Although this diary is loaded with songs from an earlier time of war, I thought I would kick it off with an excerpt of an ABC interview with Neil Young, from 2006.
We trusted the administration after 911. Everybody did. And they misused the trust.
Listening to the interview was a good reminder of the role that music and the arts can play in our social conversation, and prompted this round-up...
The songs on the other side aren't necessarily the 'best' or most representative songs of protest from the Vietnam era, just what I dug up to suit the mood I'm in. Feel free to add any other protest songs in the comments, from that time, or any other, if so inclined.
I should add that I wasn't alive when these songs were written so I can only guess how they were thought of at the time, but that's not to say they're not relevant today. Unfortunately, nearly everything I know about protest songs came from watching infomercials at 3 a.m., and, uh, the movie Forrest Gump.
I'd Love to Change the World
Ten Years After
LYRICS
Eve of Destruction
Barry McGuire
LYRICS
I Feel Like I'm Fixin to Die Rag
Country Joe McDonald
LYRICS
Fortunate Son
Credence Clearwater Revival
LYRICS
Vietnam
Jimmy Cliff
LYRICS
What's Goin' On?
Marvin Gaye
LYRICS
Masters of War
Bob Dylan
LYRICS
War
Edwin Starr
LYRICS
People Got to Be Free
The Rascals
LYRICS
Ohio
Crosby Stills Nash and Young
LYRICS
That's all.
UPDATED (from comments)
For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield
I Ain't Marchin' Anymore
Phil Ochs
Volunteers
Jefferson Airplane
Universal Soldier
Donovan
Run Through the Jungle
CCR