Protest Playlist (Part 3 of "Music Speaks")

The following protest playlist includes lyrics addressing such issues as the suppression of dissent, unnecessary wars, and political corruption. (See also Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.)

I. “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)

Written by Neil Young, this song is about the infamous incident at Kent State University involving the shooting of unarmed students by the Ohio National Guard during a contentious 1970 rally. Four were murdered; nine injured.

Tin soldiers and Nixon comingWe’re finally on our ownThis summer I hear the drummingFour dead in Ohio

Gotta get down to it, soldiers are cutting us downShould have been gone long agoWhat if you knew her and found her dead on the groundHow can you run when you know?…

In addition to CSNY’s video below, check out the Isley Brothers‘s powerful (lengthy) mashup with “Machine Gun.”

II. “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield (1966)

This song remains timely, unfortunately. Written by Stephen Stills.

There’s something happening hereWhat it is ain’t exactly clearThere’s a man with a gun over thereA-telling me I got to beware

I think it’s time we stopChildren, what’s that sound?Everybody look what’s going down

There’s battle lines being drawnNobody’s right if everybody’s wrongYoung people speaking their mindsAre getting so much resistance from behind

Time we stopHey, what’s that sound?Everybody look what’s going down

What a field-day for the heatA thousand people in the streetSinging songs and a-carrying signsMostly say hooray for our side

It’s time we stopHey, what’s that sound?Everybody look what’s going down

Paranoia strikes deepInto your life it will creepIt starts when you’re always afraidStep out of line, the man come and take you away…

The contemporary (2026) version below by Susan O’Neill and Valerie June was made for the benefit of Amnesty International:

III. “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

Contemptuous of the privileged and anti-war.

…It ain’t me, it ain’t meI ain’t no millionaire’s son, no, noIt ain’t me, it ain’t meI ain’t no fortunate one, no

Yeah-yeah, some folks inherit star-spangled eyesHoo, they send you down to war, LordAnd when you ask ’em, “How much should we give?”Hoo, they only answer, “More, more, more, more”…

IV. “American Tune” by Paul Simon (1973)

Watergate and the Vietnam War were among the various issues that beset us in this era. Listed as performers in the live cover below are Chris Thile, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Margaret Glaspy, Rachael Price, Rich Dworsky, Matt Chamberlain, Brittany Haas, Paul Kowert, and Sean Watkins.

…And I don’t know a soul who’s not been batteredI don’t have a friend who feels at easeI don’t know a dream that’s not been shatteredOr driven to its knees

But it’s alright, it’s alrightFor we lived so well so longStill, when I think of theRoad we’re traveling onI wonder what’s gone wrong…

V. “American Woman” by The Guess Who (1970)
This wasn’t on my protest playlist radar, but then I learned that this Canadian group had actually viewed the “American woman” as a symbolic representation of a dangerous, war-mongering, controlling U.S.

American woman, said get away
American woman, listen what I say
Don’t come a-hangin’ around my door
Don’t wanna see your face no more
I don’t need your war machines
I don’t need your ghetto scenes
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else’s eyes
Now woman, get away from me
American woman, mama, let me be…

Protest Playlist (Part 3 of “Music Speaks”)

Related Posts:

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply