I was once asked by a record company guy in what my fave protest songs were. i think the label was putting together a compilation of these songs and he was looking for suggestions. this was just before the war started in Iraq.

what's your favourite or what resonates with you when it comes to protest songs?

"Redemption Song" Bob Marley
"Equal Rights" Peter Tosh (everyone is crying out for peace, none of them is crying out for justice)
"Babylon Queendom" Peter Tosh
"Legalize It" Peter Tosh
"Talkin' About a Revolution" Traci Chapman
"Killing In The Name Of" Rage Against The Machine


the edit don't want no peace, it wants equal rights and justice
[Edited 2/9/06 9:07am]

"Jacob Green" Johnny Cash
"Partyup" Prince
"Strange Fruit" Billie Holiday

Some of mine are not strictly protest songs, but they all speak against injustice.

ANY and EVERY song by X-Clan.

i haven't heard any good ones recently, although i guess you can
count Tracy Chapman's "America" as a protest song and it rawks


[Edited 2/9/06 9:21am]

2+2=5 - - - Radiohead.

"What's Goin' On" -- Marvin Gaye
"B-Movie," Gil Scott-Heron
"Big Brother" -- Stevie Wonder
"Fight The Power" -- The Isley Brothers
"Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos" -- Public Enemy

To name but a few.

Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey - Sly & the Family Stone

ChristopherTracyParade said:

What's the higher level if your [ish] ain't real?

My mystic, magic, what cha gonna do

Think before you step to the rebel silly mortal you!
[Edited 2/9/06 11:33am]

war-edwin starr
if there's a hell below-curtis mayfield
get up stand up-bob marley
wild goose chase-steel pulse
for god sake(gotta get more power to the people)-the dramatics
wake up everybody-teddy pendergrass
a change is gonna come-sam cooke

namepeace said:

Pretty much any Rage Against the Machine song, especially 'Killing in the Name' and 'Guerilla Radio'

Prince - 'Partyup'

Does 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' count?

Axchi696 said:

The Mistress says yes.

Great thread! Some of my faves;

Say It Loud - James Brown
Fight The Power - Isleys
"We're A Winner" - Curtis
"If There's A Hell Below" - Curtis
"Abraham, Martin and John" -Dion
"Give Peace A Chance"- Lennon
"Blowin In The Wind" Dylan
"Eve of Destruction"- Barry McGuire

Damn, this is why I hate lists, cuz I always forget shit that I really dig;

"Ohio" - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
"War" Edwin Starr
"War" Bob Marley
"Get up, Stand up" Marley
"Where Have All The Flowers Gone" Pete Seeger

How can we forget to add:

"Sign of The Times"
"America"
"Controversy"
"DMSR"
"Annie Christian"
"Free"

ON A PRINCE SITE NO DOUBT! SHAME ON Y'ALL!

FunkMistress said:

That one would be my absolute favorite.....




...

:::

Miss Money - U Ain't Free (Anti-Bush Joint) (2004)
"if you're on food stamps, that's not cool / Bush says, 'go to college,' but you can't afford school..."

Scream Club - Fight With All Your Might (2003)
"and G*d forbid I try to practice my Freedom of Speech without purchasing a permit / ensures the police will come knock'n and knock'n, no two-way discussion.."

Non-Prophets - That Ain't Right (2003)
"I attended candlelight vigils for Matthew Shepherd, while you put out another 'f**k you, f*gg*t' record'"

Backroom Matches - Stupid Rights (2002)
"They don't care if you're straight or queer / Just cough up your cash and order one more beer / Burn the rainbow flag, 'cause I'm in it for the shag"

Meshell Ndegeocello - Hot Night (feat. Talib Kweli) [with soundbites by Angela Davis] (2001)
"We all living in a world built upon rape, starvation, grave need, fascist regimes, white man, rich man, democracy / Suffer in the World Trade paradise with me now..."

God-Des - Sing-A-Rhyme (2000)
"You can say your piece, and I can say mine / We can argue about who's right or we can unify and sing-a-rhyme."

X-CLAN - Funkin' Lesson
"Freedom or death -- we shall all be moved..."

KRS-One - Sound of the Police
"you claim i'm sellin' crack, but YOU be doin' that!"

Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not be Televised, the album.

theVelvetRoper said:

There u go! Great post.

Stand-Sly and The Family Stone

Neil Young - Rockin in the Free World


And there were some great anti-Nuke protest songs back in the day:


Russians - Sting

Red Skies and Stand or Fall - The Fixx

99 Luftballoons - Nena

just to name a few....

wasn't New Years Day by U2 also an anti-nukes song?

FunkMistress said:

nice list

all of Le Tigre's stuff

A Change is Gonna Come-Sam Cooke
Blackbird-The Beatles
Blowin'in the wind-Bob Dylan
Dirty Laundry-Curtis Mayfield
Say it loud (black&Proud)-James Brown
Machine Gun-Jimi Hendrix

anarcho pie-oi polloi
meat is murder-the smiths
dont kill the animals- nina hagen
testure-skinny puppy
strange fruit-billie holiday
panic-the smiths
shoplifters of the world unite-the smiths
army dreamers-kate bush

"Eve of Destruction" -- Barry McGuire 1965
"Don't Blame God" -- Barry McGuire 1975
"Partyup" -- Prince 1980
"Annie Christian" -- Prince 1981
"Free" -- Prince 1982
"Race" -- Prince 1994
"Dear Mr. Man" -- Prince 2004
[Edited 2/9/06 20:32pm]

theVelvetRoper said:

Damn...that was gonna be my answer.

Get Up, Stand Up-Bob Marley
Free-Prince
BIKO-Unsure of artist, not even sure if it's considered a protest song. But I do know it was written about a good person. So, it's good enough 4 me

Chocolate City- Parliament


I Was Born To Fight- Tracey Chapman


We The People, Who Are Darker Than Blue- Curtis Mayfield


Sally B. White- Charles Bevel


We Are Neighbors- The Chi-Lites


Ain't No Such Thang As A Superman- Gil Scott-Heron


The Pride- The Isley Brothers


Children Of The Ghetto- Phillip Bailey


Brothers Gonna Work It Out- Willie Hutch


Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)- The Temptations