War Protest Songs

War Protest Songs

War, what is it good for? Some would say absolutely nothing. This is the recurring theme in protest songs from the 1960’s through present day. This essay will show by comparing and contrasting songs from the Viet Nam era with the present day songs protesting war and the senselessness of going to war. The end result invariably is death for both sides. All of the songs, regardless of the setting and time focus on senseless death.

The songs of the 60’s contained lyrics which described the horrors of a war on a foreign and hostile soil. The young men of that era were drafted whether they believed in the political purpose put forth by the politicians sending them into harm’s way. Today’s soldiers are a voluntary military force, yet they too are questioning the purpose of the killing they are asked to commit.

The songs of both eras portray expression of freedom of speech which allows the youth of the country to question the politicians who make the decision to go to war yet place the burden of executing the war on the backs of our young men and women. With just a few insightful lyrics, these songs underscore the reality of war. People die. The songs question the end result of the carnage. What have we learned from killing when we seem to repeat the same mistakes over and over leading to senseless war.

For What it’s Worth - Where’s the love?

The lyrics from the Buffalo Springfield’s 1967 hit For What it’s Worth have come to symbolize the turbulent decade of the 1960’s. This song has been used in virtually every documentary, television special, and feature film (including Forrest Gump and Oliver Stone’s Born on the Forth of July) chronicling that era in America, becoming an anthem for an entire generati...

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... were created by amazing artists: Rolling Stone Magazine called “Who’s Next,” the album which “We Won’t Get Fooled Again” debuted on, as the 28th greatest album of all time, and Kerrang! Magazine claimed Green Day as the best Punk-Pop band of all-time.

Conclusion

The country has just debated the reasons, or lack thereof, of why the President and Congress authorized the war in Iraq in the recent presidential election. The country remains bitterly divided with the majority of the country believing the war is not being conducted properly and is lasting much too long. The political climate has produced protest songs in which the purpose of war is again questioned, as it was in the 60’s. As long as war results in the inevitable death of our young soldiers, it is our duty to question the purpose and goal of executing a war which is exactly what these songs accomplish.