I love music that says something. The definition of ‘Protest Songs’ is a little wide and vague. Then you have the fact that people like Bob Dylan and Roy harper could just dominate the whole category. I’ve had to be very harsh with myself. For the most part I have limited myself to one track per person. I was going to put links in to every track but that would have taken forever. I’m getting back to some writing! So I suggest you check out a few on the internet yourself if you haven’t heard them before. Enjoy! And engage those brain cells!
Roy Harper – Unknown Soldier, I Hate the Whiteman, McGoohan’s Blues, The Game, The Lord’s Prayer, The Spirit Lives
Bert Jansch – Do you Hear Me Now?
Donovan – Universal Soldier, Belated Forgiveness Plea,
Buffy St Marie – My Country Tis Of Thy People You’re Dying, Now That The Buffalo’s Gone, Universal Soldier, Soldier Blue
Bob Dylan – Masters Of War, A Hard Rain’s Gonna fall, Subterranean Homesick Blues, It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding), Only A Pawn In Their Game, Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol,
Gil Scott Heron – Whitey On The Moon, B Movie
Phil Ochs – Too Many Martyrs, Power and glory, I Ain’t Marching Anymore, The War Is Over
Richie Havens – The Klan
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
Crosby Stills Nash And Young – Ohio
Leadbelly – Bourgeoise Blues
Ry Cooder – How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live
Woody Guthrie – This Land Is Your Land, Pastures of Plenty,
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Bruce Springsteen – Born In The USA
Tom Robinson Band – Which Side Are You On, We Ain’t Gonna Take It, Sing If You’re Glad To Be Gay
Loudon Wainwright 3 – A Hard Day For The Planet
Country Joe and the Fish – Untitled Protest
Doors – Unknown Soldier, Five To One
Beatles – Revolution
John Lennon – Gimme Some Truth
Searchers – What Have They Done to the Rain?
Mothers of Invention – Trouble Coming Everyday
Fugs – Kill for Peace
Janis Ian – Society’s Child
Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction
Kinks – Well Respected Man
Mimi And Richard Farina – House Un-American Blues Activity Dream
Jefferson Airplane – Volunteers
NWA – Fuck The Police, Straight Outta Compton
Public Enemy – If You Can’t Join ’em Beat ’em.
Gang Of Four – Capitalism Fails us now
Linton Kwesi Johnson – Sonny’s Lettah, All We Doing Is Defendin’
Nick Harper – The Magnificent G7
Pink Floyd – Welcome To The Machine
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On?
Sam Cooke – Long Time Coming
Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit
Otis Redding – Respect
Stiff Little Fingers – Suspect Device, Barbed Wire Love, Wasted Life, Alternative Ulster
Bob Marley – War, Get Up Stand Up, Johnny Was
Malvina Reynolds – The Judge Said, What Have They Done To The Rain?
Pete Seeger – Which Side Are You On?
Leon Rosselson – World Turned Upside Down
Billy Bragg – It Says Here, Between The Wars
Rolling Stones – Undercover of the night
The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again
Patti Smith – Piss Factory
David McWilliams – Hiroshima