Songs of resistance have been used during the civil rights era, during efforts to unionize coal workers in Kentucky and West Virginia (I re-watched the marvelous documentary "Harlan County USA" yesterday; learn about and listen to Hazel Dickens for more.), during the anti-Vietnam War protests, and now.
Look for a Singing Resistance group near you and join in. A variety of musical talents is welcome. Many of the songs are call-backs, which are easy to follow, and when they do them in rounds or triples, the sound is simply marvelous. Sing out!
Terrific article about terrific artists writing terrific protest songs. It's about time to get loud against the fascist regime and fascist party. I love all of the songs, but the U2 song naming Miller and Noem stands out. Thank you, Tim. I am so glad you joined The Contrarian.
Hey, folks! Tooting my own horn here, literally: I've written a protest song for No Kings and already played it for American Voices Abroad here in Berlin. I'll be singing it at Brandenburg Gate for the next No Kings and then again July 4. But really, this song is for YOU to play and sing, and the song notes contain guitar chords, lyrics, tabs, and karaoke files to help. Please check it out and consider playing it at your local rally. It's written to be pretty easy to play and to get the crowd involved. Permission is given! www.tinyurl.com/no-kings-song.
I was reminded of the great protest music of the 60s and 70s. Once again great artists step up to focus attention on social and political injustice, discrimination and authoritarianism
Thank you so much for this. Terrific songs. Music to lift our spirits. I hesitate to do this but I wrote a song that others might find entertaining so I'll include it here:
Ding-Dong!
Childless Cat Ladies’ Mean-spirited Pay-Back Song
So you think you’re gonna have it your way
And the rest of us have nothin’ to say
Well here’s the thing
We’ve got news for you
You’ll be bald before your term is through
You’ll lose your hair and before too long
You’ll wonder what you ever did with your Ding-Dong!
Ding-Dong!
You won’t get out of bed.
Ding-Dong!
You’ll wish that you were dead.
Ding-Dong!
You might stay out of jail
But in the end you know you’re gonna fail, fail, FAIL!
Ding-Donnnnnnnng!
You’re probably bald already, heaven knows
It’s gross to think of you without your clothes
But never fear
We’ve got a cure for you
Gonna make a woman out of you
Your worst nightmare
It’ll all come true
Gonna make a woman out of you.
Ding-Dong!
You’re gonna lose your mind
Ding-Dong!
In ways we can’t define
Ding-Dong!
You’ll wonder what went wrong
And every day you’ll hear us singing you this song
Don't forget the brilliant Marsh Family of Faversham UK with their reworking and adaptation of San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair). https://youtu.be/BRHxXHZmVAM
So glad to learn about all of this music, I had only heard of Bruce’s song and Nils Lofgren’s (which was not discussed). As a Minneapolitan, I am so proud of Singing Resistance and the part they played in keeping people’s spirits up during the siege.
Songs of resistance have been used during the civil rights era, during efforts to unionize coal workers in Kentucky and West Virginia (I re-watched the marvelous documentary "Harlan County USA" yesterday; learn about and listen to Hazel Dickens for more.), during the anti-Vietnam War protests, and now.
Look for a Singing Resistance group near you and join in. A variety of musical talents is welcome. Many of the songs are call-backs, which are easy to follow, and when they do them in rounds or triples, the sound is simply marvelous. Sing out!
Terrific article about terrific artists writing terrific protest songs. It's about time to get loud against the fascist regime and fascist party. I love all of the songs, but the U2 song naming Miller and Noem stands out. Thank you, Tim. I am so glad you joined The Contrarian.
Also a new song by Nils Lofgren - No Kings, No Hate, No Fear - might be the title.
Hey, folks! Tooting my own horn here, literally: I've written a protest song for No Kings and already played it for American Voices Abroad here in Berlin. I'll be singing it at Brandenburg Gate for the next No Kings and then again July 4. But really, this song is for YOU to play and sing, and the song notes contain guitar chords, lyrics, tabs, and karaoke files to help. Please check it out and consider playing it at your local rally. It's written to be pretty easy to play and to get the crowd involved. Permission is given! www.tinyurl.com/no-kings-song.
Wow!
Thank you.
Also Nils Lofgren. No Kings, No Hate, No Fear. https://nilslofgren.com/NoKings/index.html
"No kings no hate no fear our freedom beating here
No kings no hate no fear a mighty people here
We the people in the street
we the people feel the beat
Freedom beating here (for all)
our freedom marching here
Oh oh oh…"
“Will there be singing in the dark times? Yes, there will be singing, about the dark times.” Bertolt Brecht
Thank you for introducing more than I was aware of in current protest songs.
Check out Tim Grimm's Broken Trust - a powerful song!
I was reminded of the great protest music of the 60s and 70s. Once again great artists step up to focus attention on social and political injustice, discrimination and authoritarianism
Wow! That's a great start -- something like what we heard in the 60s and 70s from the protest song greats!
Thank you so much for this. Terrific songs. Music to lift our spirits. I hesitate to do this but I wrote a song that others might find entertaining so I'll include it here:
Ding-Dong!
Childless Cat Ladies’ Mean-spirited Pay-Back Song
So you think you’re gonna have it your way
And the rest of us have nothin’ to say
Well here’s the thing
We’ve got news for you
You’ll be bald before your term is through
You’ll lose your hair and before too long
You’ll wonder what you ever did with your Ding-Dong!
Ding-Dong!
You won’t get out of bed.
Ding-Dong!
You’ll wish that you were dead.
Ding-Dong!
You might stay out of jail
But in the end you know you’re gonna fail, fail, FAIL!
Ding-Donnnnnnnng!
You’re probably bald already, heaven knows
It’s gross to think of you without your clothes
But never fear
We’ve got a cure for you
Gonna make a woman out of you
Your worst nightmare
It’ll all come true
Gonna make a woman out of you.
Ding-Dong!
You’re gonna lose your mind
Ding-Dong!
In ways we can’t define
Ding-Dong!
You’ll wonder what went wrong
And every day you’ll hear us singing you this song
Ding-Dong!
Sharon Herrick, November, 2024
Don't forget the brilliant Marsh Family of Faversham UK with their reworking and adaptation of San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair). https://youtu.be/BRHxXHZmVAM
This is a protest song/video I wrote and produced with a couple of neighbors from Durham, NC. It’s titled “I.C.E.”
https://youtu.be/C2bB7SMIyqY?si=BDK6FoSagGXIC7ep
So glad to learn about all of this music, I had only heard of Bruce’s song and Nils Lofgren’s (which was not discussed). As a Minneapolitan, I am so proud of Singing Resistance and the part they played in keeping people’s spirits up during the siege.
Also Katie Pruitt, Kindness Isn’t Common Sense