Anti-War Songs: A Necessary American Tradition
A remembrance of past conflicts and the peace songs that arose out of the bloodshed
Unfortunately, too many Americans learn their geography from war adventures overseas. America is a vast nation with a limited exposure to the greater world surrounding it. We can spend our entire lives exploring the country and never leave its widespread boundaries. It’s both a blessing and a curse.
The Great World Wars I and II were fought “over there” in Europe. That set the stage for America’s faraway military ventures after a bloody civil war that split the nation in two. Sending soldiers overseas to fight the fascists allowed the United States to come together as one.
After World War II, America got entangled all over the planet: Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Cuba, Grenada, Libya, Persian Gulf, Panama, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Serbia, Syria, Yemen and possibly Ukraine. What a messy list of misadventures.
So that’s the geography lesson beyond Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.
I grew up as a military brat due to my dad serving 22 years in the Air Force. He had one tour of duty in Vietnam in the early 1970s. I was well aware of the protest songs from that era and tried to balance the anti-war messages with the reality at home.
Today, there are two things that precipitate a dive back into my musical past. First, the Ukraine-Russia invasion is a strong reminder that wars, warmongering and dead soldiers and citizens never stop. Second, as a songwriter I tap into that reservoir of anti-war songs to try to find the right tone and substance for my own works.
Let’s look at some of the more influential songs that stick in my memory.
Edwin Starr - War
The power of an anti-war song is embodied in this classic anthem that spits out the truth and tells it like it is. There is no glorification or flag waving here, just pain and disgust.
War, I despise 'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives War means tears to thousands of mother's eyes When their sons go off to fight And lose their lives I said, war, huh (good God, y'all) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, just say it again War (whoa), huh (oh Lord) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, listen to me
Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) - Fortunate Son
In the early 1960s, Peter, Paul & Mary sang about young men and soldiers and asked, “Where have all the young men (soldiers) gone?”. The answer was, “They’ve gone to graveyards every one.”
At the end of the decade, CCR sorted out the fortunate ones from the unfortunate ones with its scathing criticism of how privileged and rich kids avoided the war. It’s not a coincidence that George W. Bush and Dick Cheney led the neocon war machine as fortunate sons.
Some folks are born made to wave the flag Ooh, they're red, white and blue And when the band plays "Hail to the chief" Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord 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
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
I am not a heavy metal guy, but Black Sabbath was an early incarnation of the genre. Led by the current reality TV star Ozzy Osbourne, this band was unreal in its heyday. One of its signature songs exemplified the no holds barred attitude of their music.
War Pigs is heavy, dark and unforgettable.
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
Country Joe & the Fish - The Vietnam Song
In 1969, Woodstock was not only a musical phenomenon, it was a cultural watershed. At the end of the 1960s everyone was fed up with the Vietnam War. It was time to stop the killing and sending young adults to die in a foreign land for no justifiable reason.
Country Joe was not a big name act. Nonetheless, he just summed up the entire war decade with one song.
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. And 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.
John Lennon - Give Peace a Chance
The chorus of this song became a rallying cry for a generation. The charismatic force of John Lennon took a simple, nonsensical song and forged a common bond with the anti-war community.
It became the go-to protest song that still retains its power whenever people march and sing-along in the streets. The song renders the complicated matter of war into a simple message for humanity.
Let me tell you now Ev'rybody's talking 'bout Revolution, evolution, masturbation, flagellation, regulation, integrations Meditations, United Nations, congratulations All we are saying is give peace a chance All we are saying is give peace a chance
Coda
With all these protest songs in the backdrop of my mind, I wrote a piece called, Give Me No Pain. It is sad to remember these anti-war classics because of the necessity to try and write new ones.
Here’s an extract from the song. (Scheduled to be ready in a month or two)
Driving drones, dropping bombs Leaving kids, dead with moms This is what happens so far away Give me no pain Give me no war Stop the empire game Stop killing the poor