Where have all the anti-war songs gone?

[Gentle Giant]

Long time passing? Seems to me there were more musicians writing about Vietnam back in the day than there are writing about Bush War II today. Don't tell me it takes time to get a recording made. In 1970, CSNY had "Ohio" written, recorded, and released within two weeks of the Kent State tragedy. Today, with portable recording equipment and downloadable tunes, you'd think there would be a daily flood. In fact, there should a "Daily Show" kind of music thing where musicians would write a song about that day's headlines and make a continnual musical commentary on our times. Here are a few of my favorite anti-war tunes.

Masters of War
By Bob Dylan

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 its 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

Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

[Gentle Giant]

Zor and Zam
The Monkees
By Bill Chadwick and John Chadwick

The king of Zor, he called for war
And the king of Zam, he answered.
They fashioned their weapons one upon one
Ton upon ton, they called for war at the rise of the sun.

Out went the call to one and to all
That echoed and rolled like the thunder.
Trumpets and drums, roar upon roar
More upon more.
Rolling the call of "Come now to war."

Throughout the night they fashioned their might
With right on the side of the mighty.
They puzzled their minds plan upon plan
Man upon man
And at dying of dawn the great war began.

They met on the battlefield banner in hand.
They looked out across the vacant land.
And they counted the missing, one upon one,
None upon none.
The war it was over before it begun.

Two little kings playing a game.
They gave a war and nobody came.
And nobody came.
And nobody came.
And nobody came.
And nobody came.

[Gentle Giant]

War
Edwin Starr
By Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong

War! - huh- yeah-
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh

War! – huh – yeah-
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y’all

War! – huh – good God
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me…

Ohhh… War! I despise
Because it means destruction’
Of innocent lives

War means tears
to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
and lose their lives

I said - War! Huh – Good God y’all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me…

War! It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
War! It’s an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind

War has caused unrest in the younger generation
Induction then destruction-
Who wants to die?

Ohhh… War – Good God Y’all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Uh-huh – Yeah - Huh!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me…

War! It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
War! It’s got one friend, that’s the undertaker
War has shattered many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled bitter and mean
Life is much to precious to spend fighting wars these days
War can’t give life, it can only take it away

War! Huh – Good God y’all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War! Whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me…

War! It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker
Peace Love and Understanding;
tell me, is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there’s got to be a better way

War! Huh – Good God y’all
What is it good for?
You tell me
Say it, Say it, Say it

War! Huh – Good God y’all
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it.
Nothing!

[Gentle Giant]

Daylight Again
a) Daylight Again
b) Find the Cost of Freedom
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Words and music by Stephen Stills

Daylight again
Following me to bed
I think about a hundred years ago
How my Fathers bled

I think I see a valley
Covered with bones in blue
All the brave soldiers that cannot get older
Been asking after you

Hear the past a' calling
From Armageddon's side
When everyone's talking and no one
Is listening
How can we decide

Do we find the cost of freedom
Buried in the ground
Mother Earth will swallow you
Lay your body down.

[Salvador Dali Lama]

http://www.monument-masses.com/sound/index.html

[clinthopson]

Check out Dave Frishberg's "My Country Used To Be Sweet Land Of Liberty."

[patricia]

"Masters of War", still relevant, in fact more now than ever.
Also, a powerful book, written in 1939, by Dalton Trumbo, "Johnny Got His Gun", as well as the original film, "All Quiet On The Western Front" both should be required reading and viewing, lest anyone think that there is any glory in killing our fellow human beings, for the sake of politicians' lust for power, or for their greed. Let the politicians duke it out with the other side. Let our children and husbands and wives live their lives and die in their beds when they are old.

What IS war good for?? Edwin Starr said it, NOTHING!!

[Gentle Giant]

I hit the frickin' motherlode!

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

I hit the frickin' motherlode!

You sure did!! So, how come that the only war-related song which has gotten extensive airplay is that country one, which connects the WTC tragedy to Iraq?? Made me furious every time I heard it. It's no wonder some people still think the two are the same thing.

[Noj]

War Pigs

Generals gathered in their masses,
just like witches at black masses.
Evil minds that plot destruction,
sorcerers of death's construction.
In the fields the bodies burning,
as the war machine keeps turning.
Death and hatred to mankind,
poisoning their brainwashed minds.
Oh lord, yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away.
They only started the war.
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor, yeah.

Time will tell on their power minds,
making war just for fun.
Treating people just like pawns in chess,
wait till their judgement day comes, yeah.

Now in darkness world stops turning,
ashes where the bodies burning.
No more War Pigs have the power,
Hand of God has struck the hour.
Day of judgement, God is calling,
on their knees the war pigs crawling.
Begging mercies for their sins,
Satan, laughing, spreads his wings.
Oh lord, yeah!

--Ozzy

[stonemonkts]

Fixin' to Die Rag

Country Joe McDonald

Well, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
Yeah, he's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
Gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Yeah, come on Wall Street, don't be slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of its trade,
Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Now you can go out and get those reds
'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, and don't hesitate
To send your sons off before it's too late.
You can be the first ones in your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

[Jon Abbey]

Originally Posted by Noj

War Pigs

Generals gathered in their masses,
just like witches at black masses.
Evil minds that plot destruction,
sorcerers of death's construction.
In the fields the bodies burning,
as the war machine keeps turning.
Death and hatred to mankind,
poisoning their brainwashed minds.
Oh lord, yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away.
They only started the war.
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor, yeah.

Time will tell on their power minds,
making war just for fun.
Treating people just like pawns in chess,
wait till their judgement day comes, yeah.

Now in darkness world stops turning,
ashes where the bodies burning.
No more War Pigs have the power,
Hand of God has struck the hour.
Day of judgement, God is calling,
on their knees the war pigs crawling.
Begging mercies for their sins,
Satan, laughing, spreads his wings.
Oh lord, yeah!

--Ozzy

I went to Ozzfest yesterday, as a huge favor to a friend of mine. the entire dull day was made worth it by Black Sabbath opening with War Pigs, as they showed footage of Bush and Nazis interchangably. it was easily the best song of the set, as Ozzy forgot some of the lines during Iron Man and did too much cheerleading during Paranoid, but I was glad I was there for War Pigs.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

This is the first one that came to mind, and the third one on GG's motherlode page!

I AIN'T MARCHIN' ANYMORE
Phil Ochs

Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans
At the end of the early British war
The young land started growing
The young blood started flowing
But I ain't marchin' anymore

For I've killed my share of Indians
In a thousand different fights
I was there at the Little Big Horn
I heard many men lying
I saw many more dying
But I ain't marchin' anymore

It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the sabre and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all

For I stole California from the Mexican land
Fought in the bloody Civil War
Yes I even killed my brother
And so many others
And I ain't marchin' anymore

For I marched to the battles of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars
Oh I must have killed a million men
And now they want me back again
But I ain't marchin' anymore

It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the sabre and the gun
Tell me is it worth it all

For I flew the final mission in the Japanese sky
Set off the mighty mushroom roar
When I saw the cities burning
I knew that I was learning
That I ain't marchin' anymore

Now the labor leader's screamin' when they close the missile plants,
United Fruit screams at the Cuban shore,
Call it "Peace" or call it "Treason,"
Call it "Love" or call it "Reason,"
But I ain't marchin' any more.

[Chris D]

John Fogerty just released one about the current war, "Deja Vu (All Over Again)." Haven't heard it yet.

[Noj]

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

I went to Ozzfest yesterday, as a huge favor to a friend of mine. the entire dull day was made worth it by Black Sabbath opening with War Pigs, as they showed footage of Bush and Nazis interchangably. it was easily the best song of the set, as Ozzy forgot some of the lines during Iron Man and did too much cheerleading during Paranoid, but I was glad I was there for War Pigs.

A friend of mine did Ozzy's pyro for several tours, so I've actually watched him several times from backstage. Ozzy has a teleprompter for his own lyrics, pretty sad.

[graypencil]

possibly , the dearth of new anti-war songs could be due to one ( or more ) of the following conditions prevalent today that didn't exist during the 'Nam era:

* It's become impossible to express anti-war outrage in todays prevalent mode of expression: i.e. rap ..besides, ebonics with samples and a drum machine loops can only express violence towards bitches and hos ..not the current DUBBya driven mess.

* or possibly, John AssCroft has made such songs qualify as subersive anti-American propaganda under the "Patriot Act" (?)..worthy of incarceration in Marion IL ..

( besides not wanting to cut into sales of his own megahit:
"Let the Eagle Soar " )

[Gentle Giant]

Galveston
Glen Campbell
By Jimmy Webb

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea winds blowin'
I still see her dark eyes glowin'
She was 21 when I left Galveston

Galveston, oh Galveston, I still hear your sea waves crashing
While I watch the cannons flashing
I clean my gun and dream of Galveston

I still see her standing by the water
Standing there lookin' out to sea
And is she waiting there for me?
On the beach where we used to run

Galveston, oh Galveston, I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying
Before I watch your sea birds flying in the sun
At Galveston

[Gentle Giant]

No Man Can Find the War
Tim Buckley

Photographs of guns and flame
Scarlet skull and distant game
Bayonet and jungle grin
Nightmares dreamed by bleeding men
Lookouts tremble on the shore
But no man can find the war

Tape recorders echo scream
Orders fly like bullet stream
Drums and cannons laugh aloud
Whistles come from ashen shroud
Leaders damn the world and roar
But no man can find the war

Is the war across the sea?
Is the war behind the sky?
Have you each and all gone blind:
Is the war inside your mind?

Humans weep at human death
All the talkers lose their breath
Movies paint a chaos tale
Singers see and poets wail
All the world knows the score
But no man can find the war

[groover]

Here's a simple Neil Young ditty that my band started covering during the Kosovo intervention. I guess we ought to add it back in to our set list now, subbing desert for jungle, and Iraqis for Vietnamese.

"War Song"

In the morning when you wake up
You've got planes flying in the sky
Flying bombs made to break up
All the lies in your eyes

There's a man says
he can put an end to war

They shot George Wallace down
He'll never walk around
Our mines are sleeping in the sea
Blow those bridges down
And burn that jungle down
And kill those Vietnamese

There's a man says
he can put an end to war

In the morning when you wake up
You've got planes flying in the sky
Flying bombs made to break up
All the lies in your eyes

There's a man says
he can put an end to war

[Gentle Giant]

I almost hate to do this, but it is relevant:

Billy Don't Be A Hero
Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods

The marchin' band came down along Main Street
The soldier blues fell in behind
I looked across and there I saw Billy
Waiting to go and join the line

And with her head upon his shoulder
His young and lovely fiancee
From where I stood I saw she was cryin'
And through her tears I heard her say

Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife
And as he started to go she said, Billy, keep your head low
Billy, don't be a hero, come back to me

The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle raging all around
The sergeant cried, We've got to hang on, boys!
We've got to hold this piece of ground

I need a volunteer to ride up
And bring us back some extra men
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgettin' all the words she said

She said
Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife
And as he started to go she said, Billy, keep your head low
Billy, don't be a hero, come back to me

I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw that letter away ...

[Enforcer]

Maybe the reason there are so few anti-war songs around anymore is that so many of them sound like schlock today.

Larry

[Gentle Giant]

This song dates from the Civil War. The words are by Henry Washburn. The melody was written in 1862 by George F. Root. Kate and Anna McGarrigle recorded this, probably some others have, too.

Vacant Chair

We shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our evening prayer;
When a year ago we gathered
Joy was in his mild blue eye,
But a golden chord is severed
And our hopes in ruin lie.

Chorus
We shall meet, but we shall miss him
There will be one vacant chair
We shall linger to caress him
While we breathe our evening prayer.

At our fireside, sad and lonely,
Often will the bosom swell,
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie sell;
How he strove to bear our banner
Through the thickest of the fight,
And uphold our country's honor
In the strength of manhood's night.

Chorus

True, they tell us wreaths of glory
Ever more will deck his brow,
But this soothes the anguish only
Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now.
Sleep today, Oh early fallen,
In thy green and narrow bed,
Dirges from the pine and cypress,
Mingle with the tears we shed.

Chorus

[Sergio Zamora]

The greatest anti-war lyric ever has to be the chorus to 'The War Song' by Culture Club.

War war is stupid and people are stupid
And love means nothing in some strange quarters
War war is stupid and people are stupid
And I heard them banging on hearts and fingers

That's deep.

[Salvador Dali Lama]

[QUOTE=graypencil]possibly , the dearth of new anti-war songs could be due to one ( or more ) of the following conditions prevalent today that didn't exist during the 'Nam era:

* It's become impossible to express anti-war outrage in todays prevalent mode of expression: i.e. rap ..besides, ebonics with samples and a drum machine loops can only express violence towards bitches and hos ..not the current DUBBya driven mess.

[QUOTE]

you're very wrong. http://www.bigdada.com/artist.php?id=101

what about public enemy? krs1? they had great anti-war songs back in the day...

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by Salvador Dali Lama
you're very wrong. [url="http://www.bigdada.com/artist.php?id=101"

http://www.bigdada.com/artist.php?id=101[/url]

what about public enemy? krs1? they had great anti-war songs back in the day...

Thanks. I was gonna leave that one alone.

[al j]

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

Maybe the reason there are so few anti-war songs around anymore is that so many of them sound like schlock today.

Larry

Pretty much what I was thinking. That, and today's songwriters are comparatively dumberer.

[walto]

www.onefinalnote.com/reviews/ v/various-artists/no-w-now.asp

[kedoane]

It is also very difficult to hear the anti war songs because of the big corporations that own the radio stations, MTV, etc. The people who run those corporations support our President and they don't want to rock the boat.

When the FCC voted to increase the amount of TV stations that those corporations can own. The Senate voted to strike that down and the courts voted against the FCC on that.

I feel that the only way that we can change things is to get rid of Bush. Hopefully Kerry will support efforts to have radio and TV stations serve their communities.

[moneyp]

Originally Posted by patricia

You sure did!! So, how come that the only war-related song which has gotten extensive airplay is that country one, which connects the WTC tragedy to Iraq?? Made me furious every time I heard it. It's no wonder some people still think the two are the same thing.

Not to defend the song (which is pure treacle) but if you're thinking of Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning," it does no such thing. The chorus goes:

I'm just a singer of simple songs;
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I'm not sure I can tell you the difference
in Iraq and Iran...

Which is the only reference to Iraq in the song. It doesn't connect it to the tragedy implicitly or explicitly.

Would love to hear Fogerty getting his ire up agin, though.

[steve(thelil)]

Minty was a hero
Flinty died in vain
Nint was the unknown soldier
who sunk down with the Main

All the guys with int names
died in futile wars
Lets not lose any more of them
tell the fucking nazi whores.


-sri chinlint