Songs Against Wars Part 2

1
Songs Against Wars - Part 2

• Vesa Matteo Piludu
• Helsinki

Department of Comparative Religion University of
Helsinki
2
The Vietnam War in Songs 1

• "Songs" in The Vietnam War in American Stories,
  Songs, and Poems, edited by H. Bruce Franklin
  (Bedford-St. Martin's, 1996) 201-218.
• "Where Have All the Flowers Gone? PETER, PAUL
  MARY (1962)
• "Masters of War" BOB DYLAN (1963)
• "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" BOB DYLAN
  (1963 commercial release, 1991)
• "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" PETE SEEGER (1963)
• "The Times They Are A-Changin' BOB DYLAN (1964)
• "MLF Lullaby and "Send the Marines from TOM
  LEHRER's That Was The Year That Was (1965)
• "Eve of Destruction" BARRY McGUIRE (1965)

3
The Vietnam War in Songs 2

• "I-Feel-Like-I'm-a-Fixin'-to-Die Rag COUNTRY JOE
  THE FISH (1965)
• "Draft Dodger Rag PHIL OCHS (1965)
• "I Ain't Marching Anymore PHIL OCHS (1965)
• "Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation" TOM PAXTON
  (1965)
• "Viet Nam Blues" DAVE DUDLEY (1965)
• "I Told Them What You're Fighting For" MAYBELLE
  CARTER (1966)
• "Ballad of the Green Berets" STAFF SERGEANT BARRY
  SADLER (1966)
• "Ballad of the Fort Hood Three" PETE SEEGER
  (1966)
• "Bring 'Em Home" PETE SEEGER (1966)

4
The Vietnam War in Songs 3

• "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" SIMON GARFUNKEL
  (1966)
• "Alice's Restaurant ARLO GUTHRIE (1967)
• "The Story of Isaac" LEONARD COHEN (1967)
• "For What It's Worth" THE BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
  (1967)
• "Sky Pilot" ERIC BURDON THE ANIMALS (1968)
• "The Unknown Soldier"THE DOORS (1968)
• "War Is Over" PHIL OCHS (1968)
• "Talking Vietnam Pot Luck Blues" TOM PAXTON
  (1968)
• "Fortunate Son" CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
  (1969)
• "Okie from Muskogee" MERLE HAGGARD (1969)
• "Give Peace a Chance" JOHN LENNON (1969)
• "The Fiddle and the Drum JONI MITCHELL (1969)
• "Run Through the Jungle" CREEDENCE CLEARWATER
  REVIVAL (1970)
• "Ohio" CROSBY, STILLS, NASH YOUNG (1970)
• "War" EDWIN STARR (1970)

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The Vietnam War in Songs 4

• "Ball of Confusion THE TEMPTATIONS (1970)
• "What's Going On? MARVIN GAYE (1971)
• "Bring the Boys HomeFREDA PAYNE (1971)
• "Sam Stone" JOHN PRINE (1971)
• "Still in Saigon" THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND (1981)
• "Goodnight Saigon BILLY JOEL (1981)
• "Born in the USA BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (1984)
• "19" PAUL HARDCASTLE (1985)
• "The Big Parade" 10,000 MANIACS (1989)
• "There's a Wall in Washington" IRIS DeMENT (1996)

6
War by Edwin Starr (Original Video - 1969)

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v01-2pNCZiNkfeature
  related
• War...huh...yeahWhat is it good for?Absolutely
  nothingWAR! I despise,'cos it means
  destruction of innocent lives,War means tears to
  thousands of mother's eyes,When their sons gone
  to fight and lose their lives.
• WAR! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker,War.
  Friend only to the undertaker.Ohhh! War is an
  enemy to all mankind,The thought of war blows my
  mind.War has caused unrest within the younger
  generationInduction then destruction...who wants
  to die? Ohhh

7
"War" by Edwin Starr

• WAR! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker,War!
  It's got one friend that's the undertaker.Ohhhh!
  War has shattered many a young man's dream,Made
  him disabled, bitter and mean,
• Life is much too short and precious to spend
  fighting wars these days.War can't give life, it
  can only take it away!
• War! It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker,War.
  Friend only to the undertaker...wooPeace lovin'
  understand then tell me,Is there no place for
  them today?They say we must fight to keep our
  freedom,But Lord knows there's got to be a
  better way.

8
Marvin Gaye "What's Going On / What's Happening
Brother

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vY9KC7uhMY9sfeature
  related

9
Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vSboRijhWFDUfeature
  related
• Look what's happening out in the streetsGot a
  revolution Got to revolutionHey I'm dancing down
  the streetsGot a revolution Got to
  revolutionAin't it amazing all the people I
  meetGot a revolution Got to revolutionOne
  generation got oldOne generation got soulThis
  generation got no destination to holdPick up the
  cryHey now it's time for you and meGot a
  revolution Got to revolutionCome on now we're
  marching to the seaGot a revolution Got to
  revolutionWho will take it from youWe will and
  who are weWe are volunteers of America

10
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vV7WtVJSJQaMfeature
  fvw
• Some folks are born to wave the flag Ooh they're
  red white and blue.And when the band plays "Hail
  to the chief"Ooh they point the cannon at you
  LordIt ain't me, it ain't me I ain't no
  senator's son sonIt ain't me, it ain't me I
  ain't no fortunate one no
• Some folks are born silver spoon in handLord
  don't they help themselves ohBut when the tax
  man comes to the doorLord, the house looks like
  a rummage sale, yes

11
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son

• It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no
  millionaire's son, noIt ain't me, it ain't me, I
  ain't no fortunate one, noSome folks inherit
  star spangled eyesOoh, they send you down to
  war, LordAnd when you ask them, "How much should
  we give?"Ooh, they only answer more! more! more!
  It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military
  son, son

12
Springsteen - The Ghost Of Tom Joad (1996)

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vgUbtt92CtLQ
• Ironic reference to President George H.W. Bushs
  New world order
• Welcome to the new world order
• Families sleepin' in their cars in the southwest
• No home no job no peace no rest

• Tom Joad is a fictional character in John
  Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath

13
Leonard Cohen Democracy

• Leonard Cohen Democracy (spoken)
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vlbqM9R8g7rU
• Democracy - Leonard Cohen (song)
  http//www.youtube.com/watch?vb3lOFECr8-s
• It's coming through a hole in the air,from those
  nights in Tiananmen SquareIt's coming from the
  feelthat this ain't exactly real,or it's real,
  but it ain't exactly there.From the wars against
  disorder,from the sirens night and day,from the
  fires of the homeless,from the ashes of the
  gayDemocracy is coming to the U.S.A.

14
Leonard Cohen Democracy

• It's coming through a crack in the wallon a
  visionary flood of alcoholfrom the staggering
  accountof the Sermon on the Mountwhich I don't
  pretend to understand at all.It's coming from
  the silenceon the dock of the bay,from the
  brave, the bold, the batteredheart of
  ChevroletDemocracy is coming to the U.S.A.
• It's coming from the sorrow in the street,the
  holy places where the races meetfrom the
  homicidal bitchin'that goes down in every
  kitchento determine who will serve and who will
  eat.From the wells of disappointmentwhere the
  women kneel to prayfor the grace of God in the
  desert hereand the desert far awayDemocracy is
  coming to the U.S.A.

15
Leonard Cohen Democracy

• Sail on, sail onO mighty Ship of State!To the
  Shores of NeedPast the Reefs of GreedThrough
  the Squalls of HateSail on, sail on, sail on,
  sail on.It's coming to America first,the
  cradle of the best and of the worst.It's here
  they got the rangeand the machinery for
  changeand it's here they got the spiritual
  thirst.It's here the family's brokenand it's
  here the lonely saythat the heart has got to
  openin a fundamental wayDemocracy is coming to
  the U.S.A.

16
Leonard Cohen Democracy

• It's coming from the women and the men.O baby,
  we'll be making love again.We'll be going down
  so deepthe river's going to weep,and the
  mountain's going to shout Amen!It's coming like
  the tidal floodbeneath the lunar sway,imperial,
  mysterious,in amorous arrayDemocracy is coming
  to the U.S.A.Sail on, sail on ...I'm
  sentimental, if you know what I meanI love the
  country but I can't stand the scene.And I'm
  neither left or rightI'm just staying home
  tonight,getting lost in that hopeless little
  screen.But I'm stubborn as those garbage
  bagsthat Time cannot decay,I'm junk but I'm
  still holding up this little wild
  bouquetDemocracy is coming to the U.S.A.

17
Miss Sarajevo - George Michael (U2)Album Songs
From The Last Century (1999)

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vo4sNvTdGU2U

18
Black Sabbath War Pigs 1970

• Generals gathered in their masses Just like
  witches at black masses
• Evil minds that plot destruction Sorcerers of
  death's construction In the fields the bodies
  burning As the war machine keeps turning
• Death and hatred to mankind Poisoning their
  brainwashed minds Oh lord yeah!
• Politicians hide themselves away They only
  started the war Why should they go out to fight?
  They leave that role to the poor
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vxtqy4DTHGqg

• Time will tell on their power minds Making war
  just for fun Treating people just like pawns in
  chess
• Wait 'til their judgement day comes Yeah! Now
  in darkness world stops turning Ashes where the
  bodies burning
• No more war pigs have the power Hand of God has
  struck the hour Day of judgement, God is calling
  On their knees the war pig's crawling Begging
  mercy for their sins Satan laughing spreads his
  wings Oh lord yeah!

19
Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills, 1982

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vtJbjrmBEgw8
• Pro-Native Poin of view
• White man came across the seaHe brought us pain
  and miseryHe killed our tribes, he killed our
  creedHe took our game for his own needWe
  fought him hard we fought him wellOut on the
  plains we gave him hellBut many came too much
  for CreeOh will we ever be set free?

• Riding through dust clouds and barren
  wastesGalloping hard on the plainsChasing the
  redskins back to their holesFighting them at
  their own gameMurder for freedom a stab in the
  backWomen and children the cowards attack
• Soldier blue on the barren wastesHunting and
  killing their gameRaping the women and wasting
  the menThe only good Indians are tameSelling
  them whiskey and taking their goldEnslaving the
  young and destroying the old
• Run to the hills,run for your lives.Run to the
  hills,run for your lives.

20
Metallica OneAlbum And Justice for all

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vEzgGTTtR0kc
• References
• Dalton Trumbo's 1939 novel Johnny Got His Gun.
• Tale of a soldier whose body is severely damaged
  after he is hit by German artillery during World
  War I
• 1971 film adaptation

• now the world is gone I'm just one oh God, help
  me hold my breath as I wish for death darkness
  imprisoning me all that I see absolute horror
  I cannot live I cannot die trapped in myself
  body my holding cell landmine has taken my
  sight taken my speech taken my hearing taken
  my arms taken my legs taken my soul left me
  with life in hell

21
Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vXX-KjkdDozQfeature
  related
• Make his fight on the hill in the early
  dayConstant chill deep insideShouting gun, on
  they run through the endless grayOn they fight,
  for they are right, yes, but who's to say?For a
  hill, men would kill. Why? They do not
  know()For whom the bell tollsTime marches
  onFor whom the bell tolls

• The video contains video clips from "Cliff 'em
  All" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1943 film
  based on the novel by Ernest Hemmingway).
  Instrument timings may be off because Metallica
  played at a higher tempo live than their original
  track.
• Take a look to the sky just before you dieIt's
  the last time you willBlackened roar, massive
  roar, fills the crumbling skyShattered goal
  fills his soul with a ruthless cryStranger now
  are his eyes to this mysteryHe hears the silence
  so loudCrack of dawn, all is gone except the
  will to beNow they see what will be, blinded
  eyes to see

22
Metallica - Master Of Puppets

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v_z-hEyVQDRA
• Come crawling fasterObey your MasterYour life
  burns fasterObey your MasterMaster

• Master of Puppets I'm pulling your
  stringsTwisting your mind, smashing your dreams
• Blinded by me, you can't see a thingJust call
  my name, 'cause I'll hear you screamMaster

23
Metallica - The Day That Never Comes

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vVYBtn4CwjMcfeature
  fvst
• Mouth so full of liesTend to black your
  eyesJust keep them closedKeep prayingJust keep
  waitingWaiting for the oneThe day that never
  comesWhen you stand upAnd feel the warmthBut
  the sunshine never comes, noNo the sunshine
  never comes

• Love is a four letter wordAnd never spoken
  hereLove is a four letter wordHere in the
  prisonI suffer this no longerI'll put an end
  to This I swearThis I swearThe sun will
  shineThis I swearThis I swearThis I swear

24
Bruce Springsteen Bring Them Home (P. Seeger)San
Francisco 2006

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vyApAg0hl490feature
  related
• If you love your Uncle Sam,Bring them home,
  bring them home.Support our boys in
  Vietnam,Bring them home, bring them home.It'll
  make our generals sad, I know,Bring them home,
  bring them home.They want to tangle with the
  foe,Bring them home, bring them home.