Protest war in song

"THE PRICE OF OIL" by BILLY BRAGG
Lyrics:
""Voices on the radio
tell us that we're going to war
those brave men and women in uniform
they want to know what they're fighting for.

The generals want to hear the end game
the allies won't approve the plan
but the oil men in the white house
they just don't give a damn.

It's all about the price of oil
it's all about the price of oil
don't give me no #
about blood, sweat, tears and toil
it's all about the price of oil

Now I ain't no fan of Saddam Hussein
oh, please don't get me wrong
if it's freeing the Iraqi people you're after
then why have we waited so long.

Why didn't we sort this out last time
was he less evil than he is now
the stock market holds the answer
to why him, why here, why now.

Saddam killed his own people
just like general Pinochet
and once upon a time both these evil men
were supported by the U.S.A.

And whisper it, even Bin Laden
once drank from America's cup
just like that election down in Florida
this # doesn't all add up.

It's all about the price of oil
'cause it's all about the price of oil
don't give me no #
about blood, sweat, tears and toil
it's all about the price of oil.""

Originally posted by spymaster
"UNITED STATES" by Seize The Day
This song i think was written in protest about the 911 bombings and the subsequent war! The group were band from recieving a Music award on BBC (UK) because the shows producers said that it was not a political show

The "country music" here seems to have the most "pro-war" or what I guess they consider "patriotic" lyrics.

You can mostly hear anti-war lyrics here in the U.S. in some pop, alternative, and rock groups.

For anyone who likes country, please don't "flame" me. It's just something I've noticed.

Hello Elaine
Here in the UK it seems to be either the New wave "era" ie the 70/80's or the indie types of music now or people like Paul Weller and Billy Bragg, that seem to write anti-war /gov/bb or any anti type songs.

All the other stuff seems to be about how many women they have got , how much money they have, or how many people they have shot!!!!!
.
Here we go with another one:

A BULLET FOR EVERYONE by PAUL WELLER
Lyrics:
""Everybody doing it
Doing it real good
Everybody knowing it
Like they know they should
Shiny sabres rattling
Long into the night
And everybody saying it
Saying what they like
There are words there to inspire you
There are words there to be heard
Maybe none of them will fire you
But none the less they will make you listen by force.

Everybody shouting it
From every place on high
Everybody loving it
Loving what they find
There's blood upon each handshake
Lies upon each word
And everybody killing it
Killing off what's good
There are holes in the divisions
Between the haves and who have nots
There's a bomb for every city
Now they don't know where to stop
And they say there's no provisions
There's not enough to go round
But when it comes to the gun there's a bullet for everyone
When it comes to the gun there's a bullet for everyone

Everybody wanting it
Wanting it to stop
The chaos and destruction
The bloodshed on the rocks
The pain and deprivation
The losses and the grief
The tired, worn out promises
Of the politicians' brief
There are holes in the divisions
Between the haves and who have nots
There's a bomb for every city
Now they don't know how to stop
And they say there's no provisions
There's not enough to go round
But when it comes to the gun there's a bullet for everyone
When it comes to the gun there's a bullet for everyone
When it comes to the gun there's a bullet for everyone""

The eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Don’t you understand what I’m tryin’ to say
Can’t you feel the fears I’m feelin’ today?
If the button is pushed, there’s no runnin’ away
There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave
[Take a look around ya boy, it's bound to scare ya boy]

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Yeah, my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’
I’m sitting here just contemplatin’
I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation.
Handful of senators don’t pass legislation
And marches alone can’t bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin’
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
You may leave here for 4 days in space
But when you return, it’s the same old place
The poundin’ of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace
Hate your next-door neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace
And… tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don’t believe
We’re on the eve
Of destruction
Mm, no no, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

By far my favorite.

Another Vietnam era song by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) or simply referred to as "Creedence" by some of us.

Notice how John Fogerty sings of the rich not haveing to serve. The saying "born with a silver spoon" means you're rich and you are one of the "fortunate sons".



"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, theyre red, white and blue.
And when the band plays hail to the chief,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, dont they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son, no.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give?
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,

[edit on 28-11-2006 by elaine]

Originally posted by elaine
Thanks Khunmoon. I think these threads are pretty informative and sometimes even enlightening. I'm going to buy a "bob" cd when I get a chance. What's the best one to get?

Hmm... let me think. Well my immediate answer would be you start to collect ...all 46 of his official albums.
No of course not, only joking, but they all stand out, so give me a minute, it's a hard question.

When you like Jackson Brownie you definately will like Bob too.
You know the song you posted "Lives in the Balance" is actually a tittle of one of his very best albums, released some time in the 70's. Another great one of his I remember is "The Pretender".

Well, back to Bob. Albums considered classic are (listed chronological):
Bringing It All Back Home (1964)
Highway 61 (1965)
Blonde on Blonde (1967)
Blood On The Track (1970)
Street Legal (1974)
Oh Mercy (1991)
Time Out Of Mind (1998)
Love and Theft (2001)
Modern Times (2006)
Except for the last two the years of realease are to my memory, give or take one or two years.

As I said all of his albums differ from eachother, but I would recommend to take your pick among the last three.
His latest one, only 3 month old is vere melodic and straght forward, but to non-aficionados it might seem a little monotonous.

My pick would be "Love and Theft", its very melodic groove goes all the way through and not so much of the "gloom" Dylan often is reproached with.
What further makes it interesting is the date of realease, 9/11/01. As always in Dylan lyrics there are refferences that can suit the situation. And fact is there are some lyrics on "Love and Theft" that fits all too well with what happened on that fatal day.

Coincidence? Some call the man a prophet.

Well, you just gave me the idea for a new thread. Thanks, Elaine. Watch out for it in this forum.

Thanks Khunmoon. I appreciate you listing all of those and I think I will just take your advice and try to choose from those three you mention.

I'm not really old enough to have listened much to Dylan back in the 60's. But I do enjoy broadening my music horizons.

I'm one of the "babies" who was at home during the Vietnam era. So I'm thinking I may have missed some things. lol

Gods of War by Def Leppard

This is my absolute favorite song out of any i've ever heard in my life, and sometimes I fall into a dream world when I hear it.

www.azlyrics.com...
Feelin' like it's all over, feelin' like there's no love
Feelin' like it's not easy, breathin' life in the dust
On a countdown to zero take a ride on the nightmare machine

There ain't gonna be heroes
There ain't gonna be anything
Oh
Here it comes, here comes the night
Here it comes, hell in the night
Here it comes, here comes the night

When we all fall down
When we walk into silence
When we shadow the sun
When we surrender to violence
Oh
Then the damage is done
Put away that gun!

I don't wanna be there
I don't wanna be anywhere
Oh!

[Repeat Bridge]

That's right!
We're fightin' for the gods of war but what the hell we fightin' for?
We're fightin' with the gods of war but I'm a rebel

[guitar solo]

And I ain't gonna fight no more no way!
On a countdown to zero
Take a ride on the nightmare machine
There ain't gonna be heroes
(Whoa)
There ain't gonna be anything
No!

[Repeat Bridge]

Don't ya know that's right!

[Repeat Chorus]

And (a) I ain't gonna fight no more

(Stop)
Stop fightin' for the gods of war
(Stop fightin' for the gods of war)
Yeah what the hell we fightin' for?
(What in the hell we fightin' for?)
We're fightin' with the gods of war
Heavy!

I love the opening verse to this one.

War Again- Oingo Boingo

Dont you know we got smart bombs, its a good thing that our bombs are clever.
Dont you know that the smart bombs are so clever, they only kill bad people.

Dont you know though our kids are dumb, we got smart bombs, what a joyous
Thing.
Here we go so lets drink a toast, to those clever bombs, and the men who
Built them.

(chorus)
There they go now, there go all my friends
There they go now, marching off to war again
With their bright flags waving in the wind
There they go now, marching off to war again
Smiling proudly, with their heads in the clouds.

Dont you know this is better than any video friend. its an action movie.
Here we go watch the bad guys get their butts kicked. really makes me feel
Good. here we go watching cnn, the adrenaline rushes through my veins.
Dont you know its a feel good show, electronic bliss. its a video, video...

(chorus)

Arent you glad we got smart bombs, its a damn good thing our bombs are clever
Its a shame that our kids are dumb, but our bombs are smart, what a lucky
Thing now
Dont you know its a feel good show and its suitable for the whole darn family
Come on out everybody shout, give a big salute to our ingenuity
Dont you know this is better than, any video friend, its an action movie...
Here we go, watch the bad guys get their butts kicked, and it makes me feel good.
Dont you know its nintendo, really gets the blood flowing thru my veins now
Dont you know its a feel-good show, electronic bliss, its a video, video

"Ashes In the Fall" by Rage Against the Machine

A mass of hands press on the market window
Ghosts of progress
Dressed in slow death
Feeding on hunger
And glaring through the promise
Upon the food that rots slowly in the aisle
A mass of nameless at the oasis
That hides the graves beneath the master's hill
Are buried for drinking
The rivers water while
Shackled to the the line at the empty well

This is the new sound, just like the old sound
Just like the noose wound, over the new ground
This is the new sound, just like the old sound
Just like the noose wound, over new ground

Listen to the facist sing
"Take hope here
War is elsewhere
You were chosen
This is Gods land
Soon we'll be free
Of blot and mixture
Seeds planted by our Forefathers hand"
A mass of promises
Begin to rupture
Like the pockets Of the new world kings
Like swollen stomachs In Appalachia...

Here's the ultimate anti-war song from Bob's second album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", 1962.

I've started a new thread in the lyric subject style. Maybe it's a little special
References, direct or indirect, to 9/11 in Songlyrics
Please visit, maybe you have some suggestions.

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes it's toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'til I'm sure that you're dead

Mine is more about wars in the name of religion (mainly the crusades), but it's still a good anti-war song.

War? by System Of A Down

Dark is the light,
The man you fight,
With all your prayers, incantations,
Running away, a trivial day,
Of judgment and deliverance,
To whom was sold, this bounty soul,
A gentile or a priest ?
Who victored over, the Seljuks,
When the holy land was taken

We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens

Was it the riches, of the land,
Powers of bright darkness,
That lead the noble, to the East,
To fight the heathens

We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens

We must call upon our bright darkness,
Beliefs, they're the bullets of the wicked,
One was written on the sword,
For you must enter a room to destroy it,
International security,
Call of the righteous man,
Needs a reason to kill man,
History teaches us so,
The reason he must attain,
Must be approved by his God,
His child, partisan brother of war,

Of war, we don't speak anymore,
Of war, we don't speak anymore,
Of war, we don't speak anymore,
Of war, we don't speak anymore,

We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens
We will fight the heathens, We will fight the heathens

If you want to watch the video, you can go here

[edit on 1/12/2006 by 7Pan7cho7]

Behind Enemy Lines - the global cannibal

too many lyrics to post, so watch the video instead!

www.youtube.com...

One of the best, For what it's worth


Artist: Buffalo Springfield Lyrics
Song: For What It's Worth Lyrics


There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

"99 Luft Balons" by a german singer named "Nina".

It was a very popular song back in the 80's.