Modern anti-war songs

[Davey]

What are some good protest songs you've heard in recent times? Seem to be kind of rare these days, even with so many artists siding strongly against the war in Iraq. Many are more of an attack on the Bush admin than the war, maybe inseparable regarding cause and effect, but still not as effective in my view as some of the more poignant (and timeless) songs of the past. And sometimes it isn't even apparent that the new songs were written as anti-war statements.

Josh Ritter led off his 2006 album Animal Years with a good folky one. Back before the big presidential race got going strong and so much national attention was focused squarely back on the war, "Girl in the War" was a refreshing statement, understated while still expressing anger, a poetic illustration of how our partisan political leaders will spend endless hours and days and years arguing whose fault it is, or whose historical account of the war is more accurate, instead of coming together to find a way out, to stop the senseless loss of life. Full of religious metaphors and moral indignation .... good stuff

Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder
Pretend the dove from above is a dragon and your feet are on fire
But I got a girl in the war, Paul, her eyes are like champagne
They sparkle, bubble over, and in the morning all you got is rain

http://www.dougrice.net/mp3_JoshRitter_GirlInTheWar.mp3

BTW, if you like Josh and that song, there's also the somewhat complementary tale "Peter Killed the Dragon" that was on the "Girl in the War" EP, and it's widely available online, including a cool live record store version at youtube, though if you get a chance the live version on the Good Man EP is the best I've heard. Guitar work is much fuller, vocal is perfect, sounds great. Don't think the plastic EP is available for sale, but you can download all or part.

[ForeverAutumn]

I think that I've mentioned this song before. But I can't think of war songs without thinking of Edwin McCain's, Prayer to St. Peter. Its one of the most poignant songs I've ever heard, IMO.

Prayer To St. Peter

Let them in, Peter
For they are very tired
Give them couches where the angels sleep
And light those fires
Let them wake whole again
To brand new dawns
Fired by the sun
Not war-times bloody guns
May their peace be deep
Remember where the broken bodies lie
God knows how young they were
To have to die

You know God knows how young they were
To have to die

Give them things they like
Let them make some noise
Give dance hall bands not golden harps
To these our boys
Let them love Peter
For they've had no time
They should have bird songs and trees
And hills to climb
The taste of summer
And a ripened pear
And girls as sweet as meadow wind
And flowing hair
And tell them how they are missed
But say not to fear
It's gonna be all right
With us down here

[Jim Clark]

My favorite of late is Spark's (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your County? Starting with an alt. version of our very own National Anthem, the song, which is most definitely longish, just takes of with fairly typical Sparks lunacy. The song rocks though and is the highlight of their last release. I put a copy on my 2006 YEC if there are any that were spared from the landfill : )

Not really sure I remember how to do the whole You Tube inbedding thing, it's been a while.

[SlumpBuster]

Awww, this is easy, you're just looking in the wrong genre. Folksy anti-war is so 60's. Its time to get angry.

[Slosh]

My favorite of late is Spark's (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your County? Starting with an alt. version of our very own National Anthem, the song, which is most definitely longish, just takes of with fairly typical Sparks lunacy. The song rocks though and is the highlight of their last release. I put a copy on my 2006 YEC if there are any that were spared from the landfill : )

If I was holed up in my presidential palace this song would make me send up the white flag real quick

NP:

[noddin0ff]

My favorite of late is Spark's (Baby, Baby) Can I Invade Your County? Starting with an alt. version of our very own National Anthem, the song, which is most definitely longish, just takes of with fairly typical Sparks lunacy. The song rocks though and is the highlight of their last release. I put a copy on my 2006 YEC if there are any that were spared from the landfill : )

I liked that comp. Where was 2007?

Anyway, I like more sarcasm and irony in my post-modern war protest tunage

Might Makes Right (flac)
Hippie Chix (flac)

[nightflier]

What are some good protest songs you've heard in recent times?

But here's one that doesn't get quite the play it deserves: Is it for freedom? by Sara Thomsen. It was actually written years ago, long before 9/11, to protest American sanctions against Iraq, back when very few people had the guts to stand up to American policy in the Middle East, but it applies to any war, really. Here's the most recent video clip that uses the song (the PG version):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J96q9ICwRY0

or if you prefer the R rated version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt2rUc1r_MU

It has some disturbing images contrasted with "patriotic" ones, but I think the one that really brings the point home is where they contrast the military Hummer with the retail one. This speaks directly to the words in her song:

" Who’s dying for our comfort in this land
Who pays the cost for the convenience we demand?"

Interestingly, Clearchannel has mandated that this song be barred from every one of it's stations. Even Sirius and XM won't play it. I think it's because it does more than just make a statement, it asks questions.

[Slosh]

Scythian Empires, of course.

NP:

[Bernd]

Here is one straight of the press and out of the pen of Tim Booth.

Hey Ma
Now the towers have fallen
So much dust in the air
It affected your vision
Couldn't see yourself clear
From the fall came such choices
Even worse than the fall
There's this chain of consequences
Within
Without

Action cause and reaction
Never follows to plan
Black swans on your picnic table
Knocking over the jam
Please don't preach me forgiveness
You're hardwired for revenge
War is just about business
Within
Without

Hey ma the boy's in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma the boy's in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma the boy's in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Coming home in pieces

War

The dead live on within us
(In the atoms we trust)
Keep your fingers crossed
We were choking on the smoke and the dust
And the lives that were lost
Scratch the surface of liberals
There's a beast underneath
Others hiding their Jekylls
Within
Without

Hey ma the boy's in body bags
Coming home in pieces
Hey ma the boy's in body bags
Coming home in pieces

War

I can feel the daylight
I can feel the daylight
Raining on me
Raining on me

© 2008, Chrysalis Music Ltd & Copyright Control, lyrics reproduced by permission; all rights reserved.

[Rae]

Like every song Steve Earle ever writes.

~Rae