Historically, protest songs are written and sung by performers to present a strong point of view regarding a political or social injustice. The Vietnam War was a one such political and social event that sparked many famous protest songs. Two of the most famous protest songs about the Vietnam War are “Fortunate Song” by Creedence Clearwater Revival and “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen. While written at opposite ends of the war, both songs share a similar point of view and similar musical styles. However in the end I believe that only one of songs is truly a successful protest song that continues to make a lasting impact on American politics and society.
While the Vietnam War technically started in 1950, the United States involvement
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John C. Fogerty was drafted into the US Army in 1966 and discharged in 1967. A few years later as the war continued to cost America many young men’s lives, he wrote the classic protest song “Fortunate Son” for his band Creedence Clearwater Revival. The song was included on their 1969 album “Willy and the Poorboys” and released as a single in 1967. The lyrics to the song are very straightforward as they tell the story of a man whose anger at the state of the draft cannot be contained. As the song begins, Fogerty’s voice rages against injustice as he angrily screams “It ain 't me, it ain 't me, I ain 't no senator 's son, son. It ain 't me, it ain 't me, I ain 't no fortunate one, no.” At this point in the song, the main character faces being drafted into the war while others who were born “silver spoon in hand” use their family power to avoid the draft. The song is a loud, fast paced rock song that makes its message heard in just 2 minutes and 22 seconds. The …show more content…
Because the war was so unpopular back in the United States, the returning veterans faced many challenges on their return home. What should have been a celebrated homecoming became a nightmare for many veterans. In addition to any injuries or lasting effects of the war, their needs were largely ignored by the nation. This plight of the Vietnam veteran is the subject of Bruce Springsteen’s popular song “Born in the U.S.A.” The song is the lead track on his 1984 album of the same name and was a huge hit for Springsteen. Personally Springsteen considers it one of his greatest songs, but he is disappointed that its message was never fully understood. Coming in at a length of 4 minutes and 44 seconds, the song “Born in the U.S.A.” is exactly twice as long as “Fortunate Son.” However the impact is not twice as great. Springsteen’s message and cause is noble and needs to be heard. He sees that Americans have collectively turned their backs on the very men who risk their lives to protect their freedom. But the songs simple chorus anthem is often misunderstood by those who hear the song. Like Fogerty, Springsteen sings with more passion than classic technique. He shouts and screams above the crackling drum driven beat of the song as he tells the story of a poor boy fighting a rich man’s war. This theme is very similar to “Fortunate Son” and in fact a person could see this man as the same character in
James A. Baldwin once said, “The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose” (BrainyQuote.com). In the 1960s, “the man” was youth across the country. The Vietnam war was in full force, and students across the country were in an outrage. Society needed an excuse to rebel against the boring and safe way of life they were used to; Vietnam gave them the excuse they needed. Teenagers from different universities came together and formed various organizations that protested the Vietnam war for many reasons. These reasons included protesting weapons and different tactics used in the war, and the reason the U.S. entered the war in the first place. These get-togethers had such a monumental impact on their way of life that it was famously named the Anti-War Movement. When the Vietnam War ended, The United States did not have a real concrete reason why; there were a bunch of theories about why the war ended. Through negative media attention and rebellious youth culture, the Anti-War Movement made a monumental impact in the ending of the Vietnam War.
This song reminisces about the loss of Private Rodger Young and reminds soldiers to push forward through the loss. Since death was something typically seen on the battle field Losser took this sad moment and turned it in to a rally together moment to get the job done. Loesser reflects the idea that America is tired of the war and are ready to keep progressing in life. While this song may not have been the most popular of the time period, Life magazine at the time felt like it was vital to print the music in the worlds for all to
To the persistent individual, though, there is a body of music in existence that merits regard. It is powerful music written by the youth of America, youngsters who did have a stake in the Vietnam War. There can be little question about the origins of the power which American protest music conveyed: those who wrote such music lived each day with the real knowledge that they were losing friends in, and could possibly be forced themselves to go to, Vietnam. One such group, Creedence Clearwater Revival, made its contribution to this genre near the end of the Vietnam War.
The American Civil War was a bitter, grief-filled conflict with oddly musical overtones. A Southern soldier, Alexander Hunter, recalled that “There was music in plenty,” (Lawrence 169) just as Charles Frazier’s character Stobrod in Cold Mountain remarks that “there was so much music back then” (407). While both the Union and the Confederacy placed great import on music, Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier focuses primarily on the Southern perspective of the war, in all of its aspects. Spiritual music gave soldiers hope, gave them something cheerful to listen to after their days of slogging through the grime of human remains, as Inman discovers during his journey. Songs of homecoming and perseverance also strengthened the women, children, and parents left behind, waiting with fearful hopes for the return of their loved ones. Ada’s continual reference to “Wayfaring Stranger” illustrates this point beautifully. Finally, the musical natures of both armies created a bond that otherwise would not have been possible, forming brief alliances among enemies. The impact of music during this period of American history was so great that General Robert E. Lee was heard to say “I don’t believe we can have an army without music” (Wiley qtd. in Waller and Edgington 147). Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain exemplifies this statement, interweaving music throughout the struggles of Ada and Inman, using it as a tool to express emotion and to give a common thread to the broken culture that was the American South. The dissonant harmonies of Civil War-era music both complemented and contrasted itself, creating new forms from old ones and forging bonds where there had been nothing.
At the time of the songs release the Vietnam War was in full swing, and became popular to the “silent majority”. The
...o hear elongated versions of the short-long rhythm heard in Freedom’s Call. This suggests that the suffering is shared by the American people and Lincoln himself – he also lost a son due to the war.
Artist express themselves through many different outlets. Some expressing through paintings or structures, but some also do it through songs or videos. Creedence Clearwater Revival, a band from the 60s and 70s, spoke through their songs. Several of their songs were based off of the Vietnam War. One of these songs spoke of the drafting of young men into the military called “Fortunate Son”.
Music has been around for thousands of years. Music has progressed since that time and has slowly become what it is today. Though music has been around for such a long time, protest music just started to develop in the Vietnam Era, the year 1954. The war started the era of protest which, in turn, created a new form of music which incorporated a specific type of lyric that was a way of expressing protest through the song. Since music in this era was already a big thing, artists thought it would be a good idea to get their political viewpoints out there. They did it through something that affected everybody in that time and space. The artists view spread quickly through the country because of the catchy tune and the viewpoints that are listed. In the United States of America, it is a very common thing to conform to others in a group (Conformity…). Since conformity is such a common occurrence in a large group, all the artist has to do is find a couple of people in the group, group being an audience, who agree with the artist and the rest will unfold on its own. The artist will keep on performing while the word of him and his music will spread from person to person. Conformity will ultimately bring people together on the same viewpoint until eventually, there are thousands of people there with the artist to protest. These artists have grown over time along with the style of music that they bring along with them. Protest music still exists today and is one of the most effective forms of protest that we have.
"Fortunate Son" delivers a powerful anti-war message through their strategic use of repetition, political commentary, and imagery to clearly describe the corruption within the draft system. The master class has the opportunity to exploit the subject class by creating and waging wars, but the subject class suffers the bear brunt by serving in those wars with everything to lose and nothing to gain. The day to day struggle the subject class goes in their life remains in a constant factor with war raging on, they had no say in the matter and eventually they were shipped out to Vietnam to fight a war that spurned in order to liberate the country from communism. While the subject class fought those battles and losing everything in the process, the master class watched afar in their homes and continue their tax evasion while the rest of society suffers from taxes employed by the government to continue the war. In the midst of the war raging on, "Fortunate Son" emerged as one of the strongest and popular anti-war songs in the 1960's and 1970's amidst growing government opposition. The growing opposition greatly increased the mentality of the anti-war movement which gradually created a rift in the people and the government resulting massive distrust in presidential leaders. The unfortunate result led to troops pulling out of Vietnam in 1973 and leaving the South to fend for themselves against the North. The Vietnam war created a dark stain in American history, which
You may of heard of the famous tune from the civil war called, When Johnny Comes Marching Home. This song would be sang among soldiers. It gave them something to do and to consume time because these soldiers aren't having the best of it. It gives soldiers something to be proud of and to cheer about. In the song it says many things about when the soldier Johnny comes home and how they'll cheer and shout. This gives soldiers something to fight for. They hear this music and think that people care for them and want to win the war so they can go marching home. This song had a huge impact on soldiers. This song gave families back at home hope that
This paper discusses the importance, literary elements, and historical impact of the song “Ohio” written by Neil Young and recorded by the rock group Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. The song responds to the May 4, 1970, Kent State massacre, the killing of four students in a protest rally against President Nixon. The paper also goes on to discuss the song’s logos, pathos, and ethos appeals, as well as the message conveyed by the lyrics and accompanying instrumentation. “Ohio” is deemed one of the greatest anti-war protest songs and not only does it protest the war but exemplifies the horrifying deaths of four students who were only exercising their rights of the United States Constitution.
Devastation, depression, deprivation and death were few of the many tragedies that Americans faced during World War II. “An immediate political, psychological and economic shift took place following the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, because the United States found itself unprepared,” (Ref.1) A majority of American men were forced to enlist and fight to their death, leaving their wives and children at home. The atmosphere of America changed, and the music during this time period painted a vivid picture of the variety of emotions faced during the time of sorrow and difficulty. Music not only portrayed the emotions and current circumstances of this time, but it also provided comfort, entertainment, and hope for the families at home through the use of swing/jazz music and topical songs.
As Americans we are passionate about “our American way of life” and how our government functions. Throughout history, our country has worked to spread democracy throughout the world. The second verse contains the lyrics, “Just a mission made of guns that paint rainbows in Vietnam”, bringing flashbacks to the Vietnam War. During this time, the United States
This essay describes the peace, protest and antiwar in the sixties with reference to the Vietnam War. The two songs “Universal Soldier” by Sainte-Marie and “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan. Both songs are sung by different-different artists but the main idea behind the song is totally related to war peace and protest for life against white people in 1960.
I decided to choose these songs because of what they represent, they portray the fact that even in the hardest times ( which is the time where a war is happening and lives are being lost) people still had enough hope that the war would end and peace would be accomplished or gained. For example, the song "The Unknown Soldier" This song represents the Vietnam War. This song was written to show how the conflict was being portrayed in the media at the time. As a matter of fact, the lines “Breakfast where the news is read/ Television children fed/ Unborn living, living dead/ Bullets strike the helmet’s head” portray the way news of the Vietnam war was being exhibited to ordinary people. However, there is another message: that as the rest of America