It's not that so many of them are so bad as songs; it's because most of them are about very specific historical events of the past. And unless you're a historian, if you weren't there, you won't get it.
And that's just one protest movement from over 50 years ago.
I think it doesn't matter so much with rock because the music can take precedence over the lyrics and carry a song. But for folk that's not really the case and the songs can, as you say, be incomprehensible if you don't know the context.
In terms of humor about protest songs I would add Janis Joplin's comment "This is a song of great social and political importance" at the beginning of "Mercedes Benz"
Phil Ochs was a great writer of protest songs but "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" is a satire of the protest milieu, and one of his best remembered songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cdqQ2BdgOA
I'd argue that Dave Von Ronk's "Luang Prabang" is both an anti-war song and an implicit satire of overly genteel protest songs -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53o80gcPNHQ
Thanks for this, Nick. I had a feeling you would know a lot of examples I'm unaware of and generously share them. I love Janis Joplin's comment and King Missile's lyrics!
I read all the way to the end hoping you would mention Tom Lehrer, and bingo! You saved the best for last. The best line is "He may have won all the battles....but we had all the good songs!" It's timeless and so apropos today. Thank you!
Thanks, Charles! I have to give the radio station in Jackie's mind credit for bringing it up, but we pride ourselves on being quick to recognize timeless brilliance here on Rock 'n' Roll with Me.
It's not that so many of them are so bad as songs; it's because most of them are about very specific historical events of the past. And unless you're a historian, if you weren't there, you won't get it.
You're so on the money, David. I ran across the Vietnam War Song Project and they have 61 playlists and almost 2,000 videos -- https://www.youtube.com/@VietnamWarSongProject/playlists
And that's just one protest movement from over 50 years ago.
I think it doesn't matter so much with rock because the music can take precedence over the lyrics and carry a song. But for folk that's not really the case and the songs can, as you say, be incomprehensible if you don't know the context.
This really is a great series.
In terms of humor about protest songs I would add Janis Joplin's comment "This is a song of great social and political importance" at the beginning of "Mercedes Benz"
Phil Ochs was a great writer of protest songs but "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" is a satire of the protest milieu, and one of his best remembered songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cdqQ2BdgOA
I'd argue that Dave Von Ronk's "Luang Prabang" is both an anti-war song and an implicit satire of overly genteel protest songs -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53o80gcPNHQ
One of my very favorites (from the 80s) is King Missile's "It's Saturday" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZdWoPDeJyM
"Unity is useless
Conformity is competitive and divisive and leads only to stagnation and death
If what I'm saying doesn't make any sense
That's because sense can not be made
It's something that must be sensed
And I, for one, and incensed by by all this complacency"
Thanks for this, Nick. I had a feeling you would know a lot of examples I'm unaware of and generously share them. I love Janis Joplin's comment and King Missile's lyrics!
And wow, Phil Ochs really went after the pretentious and hypocritical side of the protest milieu. Dave Von Ronk doesn't hold back either.
I’m glad you liked them; they’re both songs that still pack a punch.
I read all the way to the end hoping you would mention Tom Lehrer, and bingo! You saved the best for last. The best line is "He may have won all the battles....but we had all the good songs!" It's timeless and so apropos today. Thank you!
Thanks, Charles! I have to give the radio station in Jackie's mind credit for bringing it up, but we pride ourselves on being quick to recognize timeless brilliance here on Rock 'n' Roll with Me.