What's your favorite Anti-War song?

[Occam's Banana]

Also, "Born in the USA" (Springsteen) is a pretty serious anti-war song, though it is more than just anti-war. It's ironic that many warmongers play it as a "patriotic" song- they've probably never listened to the words.

It's ironic, but not surprising - or even "wrong." If Springsteen didn't want the song taken in that way, he probably shouldn't have used such a stirringly anthemic riff. His use of such was part of the point, of course - but it completely overwhelms the contrast provided by the lyrics. The simple fact is that the song wasn't popular because people thought it conveyed a pithy and insightful commentary on the many deleterious effects of the Vietnam War. It was popular because it invited people to stand up, shake their fists in the air and shout, "I wuz born in the USA!!" And even the lyrics - to the extent that they are noticed at all - inspire an under-doggish "against the odds" mood that dovetails perfectly with the standard vacuities of jingoistic "patriotism."

There were a lot of people who bitched about the Reagan campaign's use of the song in Reagan's second presidential bid - including Springsteen himself. But whoever it was in Reagan's camp who decided to use the song understood its appeal and why it was popular far, far better than all the people who bitched about how the "Reagan people" were too "stupid" to understand the song. On the contrary, they were not stupid at all. They understood how the mood of the song (if not every line of its lyrics) "fit" with the wider post-Vietnam zeitgeist of the '80s in general - and the Reagan campaign's "city on a hill" message in particular. While the disapproving sour-pusses were "technically" correct (with respect to how Springsteen had intended the song), they were utterly clueless (with respect to how the vast majority of the audience received the song).

I often think of "Born in the USA" as Exhibit A in the case against the twin notions that (1) "artists" are the final arbiters of the meaning of their creations, and (2) audiences are (or should be) passive receptacles for whatever "wisdom" or meaning artists imagine they are expressing through their works.

 

[RDM]

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the 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 all 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
That 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 over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.

ETA: i think this song wraps it all together for me. Whatever Dylan was as an individual, politically, he is a hell of a song writer.

Here's the song performed by: Tatiana Moroz. Some will remember her performing at some Ron Paul rallies. Her voice is incredible in this song.



[h=1][/h]

 

[lilymc]

Hmm, some might not consider this an "anti-war" song, but it's the first one that came to my mind. (an oldie but a goodie!) There's definitely a pro-peace line in it.

 

[satchelmcqueen]

perfect words for anti war and anti government. at least read the lyrics starting at 3:37. absolute perfection and truth!!!!

 

[hated]

perfect words for anti war and anti government. at least read the lyrics starting at 3:37. absolute perfection and truth!!!!

Never expected that from MegaDeth. Pleasantly surprised.

 

[Spikender]

 

[Natural Citizen]

This was just playing on my random.

It's a masterpiece. Well...considering the era. Half way through it slows down a lot and is actually my favorite part.

Needs a better video though.

Anyhoo. Heres "Warsong"

 

[donnay]

RIP Pete

 

[donnay]

 

[Cabal]

Another vote for Fortunate Son


Black Sabbath - War Pigs


RAtM - Killing in the Name


Sgt. MacKenzie... not necessarily or overtly anti-war, but certainly moving


No Cranberries - Zombie yet? Really?


Bob Marley - War

 

[satchelmcqueen]

 

[compromise]

 

[Beorn]

Newer song
Starts slowly, but man the second half is amazing.
"If I were the President if I were that brave
I would take a shovel and dig each child its grave"




A couple of newer covers

 

[fr33]

 

[anaconda]

 

[Occam's Banana]

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89g1P_J40JA



He had white horses
And ladies by the score
All dressed in satin
And waiting by the door

Ooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooh, what a lucky man he was

White lace and feathers
They made up his bed
A gold covered mattress
On which he was laid

Ooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooh, what a lucky man he was

He went to fight wars
For his country and his king
Of his honor and his glory
The people would sing

Ooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooh, what a lucky man he was

A bullet had found him
His blood ran as he cried
No money could save him
So he laid down and he died

Ooh, what a lucky man he was
Ooh, what a lucky man he was

 

[fr33]

Suddenly it's over, the war is fin'lly done.
Soldiers in the desert sand, still clingin' to a gun.
No-one is the winner an' everyone must lose.
Suddenly the war is over: that's the news.

Suddenly celebrity is somethin' back in style.
Back to runnin' tabloid for a while.
Pain's almost everywhere, the whole world's got the blues.
Suddenly the war is over: that's the news.

That's the news, that's the news.
That's the ever-lovin', blessed, headline news.
Someone's missin;' in Modesto, an' it's sad about the clues.
Suddenly the war is over: that's the news.

Suddenly the cost of war is somethin' out of sight.
Lost a lotta heroes in the fight.
Politicians do all the talkin': soldiers pay the dues.
Suddenly the war is over, that's the news.

That's the news, that's the news.
That's the ever-lovin', blessed, headline news.
Politicians do all the talkin': soldiers pay the dues.
Suddenly the war is over, that's the news.

He released that song in 2003 after Bush's "mission accomplished" tour. That particular war went on for another decade and still isn't over. Merle Haggard is known for his "Fighting Side of Me" with the "If you don't love it, leave it" lyric, which led to his delusions of the Iraqi war being over. That's the cost of being a patriotic statist.

 

[Natural Citizen]

I was just reminded of this old tune. A different anti-war song of sorts but an anti-war song none the less.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

well there goes the afternoon...














-t

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

-t