-ordered:

1. WHAT'S GOING ON, Marvin Gaye
2. WAR, Edwin Starr
3. HEAVEN HELP US ALL, Stevie Wonder
4. THIS IS MY COUNTRY, The Impressions
5. (WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT) PEACE, LOVE & UNDERSTANDING, Elvis Costello

[acmavm]

5. Yeah, that's the Elvis Costello song I'd pickm your No. 5.

.

[Zomby Woof]

2. Zomby'sList

"Pretty Boy Floyd" - Woody Guthrie

"Things Goin' On" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Blowin' In The Wind" - Bob Dylan

"Bombtrack" - Rage Against The Machine

"Trouble Every Day" - The Mothers of Invention

[TroubleMan]

3. Here's mine

1. "Inner City Blues" Marvin Gaye
2. "Thieves In The Night" Blackstar
3. "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye
4. "Beat Street" Grandmaster Flash, Furious 5, & Melle Mel
5. "Bird In The Hand" Ice Cube

on edit....
I should add "Little Child Runnin' Wild" by Curtis Mayfield.

[neverborn]

4. only 1

1. "We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel

[jpgray]

6. Here ya go (all Robert Wyatt for fun)

'At Last I Am Free'----Robert Wyatt's version of the Chico song
'Shipbuilding'---------Costello wrote it for him
'Vandalusia'
'The United States of Amnesia'
'Free Will and Testament'

[sir_captain]

7. Well, in terms of political relevance

even if I don't agree at all with the song, one can't ignore

Sweet Home Alabame

[Zomby Woof]

8. it was a joke

It was designed to ruffle feathers, but as Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson said, "We supported Wallace about as much as your average American supported Hitler." The tongue-in-cheek nature of the Watergate and Wallace lyrics has made it one of the most misunderstood songs in rock history. Neil Young loved the song, and played it in concert a few times. They were mutual admirers.

I have had similar problems on DU myself - sanctimonious literalists piss and moan when things go over their head.

So enjoy the song - it came from a bnd that hated Nixon (they campaigned for Carter in '76), loved Neil Young, and thought Wallace was a hack. As the vocalists say: "BOO! BOO! BOO!"

[sir_captain]

20. Glad to be wrong

thanks for clearing it up

[phaseolus]

9. Ooo. Just found a good one I've never even heard yet... Cockburn

"Call it a Democracy"
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/b/brucecockburn10477/callitademocracy338597.html

I found that one while looking for the lyrics to his "The Trouble with Normal"
http://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/ttwn.html
...which used to be in my .sig line.

Current .sig is, of course, the final verse to "This Land is Your Land" which is a GREAT political song.

[thebaghwan]

10. Here are some from an oldie

Blowin in the Wind --Bob Dylan

Something Happening Here -- Buffalo Springfield

4 dead in Ohio -- Neil Young

Vietnam Rag -- Country Joe and the Fish

The Joan Baez song from Woodstock that goes "He's a drugstore truck driven man, he's the head of the Ku Klux Klan"

[Earth_First]

13. Drug Store Truck Driving Man

n/t

[thebaghwan]

11. Forgot one

Many may not be familar with this song and may not feel that it is political. I think it is very political and came from a very political movie called "And the band played on" which is the story of the putbreak of the AIDS epidemic and the complete failure of the Reagan administration to even acknowledge it.

This song is by Sir Elton John and is called "The last Song". It os to me hauntingly beautiful!

[Kazak]

12. Couple'o'good ones by Stereolab:

Ping Pong (from which I derived my screen name)
it's alright 'cause the historical pattern has shown
how the economical cycle tends to revolve
in a round of decades three stages stand out in a loop
a slump and war then peel back to square one and back for more

bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

you see the recovery always comes 'round again
there's nothing to worry for things will look after themselves
it's alright recovery always comes 'round again
there's nothing to worry if things can only get better

there's only millions that lose their jobs and homes and sometimes accents
there's only millions that die in their bloody wars, it's alright

it's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing
it's only their lives and the lives of their next of kin that they are losing

it's alright 'cause the historical pattern has shown
how the economical cycle tends to revolve
in a round of decades three stages stand out in a loop
a slump and war then peel back to square one and back for more

bigger slump and bigger wars and a smaller recovery
huger slump and greater wars and a shallower recovery

don't worry be happy things will get better naturally
don't worry shut up sit down go with it and be happy

dum, dum, dum, de dum dum, de duh de duh de dum dum dum... ah ah
dum, dum, dum, de dum dum, de duh de duh de dum dum dum... ah ah



And,




Gus The Mynah Bird
A military regime
in democratic disguise
that lies in all impunity
takes apart what it took
people years to build
public institutions
that promised a decent life

self-determination should be fact
not essentially a right

there are the lobbies
insurance companies
who want to change
the whole country
into a vast
commercial counter
for the pure consumer

the promise to give the
generals a better place

self-determination should be fact
in the face of corruption



And,



Good is Me
I am good, therefore good is me
He is not me therefore he's not good

I am good, therefore good is me
He's not me therefore he's not good

I am good, therefore good is me
He is not me therefore he is not good

Our norms are good
Good are our norms
Theirs aren't ours
Therefore are not good

Our God is true
True is our God
Their God's not ours
So is not true

Impossible to consider
Reality of the other
Other people's institutions
Not better or worse than other

I am good, therefore good is me
He's not me therefore he's not good

[solinvictus]

14. Rock

"Fortunate Son" and
"Who'll Stop the Reign?" by CCR
"Guns of Brixton" by The Clash
"When the Shit Hits the Fan" by the Circle Jerks
"Ohio" by Crosby Stills, Nash, & Young

As for other political songs:
"Horst Wessel Leid"
"The Internationale"
"Old Bolshevik Song"

[DBoon]

15. My Five

1. Minutemen - The Product
2. The Clash - Know Your Rights
3. Rank and File - Rank and File
4. Trouble Coming Every Day - Mother of Invention
5. Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix

runners up:

I Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag - Country Joe and the Fish
God Save the Queen - Sex Pistols
Monster - Steppenwolf (well I thought it was great when I was 13 years old at the time)
Paralyzed - Gang of Four
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott Heron

On Edit:
American Ruse - MC5
The New World - X
Fascist Groove Thang - Heaven 17
Rebel Girl - Bikini Kill
We Can be Together - Jefferson Airplane

[texas is the reason]

16. i like my politics angry and liberal, so......

1. earth crisis "firestorm"
2.snapcase. ANYTHING by snapcase, my favorite band of all time, esp.thier early stuff
3.RATM "ashes in the fall"
4.boysetsfire "the power remains the same" (the best breakdown ever)
5. Anything by the above bands (except maybe earth crisis, but firestorm def. makes me want to go kick some right wing ass)

[asthmaticeog]

17. 5

Gang of Four - "I Found That Essence Rare"
The Clash "Guns of Brixton"
Fugazi "Cashout"
Stiff Little Fingers "Suspect Device"
Saccharine Trust "The House, The Concrete, The System"

on edit: Addenda:
The Pop Group "We Are All Prostitutes"
Dead Kennedys "Police Truck"
And duh, CCR "Fortunate Son," probably the all-time best polit-rock ever.

That's more than 5. Sorry.

[Mz Pip]

18. For What It's Worth

by Buffalo Springfield

Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (Kingston Trio or Peter Paul and Mary) Can't remember which.

Baba O'Reilly - The Who

Volunteers - Jefferson Airplane

MzPip
:dem:

[Kenneth ken]

19. 5

off the top of my head:
Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley/Wailers
Monster/Suicide/America - Steppenwolf
Revolution - Pretenders
Gimme Some Truth - John Lennon
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (I find it highly ironic that this song can get played at a 4th of July firewroks celebration, as though it's a rah-rah celebration of our nation)

[Bossy Monkey]

21. To start with, Country at War by X and Spanish Bombs by the Clash

I'll come up with 3 more eventually.

Edit: #3 Open Letter (to a Landlord) by Living Colour
#4 My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To Bitburg) by the Ramones
#5 Willamette by the John Doe Thing

If you don't know 'em, go look 'em up!

[Reciprocity]

22. Here's 4

THE BALLAD OF THE GREEN BERETS - Sgt. Barry Sadler

THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER - The Doors

RUBY DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN - Kenny Rogers

THE FIGHTIN' SIDE OF ME - Merle Haggard

[TinaTyson]

23. Woody Guthrie: I got to know

Edited since i found some more of the lyrics:

I've got to know, yes, I've got to know, friend
Hungry lips ask me, wherever I go
Comrades and friends are falling around me
I've got to know, yes, I've got to know

Why do your war boats ride on my waters
Why do your death bombs fall out of my skies
Why do you burn my farm and my town down
I've got to know, friend, I've got to know

What makes your boat haul deafen my people
Blockbusters, big canons and guns
How doesn't your ship bring food and some clothing
I've got to know, folks, I've got to know

Why can't my two hands, get a good-pay job
I can still plow plants, I can still sow, reap
Why did your law book test me off my good land
Sure 'd like to know, friend, I've just got to know

What good work did you do, I'd like to ask you
Give you my money right out of my hands
I built your big house here, to hide from my people
Why do you hide so, I've sure got to know

You keep me in jail, and lock me in prison
Your hospital's jammed, and your crazy house's full
What made your cop kill my trade-union worker?
You'll have to talk plain, 'cause I'd sure like to know

What can't I get work, and cash a big paycheck
Why can't I buy things, in any place in your store
Why do you close my plant and my land down
I'm asking you, man, 'cause I've sure got to know

I've got to know yes
I've got to know friend
Hungry lips ask me wherever I go
Comrades and friends are falling around me
I've got to know yes
I've got to know

(Woody Gurthie)

[OneBlueSky]

24. "Give Peace A Chance" . . . Plastic Ono Band . . . n/t

.

[slack]

25. Good question, very personal

1. something from Linton Kwesi Johnson, perhaps 'Fite dem back', 'mi revalueshanary fren' or 'Inglan is a bitch'.
2. Manu Chao, 'Clandestino'
3. Marley/Tosh 'Get up, stand up'
4. Public Enemy - 911 is a joke
5. Oumou Sangare - Fantan Ni Monè (from Mali, africa)

[grannylib]

26. Here's mine:

For What It's Worth - CSN
Rich Man - Climax Blues Band
Ohio - Neil Young/CSNY
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
What's So Funny ('Bout Peace Love and Understanding) Elvis Costello

[slack]

27. ein kleiner Kick

*bitte schön*

[Champ]

28. I love Toby Keith's "American Soldier" (It has a political element to it)

It makes me cry everytime I see the video. ;(


April Fools!!!!!

Fooled you again it's actually April 2nd, fool me once -- shame on -- shame on you. You fool me , you can't get fooled again. I've been fooling you dum libbies for 2 months, I am really a freeper. I am the master of deception. Seriously, I think I should get some sleep. :hangover: