As I write this, I must confess that I stopped listening to (or buying) any rock and roll published after about 1975. What strikes me as particularly odd about today’s music is that I hear very few (if any) songs of protest over what the Trump administration has been up to in the country (and overseas).
During the VERY unpopular Viet Nam war (that began with large-scale combat in July 1965 and ended in early 1973) the airways were endlessly filled with protest songs from nearly every top rock and roll band.
A few examples:
Yeah-yeah, some folks inherit star-spangled eyes
Hoo, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask 'em, "How much should we give?"
Hoo, they only answer, "More, more, more, more"
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no military son, son, Lord
- Fortunate Son — Creedence Clearwater Revival
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
The battle outside ragin'
Will soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'
- The Times They Are A-Changin’ — Bob Dylan
And think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
Ah, you may leave here for four 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
- Eve of Destruction — Barry McGuire
War, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mothers' eyes
When their sons go out to fight and lose their lives
(War, huh) Yeah
(What is it good for?) Absolutely nothin'
Uh-huh, uh-huh
(War, huh) Yeah
(What is it good for?) Absolutely nothin'
War has shattered many young men's dreams
Made them disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious to be fighting wars these days
War can't give life, it can only take it away, aww!
- War — Edwin Starr
Gotta get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been gone long ago
What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
- Ohio — Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
- What’s Going On — Marvin Gaye
Give us your tired and weak
And we will make them strong
Bring us your foreign songs
And we will sing along
Leave us your broken dreams
We'll give them time to mend
There's still a lot of love
Living in the promiseland
- Living In the Promiseland - Willie Nelson
I confess I DO bump into videos of anti-Trump songs on the internet, but the vast majority are about what a moron The Donald is rather than directly protesting his policies.
Under the Trump administration roughly 45–52 people have died while in ICE custody or detention, and separately, around 8–11 people have been killed in shootings by ICE or immigration agents during enforcement operations. Had this been in the 1960’s or ‘70’s there would have been a dozen songs protesting those deaths (and those immigration policies). Clearly, Willie was talking about immigrants in his Promiseland song.
Our lives are too often governed by “revenge politics” (where the Trump Administration will threaten radio/TV stations with some sort of FCC crackdown) so perhaps, now, no one wants to become as target. Look what happened to Ed Sheeran's upcoming concert after his opener, Macklemore said something about Save Palestine. In about 10 minutes Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, took issue with his comments and banned Ed’s show from his stadium (and others he could influence).
To be fair, most folks probably do what I do and listen to their playlists on the car sound system rather than exploring new songs on the radio, but if there are really good protest songs, pop them in the comments section below and let’s start a list.
This nation is plenty fed up with Trump’s BS and policies. Let’s start singing about them – together.
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This commentary represents the opinion of the writer, but not necessarily the opinion of Holy City Sinner. If you'd like to submit your own opinion piece for publishing consideration, e-mail christian@holycitysinner.com.