Socio/Political "Message" songs

PopTodd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:07 pm

Generally not very good. I hate being preached at, and that's how I usually feel listening to these things.

Good intentions, preachy self-righteous execution.
Usually sounds like:

Blech.

But there are always a few exceptions to the rule.
Can you think of any GOOD ONES, off-hand?
I'm trying, and having a helluva time right now.

red · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:34 am **Posts:** 5009

AFI

RAWK!

Sketch · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:18 pm

Bob Dylan - Masters of War
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

catswilleatyou · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:19 pm

i like this one a lot

nofx Wrote:

"You're Wrong"

You're wrong about virtues of Christianity
And you're wrong if you agree with Sean Hannity
If you think that pride is about nationality, you're wrong

You're wrong when you imprison people turning tricks
And you're wrong about trickle down economics
If you think that punk rock doesn't mix with politics, you're wrong

You're wrong for hating queers and eating steers
If you kill for the thrill of the hunt
You're wrong 'bout wearing fur and not hating Ann Coulter
Cause she's a cunted cunt

You're wrong if you celebrate Columbus Day
And You're wrong if you think there will be a Judgement Day
If you're a charter member of the NRA, you're wrong

You're wrong if you support capital punishment
And you're wrong if you don't question your government
If you think her reproductive rights are inconsequent, you're wrong

You're wrong fighting Jihad, your blind faith in God
Your religions are all flawed,
You're wrong about drug use, when its not abuse
I hope you never reproduce

You're getting high on the downlow
A victim of Cointelpro
You're wrong and will probably never know

Stone red's dark sunshine · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1096

There ain't nothin' wrong
With another unity song

Kingfish · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:27 pm

Sketch Wrote:

Bob Dylan - Masters of War

This immediately came to mind. As well as Lonsome Death of Hattie Carroll and Only A Pawn in the Game.

Also throw in The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again

Elvis Fu · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:28 pm

For What It's Worth
Ohio
This Land is Your Land
Fortunate Son
A Change is Gonna Come
I'm Black and I'm Proud
Fight the Power
Living for the City
Black Man
Born in the USA
Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song)
Some Mother's Son
Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey
The Message
What's Going On
Blame it on the Stones
Startin' Up A Posse
Rednecks
Time Has Come Today
Ball of Confusion
Respect Yourself
My Uncle
Soulsville

Bob Dylan? The Clash? Dead Kennedys? You're not even trying now.

Kingfish · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:32 pm

Elvis Fu Wrote:

For What It's Worth

Fortunate Son

Rednecks

Fortuante Son never gets old to me no matter how many times I hear it, and for obvious reasons I love Rednecks.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:33 pm

Sketch Wrote:

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Love this song. And also "Merrcy, Mercy Me", but the later contains the lines:
"...fish full of mercury...
Think of the children"

Which always makes me roll my eyes.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:35 pm

Elvis Fu Wrote:

For What It's Worth
Ohio
This Land is Your Land
Fortunate Son
A Change is Gonna Come
I'm Black and I'm Proud
Fight the Power
Living for the City
Black Man
Born in the USA
Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song)
Some Mother's Son
Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey
The Message
What's Going On
Blame it on the Stones
Startin' Up A Posse
Rednecks
Time Has Come Today
Ball of Confusion
Respect Yourself
My Uncle
Soulsville

Bob Dylan? The Clash? Dead Kennedys? You're not even trying now.

I love a lot of those songs, but I have a hard time with them, as well, because I still feel preached-at by many of them. I mean come, on... David Crosby screaming "HOW MANY MORE?!?!"

Yes, it is a serious song and a powerful message, but it sounds like so much hand-wringing, as well.

"Respect Yourself" is one of the few that can overcome some preachy lyrics because of the sheer power of the voices. (I loves me some Staples). But, even great protest songs have many eye-rolling moments, IMO.

no guru · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:47 pm

Todd, "Ohio" was written and recorded just days after Kent State. It was not on Neil Young's mind that the song would be played endlessly on soft rock and oldies radio or that it would be used as an easy touchstone tune for every mention of hippie protest.

So, while I agree that it feels like preaching NOW, when they recorded it, it was genuine anger.

Elvis Fu · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:01 pm

PopTodd Wrote:

Yes, it is a serious song and a powerful message, but it sounds like so much hand-wringing, as well.

Maybe Hop on Pop should show Neil Young how it's done.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:09 pm

Elvis Fu Wrote:

PopTodd Wrote:

Yes, it is a serious song and a powerful message, but it sounds like so much hand-wringing, as well.

Maybe Hop on Pop should show Neil Young how it's done.

I love me some Neil Young, but have always found his "message" songs hard to stomach. ("Rocking In the Free World"? Musically great, but I can't listen to it because of the lyrics.)

And hey, since you asked, here's my one-and-only shot at a "message" song:
http://iacmusic.com/songs.aspx?SongID=1 ... stID=10003
(Hey, you asked for it!)

I've only tried it once, because it is damn hard to do something like that without sounding preachy.

I love it when you give me an excuse to pimp myself!!! Thanks!

EDIT: And, for the record, I think that Steve Earle does a pretty good job at this. At least of the current songwriters. I never feel preached-at. He's a master storyteller and puts his message in the context of the story in his song. That's when I get caught up in the message -- when I get caught up in the story.

There's a Chicago songwriter named Thomas Pace who has a great song called "Thanksgiving, 1969" that does the same thing, masterfully. I'll try to dig up an mp3.

Elvis Fu · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:18 pm

Neil Young has never been a particularly crafty lyricist.

Thee Incident · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:19 pm

This seems like the best place to make the obvious but to my knowledge not hammered home point that John Mayer's "Waiting On The World To Change" is without question the sorriest excuse for a protest/statement song ever.

Like I said, obvious, but for that song alone that ballsack of a shitty college frat party rocker should be singularly drafted and sent over for a couple consecutive military tours in Aye-Rack.

Elvis Fu · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:19 pm

PopTodd Wrote:

Elvis Fu Wrote:

PopTodd Wrote:

Yes, it is a serious song and a powerful message, but it sounds like so much hand-wringing, as well.

Maybe Hop on Pop should show Neil Young how it's done.

I love me some Neil Young, but have always found his "message" songs hard to stomach. ("Rocking In the Free World"? Musically great, but I can't listen to it because of the lyrics.)

And hey, since you asked, here's my one-and-only shot at a "message" song:
http://iacmusic.com/songs.aspx?SongID=1 ... stID=10003
(Hey, you asked for it!)

I've only tried it once, because it is damn hard to do something like that without sounding preachy.

I love it when you give me an excuse to pimp myself!!! Thanks!

Oh, and I saved you the trouble of posting this twice, Memento.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:20 pm

Elvis Fu Wrote:

Oh, and I saved you the trouble of posting this twice, Memento.

I think I have a new screen name!!! (Or at least a new avatar.)
:lol:

PopTodd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:41 pm

Here's that Thomas Pace song:
"Thanksgiving, 1969"

Oh, and that DBT song "Dress Blues" was pretty damn perfect and effective, too.
HERE'S that video. Who posted it before? I couldn't find it.

FT · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:49 pm

Pedro The Lion excels at this.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

"that's life" - killer mike

Radcliffe · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:57 pm

Elvis Fu Wrote:

Bob Dylan? The Clash? Dead Kennedys? You're not even trying now.

Yeah, there's been a ton of good "message" bands and songs. Look at Stiff Little Fingers. They were always good for rocking a serious message. "Alternative Ulster", "Suspect Device", "Roots, Radicals, Rockers, and Reggae", and "Silver Lining" are all as good as it gets.

And then there's a band like REM, that put a sly twist on the genre with songs like "Fall On Me", "World Leader Pretend", and a bunch of others.

It's admittedly a hard thing to pull off, mainly because most songwriters haven't learned the simple rule of particularizing in order to universalize. That's why something like "A Change Is Gonna Come" will always and forever beat the living shit out of strident dung like "Eve of Destruction".

Kingfish · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 1:59 pm

This seems like a good time to ask, who did the original "i am a patriot."

Always loved that one.

no guru · **Posted:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 2:04 pm

BIG DICK McGEE Wrote:

This seems like the best place to make the obvious but to my knowledge not hammered home point that John Mayer's "Waiting On The World To Change" is without question the sorriest excuse for a protest/statement song ever.

Like I said, obvious, but for that song alone that ballsack of a shitty college frat party rocker should be singularly drafted and sent over for a couple consecutive military tours in Aye-Rack.

"Belief" is a more effective protest song on that album, but even that I don't like much except a couple of lines.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

poptodd is the last person i would expecct to make this thread, at least form a negative perspective.

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

PopTodd Wrote:

I mean come, on... David Crosby screaming "HOW MANY MORE?!?!"

I think he was inquiring about the availability of Hostess cupcakes.

Socio/Political "Message" songs

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