The Very Best "Protest" Songs?

by hillary_step 122 Replies latest social entertainment

  • purplesofa
    purplesofa

    John Mellencamp~Rain on the Scarecrow

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Iy2Jw4DVk

  • FlyingHighNow
    FlyingHighNow

    How about some 80's Bruce Cockburn?

    If I Had A Rocket Launcher

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7vCww3j2-w

    Lyrics: Here comes the helicopter -- second time today
    Everybody scatters and hopes it goes away
    How many kids they've murdered only God can say
    If I had a rocket launcher...I'd make somebody pay

    I don't believe in guarded borders and I don't believe in hate
    I don't believe in generals or their stinking torture states
    And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate
    If I had a rocket launcher...I would retaliate

    On the Rio Lacantun, one hundred thousand wait
    To fall down from starvation -- or some less humane fate
    Cry for guatemala, with a corpse in every gate
    If I had a rocket launcher...I would not hesitate

    I want to raise every voice -- at least I've got to try
    Every time I think about it water rises to my eyes.
    Situation desperate, echoes of the victims cry
    If I had a rocket launcher...Some son of a bitch would die

  • purplesofa
    purplesofa
  • FlyingHighNow
    FlyingHighNow

    This song sounds good. So if you haven't heard it, don't hesitate to give it a listen.

    Immigration Man by Crosby, Stills & Nash with Graham Nash singing of his experience of immigration.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiZS8OCP15Y

    ARTIST: Graham Nash
    TITLE: Immigration Man
    Lyrics and Chords


    There I was at the immigration scene
    Shining and feeling clean, could it be a sin
    I got stopped by the immigration man
    He says he doesn't know if he can let me in

    / D - C - / D9 - Bb - / :

    {Refrain}
    Let me in, immigration man
    Can I cross the line and pray
    I can stay another day
    Let me in, immigration man
    I won't toe your line today
    I can't see it anyway, hey-y

    / D - C - / D9 - / Bb - / 1st, 2nd / Bb - D - /

    There he was with his immigration face
    Giving me a paper chase, but the sun was coming
    'Cause all at once he looked into my space
    And stamped a number over my face and he sent me running

    Won't you
    {Refrain}

    Here I am with my immigration form
    It's big enough to keep me warm when a cold wind's coming
    So go where you will as long as you think you can
    You'd better watch out, watch out for the man anywhere you're going

    {As refrain}
    Come on and let me in, immigration man
    Can I cross the line and pray
    Take your fingers from the tray
    Let me in, irritation man
    I won't toe your line today
    I can't see it anyway

  • watson
    watson
  • tijkmo
    tijkmo
    tijkmo- that was heartbreaking I've never heard that song before.

    hey awakeandwatching thanx for the utube link..hadn't thought about looking on there..that track is on rogers 'amused to death' cd .you may well enjoy the whole thing..i you to use it as an illustration in a public talk..if only they knew eh. i used to play that track on the guitar also and i have been doing some acoustic evenings lately so i'm gonna relearn it again.

    Who used to order his troops
    To fire on women and children
    Imagine that imagine that

    indeed.

    Dunno whether you was referring to this tijkmo but it's another good one anyway.

    hey sad emo i was referring back to nvrgnbk's comment re sunday bloody sunday. when they played it live they used to introduce it with the comment 'this is not a protest song'..bit tongue in cheek i think..i think it is on the under a blood red sky album.

    and since merry is here everyone (must be the time of year - see what i did there) then let me give you some lyrics from one of her protest songs since she probably wouldn't submit them herself.....followed by some of mine (since i don't suffer from shyness lol)

    no utube links yet sadly..but i'm working on it.

    LIARS AND FOOLS - part 3

    THERE’S NO WISDOM AMONG FOOLS THERE IS NO HONOUR AMONG THIEVES I KNOW I’VE HEARD IT SAID NOW IT’S SOMETHING I BELIEVE THERE IS NO HONOUR AMONG LIARS AND FOOLS

    THE TOOK AWAY OUR PASSION
    THEY TOOK AWAY OUR PRIDE
    THEY TOOK THE KEYS TO PARADISE
    AND KEPT US LOCKED OUTSIDE
    BUT THEY’RE LIARS…LIARS AND FOOLS

    THE TOOK AWAY OUR PASSION
    THEY TOOK AWAY OUR PRIDE
    NOW WE’VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
    AND NOTHING LEFT TO HIDE
    COS THEY’RE LIARS…LIARS AND FOOLS

    AND THERE’S NO HONOUR AMONG THIEVES
    AND THERE’S NO WISDOM AMONG FOOLS
    THERE’S NO BELIEVING LIARS
    WHEN THEY BREAK ALL THEIR OWN RULES
    AND THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO
    AND THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN SAY
    TO THOSE WHO WOULD BE FOOLED COS THEY’LL DO IT ANYWAY TO SALVAGE THEIR OWN DIGNITY
    TO SAVE WHAT THEY HAVE LOST
    TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH EVERYONE
    WOULD BE TOO HIGH A COST SO THEY KEEP RIGHT ON LYING
    BUT WE’RE NOT FOOLED

    THERE’S NO WISDOM IN THEIR FOLLY
    THERE’S NO HONOUR IN THEIR GAIN
    THERE’S NO PRIDE WITHOUT INTEGRITY
    NO PASSION WITHOUT PAIN
    AND THERE’S NOTHING LEFT
    NOTHING LEFT FOR LIARS AND FOOLS

    AND THERE IS NO HEAVENLY REWARD
    AND NO ONE GETS A FREE RIDE
    THERE’S NO PARADISE BEYOND
    ALL WE HAVE IS WHAT’S INSIDE
    AND IT’S ALL WE’LL EVER NEED
    AND NO-ONE CAN TAKE THAT AWAY
    AND ALL THE PROMISES THEY MADE
    WELL THEY’LL BE HERE ANY DAY
    SO DON’T BE TAKEN IN BY THIEVES
    AND DON’T BE FOOLED BY SCHEMES
    DON’T LET THE UNINSPIRED
    DEPRIVE YOU OF YOUR DREAMS
    COS THEY’RE JUST LIARS
    LIARS AND FOOLS

    LIARS AND FOOLS - part 4

    AAAAAH
    IF WE COULD REVERSE
    ALL THAT WENT BEFORE
    WOULD WE CHOOSE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN
    OR WOULD WE CHANGE OUR COURSE - OF COURSE NO DOUBT

    DARKNESS DESCENDS WITHOUT A WARNING
    UNLIKE THE COLD PREDICTABILITY OF NIGHT FROM WHICH THE SUN WILL RISE AGAIN
    AND SHINE ITS LIGHT UPON YOUR WORLD
    BUT OBSCURITY SURROUNDS ME NOW
    ALL REASON TAKES A BOW

    YOU SAID YOU’D CATCH ME WHEN NOT IF I FELL
    YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO PROMISE THAT
    BUT NOW TO PROVE YOUR WORDS ARE TRUE
    THE OBLIGATION LIES WITH YOU

    AND YOU WOULD NOT CRUSH A BROKEN REED
    OR EXTINGUISH A FLAXEN WICK

    AAAAAH
    LOOK ME IN THE EYE
    AND TELL ME THAT YOU KNOW
    JUST BECAUSE IT’S WHAT YOU CHOSE TO BELIEVE
    IT DOES NOT MAKE IT SO OH NO NO WAY

    HOWEVER EXPERT WE MAY FEEL WE ARE
    IGNORANCE WILL GET US IN THE END

    AND BURIED DEEP BENEATH THE AVALANCHE
    OF YOUR INADEQUACIES
    LIES THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO CRIED FOR AID
    WHO STILL REGRET THE PRICE THEY PAID

    AND STILL THEY WISH FOR VOICES HEARD
    AS THEY SHOUT OUT IN VAIN
    WE PRAY WE PLEAD A GOD WHO ISN’T THERE
    BESEECH A GOD WHO DOES NOT CARE

    AND IN SKIN BOTTLES YOU SAVE OUR TEARS
    HOW MANY SKINS HOW MANY TEARS

    HOW MANY SKINS HOW MANY TEARS
    HOW MANY TEARS

    HOW HAPPY ON THE MERCIFUL SINCE THEY’LL BE MERCY SHOWN
    WHILE PRINCES RULE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
    YEAH I THINK THAT COVERS BLOWN

    COMPASSION AND CRUELTY LIVE SIDE BY SIDE IN ONE HEART
    AND ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF BOTH

  • Superfine Apostate
    Superfine Apostate

    die böhsen onkelz: lieber stehend sterben (http://youtube.com/watch?v=GCE4NV-3hGk)
    molotov: gimme the power (http://youtube.com/watch?v=hNE7UgX5Z8Y)


    and for when the protests are over i recommend tracy chapman: talkin bout a revolution (http://youtube.com/watch?v=NTyAZTvLfAM).

  • myelaine
    myelaine

    I really like this one from lenny kravitz...Empty Hands...

    He rode in town on a white horse
    With nothing in his hands
    He came to gather his people
    And take them to their promised land
    When he came he knew there would be bloodshed
    But still no violence made his plans
    He came to fight in a battle
    With no guns or money

    But with his empty hands
    With his empty hands
    With his empty hands
    With his empty hands

    They said hey boy what you lookin'at
    As they eyed his dreaded mane
    He said my father has sent me
    I've come back to reclaim
    The children whose hearts
    Were so whole and pure
    Now it's you who'll die in pain
    So they lynched the man
    Who fooled the word
    And all the children gathered
    In his empty hands

    In his empty hands
    The children ..... empty hands
    In his empty hands
    With his empty hands
    Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, ouh
    In his empty hands

    With his empty hands
    In his empty hands
    He ... the mission with his empty hands
    In his empty hands
    With his empty, his empty, empty empty hands
    With his empty hands

    and Mister Cab Driver... http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=sZCbb3PveWw&feature=related

    so...clearly, I can't pick a protest song...O well...

    love michelle

  • freydi
    freydi

    Crush 'Em All (To the tune of bless 'em all) Crush 'em all, Crush 'em all, We'll make the establishment fall The hawk from Dow Chemical handling our jobs Those Army recruiters and Pentagon slobs We'll be forming a great human wall And there on the Liberty Mall Our line will surround 'em Dismember 'em and pound 'em Don't let 'em give in, Crush 'em All.

  • belbab
    belbab

    Hillary,

    It is gratifying to see your movement from

    Waddling an twaddling with seacumbers

    And synchronized swimming with rubber dolphins

    To returning to your first love,

    Soaring with eagles.

    belbab

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