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favourite protest song ?

Apart from lots of punk pap records I've got - here's few more;

Johnny Cash - Live at "San Quentin"

You've gotta go a long way to find a protest song getting a better immediate reception.

Also Cash did Native Indian solidarity - I particularly like "The Talking Leaves".

I also like Phil Ochs "I ain't marching anymore", &
'What did they teach you at school today'

Jock Purdon - "Easington explosion"

Paul Robeson - "Joe Hill"

The miners hymn 'Gresford'.

I like that Gogol Bordello song which says 'there were no good old days, you are forever cursing tomorrow with sorrow'...

Judas Priest - Breaking the law:eek::D

Woody Guthrie - need i say more

Chumbawamba - Farewell to the Crown

Rainbow - Kill the king:eek:

Catatonia - Storm the palace

The Business - Saturdays heroes:eek:

Section 5 - every saturday

The oppressed - We're the hooligans

Rose Tattoo - We can't be beaten
 
Going back to a level of near seriousness for a mo. The killing of Georgie by Rod Stewart is a great song.
 
Now, I fucking hate Bob Dylan, but for me it has to be Masters of War, just for the couplet

For threatening my baby, unborn and unnamed,
You're not worth the blood that runs in your veins.
 
I guess what is a protest song is is kind of subjective, but for me....

Hanging on the old barbed wire - Traditional

Between the wars - Billy Bragg (may have been someone else before him)

Homophobia - Chumbawumba (plus many many more of theirs)

The lonesome death of Hattie Carol - Bob Dylan (plus again many many more)

The Battle of the Beanfield - The Levellers (as above)

The 51st state of America - New Model Army (ditto)

oh good schmeeer, I could go on and on but I have to go listen to them all now :D

Up the revolution!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Can't find any of mine on youtube.
Always liked Harvey Andrews -Hey,sandy.

But this is peobably my favourite from recent days.
Free*Land - We want your soul!

your cell phone, your wallet
your time, your ideas
no bar code, no party
no ID, no beers
your bankcard, your licence
your thoughts, your fears
no SIM card, no disco
no photo? not here!
your blood, your sweat
your passions, your regrets
your profits, your time off
your fashions, your sex
your pills, your grass
your tits, your ass
your laughs, your balls
we want it all
we want your soul
your cash, your house
your phone, your life
we want your sou
tell us your habits
your fads, your fears
give us your address
your shoe size, your years
your digits, your plans
your number, your eyes
your schedule, your desktop
your details, your life
show us, your children
your photos, your home
here! take credit
take insurance, take a loan
get a job, get a pension
get a hair cut, get a suit
play the lottery, play football
play the field, snort some toot
we'll show you shrinks
we'll show you spooks
we'll buy you drinks
throw away your books
we'll sell you crap
we'll charge you tax
wanna buy big guns?
we'll front the cash
we want your soul
your cash, your house
your phone, your life
we want your soul
your thoughts, your emotions
your love, your dreams
your chequebook
your essence, your sweat
your screams
your security, your sobriety
your innocence, your society
your self, your place
your distance, your space


and I like Seize the Day-United states. And I'm not ashamed to say so :)

And George Bush is an Islamic Fundamentalist
Some songs on here :)
http://www.peace-not-war.org/Jukebox/LOCKED/PeaceJukeBoxHiFi.html
 
Fields of athenrye untill they tried to release it with a mix on top!!! bah!!!

Chumba wumba???? they admitted that song meant fuck all i thought...
 
Sweaty Betty said:
Fields of athenrye untill they tried to release it with a mix on top!!! bah!!!

Chumba wumba???? they admitted that song meant fuck all i thought...
Click to expand...

Were you referring to Homophobia?

I am not totally disputing (as I am often wrong) but having seen them acoustic live and seen them play it I would be surprised? :confused:
 
kittyP said:
Were you referring to Homophobia?

I am not totally disputing (as I am often wrong) but having seen them acoustic live and seen them play it I would be surprised? :confused:
Click to expand...

Im on about the one" i get knocked down............" heard it on a music docu i think
 
Sweaty Betty said:
Im on about the one" i get knocked down............" heard it on a music docu i think
Click to expand...

Ahhh ok.

My husband and his bestest friend love Chumba and it took them soooo long to get me to listen to them because of that song!

I now love them but still hate that song. :)
 
xes said:
Chumba Wumba did an ok one called Jacobs Ladder.
Click to expand...

I love that song!

They are a band that take a while to get use to but if you like a bit of anarchy, plus they now pretty much only play acoustic, they are brilliant IMHO :)
 
I am probibly the only person on this forum who knows this but Bright Blue -Weeping, its an antiAprtheid song that made a major chart hit in RSA in 87
Listen here:
http://benk.vox.com/library/audio/6a00c225200c60f21900d09e5d243abe2b.html

Famous for getting a couple of bars of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika onto state radio during the days the kids were being sent into the Townships during the state of emergency.


I think the lyric "It was not roaring it was weeping" could apply as much to any number of peoples around the world today whos pain in seen by those in power as hate.
I knew a man who lived in fear
It was huge, it was angry, it was drawing near
Behind his house, a secret place
Was the shadow of the demon he could never face
He built a wall of steel and flame
And men with guns, to keep it tame
Then standing back, he made it plain
That the nightmare would never ever rise again
But the fear and the fire and the guns remain

It doesn’t matter now
It’s over anyhow
He tells the world that it’s sleeping
But as the night came round
I heard its lonely sound
It wasn’t roaring, it was weeping

And then one day the neighbors came
They were curious to know about the smoke and flame
They stood around outside the wall
But of course there was nothing to be heard at all
"My friends," he said, "We’ve reached our goal
The threat is under firm control
As long as peace and order reign
I’ll be damned if I can see a reason to explain
Why the fear and the fire and the guns remain"
Click to expand...

By a coincidence I take a certain amount personaly from the lyrics.
 
tbaldwin said:
Streets of London Ralph Mctell.
Click to expand...

We used to sing that in assembly at Junior School. I remember a bit of controversy, when the Head (flanked by all the other teachers, standing side by side next to him) told us he'd been told we weren't allowed to sing it any more - then introduced it as the next song, and we sang it every day for the next few months. I could never understand why anyone would be against that song. We always sang it with extra gusto, though.

The same happened with what I know now were a couple of Dylan songs (how many roads must a man walk down) and 'Imagine.'
 
If you want to find the sergeant,
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the sergeant,
I know where he is,
He's lying on the canteen floor,
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Lying on the canteen floor,
I've seen him,
Lying on the canteen floor.

If you want to find the quarter-bloke,
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the quarter-bloke,
I know where he is,
He's miles and miles behind the line,
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Miles and miles behind the line,
I've seen him,
Miles and miles and miles behind the line.

If you want to find the sergeant-major
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the sergeant-major
I know where he is,
He's boozing up the private's rum.
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Boozing up the private's rum.
I've seen him,
Boozing up the private's rum.

If you want to find the CO,
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the CO,
I know where he is,
He's down in the deep dug-outs.
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Down in the deep dug-outs
I've seen him,
Down in the deep dug-outs.

If you want to find the old battalion,
I know where they are, I know where they are.
If you want to find the old battalion,
I know where they are,
They're hanging on the old barbed wire.
I've seen 'em, I've seen 'em,
Hanging on the old barbed wire,
I've seen 'em, I've seen 'em,
Hanging on the old barbed wire.
 
I'm gonna attract people throwing rotten fruit at me but I remember certain Stylists 2nd Lp with numerous comments/protests about Thatcher's Britain. This left an impression on a young Mallard and is one of the few times that 'Monetarism' has been mentioned in popular song:-

'The wind blows whispers down the street,
Having free reign with the town so bleak -
Like everything else it’s - all gone away.
The town hall clock gives forth it’s chime,
For no-one there to ask the time -
Like everything else they’ve - all gone away.

The grocer’s shop hangs up it’s sign
The sign say’s closed it’s a sign of the times -
Like everything else they’ve - all gone away.

But somewhere the party never ends
And greedy hands rub together again -
Shipping out the profits that they’ve stolen

An eerie wail comes from the pit,
The ghosts of the men take the morning shift -
Just like clockwork - rusting away.

Come take a walk upon these hills
And see how monetarism kills -
Whole communities -
Even families -
There’s nothing left so - they’ve all gone away.'
 
Mallard.
I reckon a few of the liberal twats on here who seem to think economic migration is a good thing should listen to homebreakers off that same album.
Move to work by Fine young cannibals is also worth a listen.
 
tbaldwin said:
Mallard.
I reckon a few of the liberal twats on here who seem to think economic migration is a good thing should listen to homebreakers off that same album.
Move to work by Fine young cannibals is also worth a listen.
Click to expand...

Controversial! It's a much maligned LP imo. I'll check the FYC. 'Johnny, come home' was a good single.
 
Idris2002 said:
If you want to find the sergeant,
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the sergeant,
I know where he is,
He's lying on the canteen floor,
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Lying on the canteen floor,
I've seen him,
Lying on the canteen floor.

If you want to find the quarter-bloke,
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the quarter-bloke,
I know where he is,
He's miles and miles behind the line,
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Miles and miles behind the line,
I've seen him,
Miles and miles and miles behind the line.

If you want to find the sergeant-major
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the sergeant-major
I know where he is,
He's boozing up the private's rum.
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Boozing up the private's rum.
I've seen him,
Boozing up the private's rum.

If you want to find the CO,
I know where he is, I know where he is.
If you want to find the CO,
I know where he is,
He's down in the deep dug-outs.
I've seen him, I've seen him,
Down in the deep dug-outs
I've seen him,
Down in the deep dug-outs.

If you want to find the old battalion,
I know where they are, I know where they are.
If you want to find the old battalion,
I know where they are,
They're hanging on the old barbed wire.
I've seen 'em, I've seen 'em,
Hanging on the old barbed wire,
I've seen 'em, I've seen 'em,
Hanging on the old barbed wire.
Click to expand...

There are so many different but similar versions but all still so relevant in their way.

Also wanted to add:

Aenima - Tool

+

The Hard Times Of Old England

Martin Carthy's version

This is from the Copper Family.

"Now all of you tradesmen who travel alone
I'm asking you now where the work has all gone
Long time I've been travelling and I cannot find none

Chorus (after each verse):
Sing, Oh the hard times of old England
In old England very hard times

Provisions you find in the shops, it is true
But if you've got no money, there's none there for you
So what are poor folk and their families to do

You go to the shop and you ask for a job
They answer you back with a shake and nod
Ain't that enough to make someone turn out and rob

Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war
They're fighting for Queen and for country once more
Home to be starved, better stayed where they were

And you can see our poor tradesmen out walking the street
From morning till night for employment to seek
And scarcely have they any shoes to their feet

And now to conclude and to finish my song
Is hoping these hard times will not be here long
And soon I'll have occasion to alter my song

Final Chorus:
Sing, Oh the good times of old England
In old England very good times"
Click to expand...

This song has been updated over and over again (since the 18th century i think) depending on the current political and social climate (in fact one of my dads friends regularly does his own new ones at folk nights :)).
Chumba do the most current one I have heard, involving Bush and Blair and buying Jags, but I cant find the lyrics?

Can any one search better than me?
 
The World Turned Upside Down

scifisam said:
That's the one!
Click to expand...

The lyrics to the Leon Rosselson/Billy Bragg version:

In 1649
To St. George's Hill,
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
They defied the laws
They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs

We come in peace they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
And to make the waste ground grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it will be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No man has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Spring up at their command

They make the laws
To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feed's the rich
While poor folk starve

We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
Still we are free
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
But still the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
This earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We come in peace
The orders came to cut them down

----------------------------------------------------



As always with our stories and tales there is so much history...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Turned_Upside_Down
 
Mallard said:
Controversial! It's a much maligned LP imo. I'll check the FYC. 'Johnny, come home' was a good single.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I think it was an excellent album. One of the best political albums ever.
It was much maligned, so was Sandinista and i liked that as well.
Still i think the best one of all is prob WHATS GOING ON.
I do like some more up to date stuff like Kanye,Dead Prez and Talib Kweli as well but Marvyn Gaye still made the best political album ever by my reckoning.
 
tbaldwin said:
Yeah. I think it was an excellent album. One of the best political albums ever.
It was much maligned, so was Sandinista and i liked that as well.
Still i think the best one of all is prob WHATS GOING ON.
I do like some more up to date stuff like Kanye,Dead Prez and Talib Kweli as well but Marvyn Gaye still made the best political album ever by my reckoning.
Click to expand...

I'm a Marvin fan as well although for political stuff Curtis is hard to beat:-

'Sisters, brothers and the whities
Blacks and the crackers
Police and their backers
They're all political actors

Hurry
People running from their worries
While the judge and the juries
Dictate the law that's partly flaw
Cat calling, love balling, fussing and cussing
Top billing now is killing
For peace no-one is willing
Kind of make you get that feeling

Everybody smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke, smoke
Use the pill and the dope, dope, dope, dope, dope
Educated fools
From uneducated schools
Pimping people is the rule
Polluted water in the pool
And Nixon talking about don't worry, worry, worry, worry
He says don't worry, worry, worry, worry
He says don't worry, worry, worry, worry
He says don't worry, worry, worry, worry

But they don't know
There can be no show
And if there's a hell below
We're all gonna go, go, go, go, go

Everybody's praying
And everybody's saying
But when come time to do
Everybody's laying

Just talking about don't worry, worry, worry, worry
They say don't worry, worry, worry, worry
They say don't worry, worry, worry, worry
They say don't worry, worry, worry, worry'
 
The Astronauts: Protest Song.

Protest Song


I live my own life - do what I want - say what I mean
And you've got your own hope - strange ambition - different dreams
So who are you to say I'm wrong?
And who am I to say I'm right?
Though we live in separate ways, why do we argue, always fight?

A man who disagreed with a regime was termed a rat.
One night, some men came round - "we've read your books, we'd like a chat"
And then they kicked him round the cell
With cigarettes they burnt his face
Said "Remember, we're the law. Do you love your family, your dwelling place?"

And it seems that fools control the world, the nuclear button, the poison pen.
Most of us are in the dark, but then we're only little men.
But little men have mouths to feed
And little men don't want to kill
So little men are never told unless, of course, the earth stands still.

We have got a chant, ain't got a chorus, ain't even got a name
But it helps us through the night to know we don't share the blame
It's just another protest song ("Oh what a pretty protest song")
With words to try and make you think ("I think I'll go and have a drink")
But come the dawn resume your search for your ultimate power
Your missing link.
 
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