We need a song that's easy for everyone to learn and sing. Doesn't have to be original, but that would be a plus. It does have to be memorable. There are so many obscure but super talented artists out there, and I'm counting on them.
Yesterday (May Day) Joan Baez came to Mountain View and sang a new protest song, "I Carry the Flame". Check it out on her FB page. Very emotional! And the crowd sang along too.
Hi All, I am submitting this article from Daily Kos... a fabulous recording from Mountain View! Yes! Joan Baez DOES make us proud to be Americans! Along with ALL of YOU!!!
I’m too old to know 90% of all this stuff. But the great protest hits of the 60s spoke of eternal truths that needed to be recalled. Many were also funny and lighthearted. Combining both is what you’re after. One of my favorites remains Malvina Reynolds civil rights sit-down number: “It Isn’t Nice.”
I was fortunate to see her in person at Ft Hunt north of San Francisco in 1976. Unassuming, modest, gentle. A true iconoclast and protest mother for many…
My music teacher introduced me to Malvina Reynolds and I was surprised by how well and how timely "It Isn't Nice" is. If you've never heard the song, give it a listen.
I remember singing One Tin Soldier in elementary school music class around 1971. The lyrics are flooding back into my brain now. This song may have meant something to the teacher but I was too young to grasp the full meaning at the time.
Sorry to disagree but I’m a big fan of Stephen Stills so I must beg to differ! “For What It’s Worth” is the title. “Stop, Hey, What’s that Sound” is the subtitle. The Wikipedia article about the song has an image of single; it shows the title and subtitle. The article notes that the single came out first. The song was later added to the second pressing of Buffalo Springfield’s first album, which was called “Buffalo Springfield.” Here are the Wiki articles on the song and the album.
Right now my favorite protest song is "People Have the Power" by Patti Smith. Check out the Choir! Choir! Choir! and Patti Smith performance on You Tube. When I feel defeated by Trump and his minions it gives me hope.
There's a great song that deserves a mention among anti-Trump protest anthem candidates. "This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land" by Woody Guthrie. Many people know the refrain. But the final stanza's also right on target: "Nobody living can ever stop me / As I go walking that freedom highway / Nobody living can ever make me turn back / This land was made for you and me." And remember the words Woody put on the face of his guitar: "This machine kills fascists." You'd have to look long and hard to find a protest song more timely and singable than "This Land Is Your Land."
Thank you! I had written it awhile ago, but just edited it a bit last night. It needs more work, but I wanted to respond to your comment. And, yes, I once knew all of the words to Woody's songs, although I didn't know the words he had on the face of his guitar. Thanks for that.
About 65 years ago, when I was 10, my older brother and I were taught to play guitar by a a biracial lesbian couple, my mother found, who mostly taught us protest songs. (I'm smiling as I write this.)
I thought they were great and so did my mom, who stayed for our lessons because it was a fairly long drive from our house. I guess my brother didn't, because he ended up being a Republican. My mother, whom I loved dearly, was more progressive and more involved than anyone I've ever known.
Protest song!
So right. Gotta have one.
(I'm in my 70s, so the oldie protest songs still move me.)
We need a song that's easy for everyone to learn and sing. Doesn't have to be original, but that would be a plus. It does have to be memorable. There are so many obscure but super talented artists out there, and I'm counting on them.
I had posted this link to my own resistance song, but I’m not seeing my comment now. Anyway, I hope you like Not In America. https://youtu.be/eN0Pr9KqjFg?si=T5V77D-alL9McRJO
So you are one of those talented artists!
There’s an underground army of singers and songwriters who are doing our bit, but mostly in obscurity. Thanks for helping to get my song out there!
Nice work, @Jonathan Jensen! Here's another artist! Um...me.
www.tinyurl.com/no-kings-song. Please play...and share! Lyrics, guitar tabs, karaoke versions and more in the details.
Perfect! Thank you! I'm looking forward to sharing it widely. :-)
Yesterday (May Day) Joan Baez came to Mountain View and sang a new protest song, "I Carry the Flame". Check it out on her FB page. Very emotional! And the crowd sang along too.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Grfq6n45k/?mibextid=wwXIfr
That's beautiful! We could all at least learn the chorus, right?
Hi All, I am submitting this article from Daily Kos... a fabulous recording from Mountain View! Yes! Joan Baez DOES make us proud to be Americans! Along with ALL of YOU!!!
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/4/2320519/-Joan-Baez-Still-making-us-proud-to-be-Americans
This Land Is Your Land and If I Had a Hammer. Hopeful and easy to learn and belt out. (Credit to Peter, Paul, and Mary)
My favorite protest song is an old Negro Spiritual called « 0h, Freedom « new verses can be added for the current day.
Still have an old recording of Odetta singing this. And “Movin’ it On” — if you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk…
Thank you for the list.
How about adding... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZJRJpbGkG4
And "We Shall Overcome" is, in essence, a protest song. A song of determination.
That’s the one that has been going thru my mind lately.
Here's Pete Seeger... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Ld8JGv56E
I’m too old to know 90% of all this stuff. But the great protest hits of the 60s spoke of eternal truths that needed to be recalled. Many were also funny and lighthearted. Combining both is what you’re after. One of my favorites remains Malvina Reynolds civil rights sit-down number: “It Isn’t Nice.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UvC4xq32AX8
I was fortunate to see her in person at Ft Hunt north of San Francisco in 1976. Unassuming, modest, gentle. A true iconoclast and protest mother for many…
I have a love/hate relationship with Malvina Reynolds only because the song "Little Boxes" gets stuck in my head and stays there for DAYS! lol
My music teacher introduced me to Malvina Reynolds and I was surprised by how well and how timely "It Isn't Nice" is. If you've never heard the song, give it a listen.
One Tin Soldier, except no one can sing it without bawling.
I remember singing One Tin Soldier in elementary school music class around 1971. The lyrics are flooding back into my brain now. This song may have meant something to the teacher but I was too young to grasp the full meaning at the time.
I didn't see Buffalo Springfield's 1967 hit "For What it's Worth". Really captures the spirit of protests then.
Actually, the title of the song is "Stop, Hey, What's that Sound". The Album is For What it's Worth.
Sorry to disagree but I’m a big fan of Stephen Stills so I must beg to differ! “For What It’s Worth” is the title. “Stop, Hey, What’s that Sound” is the subtitle. The Wikipedia article about the song has an image of single; it shows the title and subtitle. The article notes that the single came out first. The song was later added to the second pressing of Buffalo Springfield’s first album, which was called “Buffalo Springfield.” Here are the Wiki articles on the song and the album.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_What_It%27s_Worth
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Springfield_(album)
It's on there! #36 (Not ranked; just that's where you'll find it)
Thanks so much for the correction, CathyP!
Right now my favorite protest song is "People Have the Power" by Patti Smith. Check out the Choir! Choir! Choir! and Patti Smith performance on You Tube. When I feel defeated by Trump and his minions it gives me hope.
Battle Hymn of the Republic - 2025 Version
Verse 1
They are stealing Granny’s pension
To enrich the Billionaires
When the Judge said, “you can’t do that”
Trump said, “Screw you. I don’t care.
“I will follow Putin’s playbook
“And become a trillionaire.”
And DOGE goes marching on.
Chorus
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
And take Elon with you
Verse 2
Oh, why did we elect Trump
How could we be so dumb
His cabinet’s a clown car
For Defense, a drunken bum
RFK has said that measles
Should be fun for everyone
And DOGE goes marching on
Chorus
Etc.
Verse 1
They are stealing Granny’s pension
To enrich the Billionaires
When the Judge said, “you can’t do that”
Trump said, “Screw you. I don’t care.
“I will follow Putin’s playbook
“And become a trillionaire.”
And DOGE goes marching on.
Chorus
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
And take Elon with you
Verse 2
Oh, why did we elect Trump
How could we be so dumb
His cabinet’s a clown car
For Defense, a drunken bum
RFK has said that measles
Should be fun for everyone
And DOGE goes marching on
Chorus
Etc.
Verse 1
They are stealing Granny’s pension
To enrich the Billionaires
When the Judge said, “you can’t do that”
Trump said, “Screw you. I don’t care.
“I will follow Putin’s playbook
“And become a trillionaire.”
And DOGE goes marching on.
Chorus
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
Dump the Donald Halleluiah
And take Elon with you
Verse 2
Oh, why did we elect Trump
How could we be so dumb
His cabinet’s a clown car
For Defense, a drunken bum
RFK has said that measles
Should be fun for everyone
And DOGE goes marching on
Chorus
Etc.
Verse 3
Donald’s fired our senior Generals
That includes our good Joint Chief
He wants to annex Greenland
though he says he’s not a thief
He thinks our grand Old Glory
should include a Maple Leaf
And DOGE goes marching on.
Chorus
Etc.
Verse 4
Putin says, “I made the P-tape
“It has brought enormous gain
“My boy’s disbanding NATO
“He’s abandoning Ukraine
“He’s slapped tariffs on the EU
“Now I’m drinking French champagne!”
And DOGE goes marching on
Chorus
Etc.
Oh this is brilliant!
So great! Thank you!
“Ohio”by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Perfect for this moment. Especially the bound and gagged part.
Get up, Stand up by Bob Marley is a good one
Marley has a lot. I find Small Axe particularly apt. (“If you are the big tree/We are the small axe/Sharpened to cut you down…”)
Jackson Browne, for America; Phil ochs, power and glory;Bob Dylan, masters of war
Holy near, singing for our lives and no more genocide.
Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions: People Get Ready, This is my Country
“Do You Hear the People Sing” from Les Miserables” we should all be singing it at the top of our lungs right now.
In the show tune realm, I’d nominate “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime.
The 10th and 25 anniversary version. NOT the movie version.
There's a great song that deserves a mention among anti-Trump protest anthem candidates. "This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land" by Woody Guthrie. Many people know the refrain. But the final stanza's also right on target: "Nobody living can ever stop me / As I go walking that freedom highway / Nobody living can ever make me turn back / This land was made for you and me." And remember the words Woody put on the face of his guitar: "This machine kills fascists." You'd have to look long and hard to find a protest song more timely and singable than "This Land Is Your Land."
This Land Is My Land (my new lyrics)
1. This land is your land, this land is my land.
It is not Trump’s land, nor G-O-P land.
We must preserve it, or they’ll destroy it.
This land was made for you and me.
2. Trump is despoiling, our precious country.
Rolling back safeguards, meant to protect us.
So, we must speak out, for conservation.
This land was made for you and me.
3. Trump and his henchmen, believe in fracking.
Causing pollution, degrading water.
Destroying mountains, fragmenting forests.
Yet, this land was made for you and me.
4. Midterms elections, must be decisive.
A blue tsunami, across our nation.
This is not Trump’s land, nor G-O-P land.
This land was made for you and me.
Well done. I'd thought of doing something like this, too. Maybe some version of this song will emerge as a powerful protest anthem. Thanks!
Thank you! I had written it awhile ago, but just edited it a bit last night. It needs more work, but I wanted to respond to your comment. And, yes, I once knew all of the words to Woody's songs, although I didn't know the words he had on the face of his guitar. Thanks for that.
About 65 years ago, when I was 10, my older brother and I were taught to play guitar by a a biracial lesbian couple, my mother found, who mostly taught us protest songs. (I'm smiling as I write this.)
I thought they were great and so did my mom, who stayed for our lessons because it was a fairly long drive from our house. I guess my brother didn't, because he ended up being a Republican. My mother, whom I loved dearly, was more progressive and more involved than anyone I've ever known.
Great story. Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks! It felt good to share. She been gone for a long time!
There’s a great version by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.