Reaction to War
through Music
A MINI-PROJECT
“Imagine” written by John Lennon
“Save the Country” written by Laura Nyro
“Eve of Destruction” written by P.F. Sloan; performed
by Barry McGuire
_______________________
1. Read the introductory information for each song.
2. Listen to the three songs. Try to sing along. Determine the
songwriter’s reaction to war. In addition, think of a connection to the
story “War.”
Websites are included on the following pages.
3. Answer the questions in the activity that you were assigned. You may
want to look over the assignment before you listen to the music.
4. Be prepared to discuss your answers in class.
Deadline __3/18/12___
Songwriters’ Views on War and Peace
Directions: Answer the questions in the column that you were assigned. Be
sure to use complete sentences.
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
1. “Imagine” by J.
Lennon
a. Explain three ways the
world would have to
change to achieve Lennon’s
dream. Rank them from 1
(most possible), 2 (may be
possible) and 3 (least
possible). Analyze your
ranking.
1. “Imagine” by J.
Lennon
a. Analyze Lennon’s
feeling
that “the
world will live as one.”
Include analysis on his use
of will.
b. Are we living as one?
Show both sides—ways we
are and ways we are not.
1. “Imagine” by J.
Lennon
a. What does Lennon ask
us to imagine? (List four
things).
b. Are each of these
things easier to imagine or
to achieve? Explain.
2. “Save the Country” by
L. Nyro
a. Why do you think Nyro
ends the song with “We
Shall Overcome”?
b. Compare “Save the
country” to “Imagine.”
Consider the subject, tone
and themes.
2. “Save the Country” by
2. “Save the Country” by
L. Nyro
L. Nyro
a. What does line 6 “In my
a. Devil and dove are
mind I can’t study war no
symbols. Explain why.
more” mean? (What are
b. Analyze the line
some aspects of studying
“There’s a king at the
war?)
glory river.” Draw
b. Identify a word that
conclusions – Who is the
shows Nyro’s anger. Why
king? What is the glory
does she feel this way?
river?
3. “Eve of Destruction”
3. “Eve of Destruction” by P.F. Sloan
by P.F. Sloan
a. Define protest. How is
a. Explain three issues
the song a protest song?
that are addressed in this Find 5 lines to prove it.
song. Are these issues
b. Describe the mood of
relevant today? Analyze.
the song. How did you
b. Identify and explain
feel when you heard it?
the irony in the last
Why?
section.
Final Question
Explain which song most
Final Question
relates to the man who
Which of the songs is
has lost his son in the
closest in theme to the
story “War.”
story “War”? Explain why.
3. “Eve of Destruction”
by P.F. Sloan
a. The song shows
hopelessness. Create a
drawing with images from
the poem which show this.
b. We are not on the eve
of destruction. Agree or
disagree.
Final Question
1. The story “War” is
universal (for all time).
Which of the three songs
is most universal? Why?
Is its message similar to
the message of “War”?
Why?
*All groups: Each of the songs is a call for peace. Explain whether you agree
or disagree
Looking at War and Peace
Through the Words of Songwriters
Preliminary Activity
Name __________________________________ Date
_______________
Directions: Complete the sentences about the message of each song. List
words
and phrases related to war and words and phrases related to
peace in the song.
The message of “Imagine” is
Words related to war:
Words related to peace:
The message of “Save the Country” is
Words related to war:
Words related to peace:
The message of “Eve of Destruction” is
Words related to war:
Words related to peace:
Song #1 - Imagine
By John Lennon
John Lennon was one of the
former Beatles, a famous
British rock group. He was
a singer, musician, song
writer, artist, writer and
peace activist. This man
who loved peace and loved
New York City was
murdered by Mark David
Chapman in front of his
apartment in the Dakota on
December 8, 1980.
“Love is a flower; you’ve got to let it grow.”
- John Lennon
_________________________
Go to the following website to sing along with John Lennon:
http://youtubekaraoke.blogspot.com/2007/01/imagine-john-lennon.html
Imagine
By John Lennon
5
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
10 And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
15
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
20 A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
25 I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Song #2 - Save the Country
By Laura Nyro
(1947 – 1997)
Laura Nyro was born in the Bronx, New York. While in high school, she sand
with a group of friends in subway stations and street corners in Manhattan.
She stated that she was always interested in the peace movement and the
women’s movement. Her song “Save the Country” demonstrates her love of
peace.
____________________
The words of the song “Save the Country” are on the next page. Go to this
website and sing along with her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8Z-6QKqnwE&feature=related
Save the Country
By Laura Nyro
Come on, people! Come on, children!
Come on down to the glory river.
Gonna wash you up, and wash you down,
gonna lay the devil down, gonna lay that devil down.
5 I got fury in my soul, fury's gonna take me to the glory goal.
In my mind I can't study war no more.
Save the people! Save the children! Save the country now!
Come on, people! come on, children!
Come on down to the glory river.
10 Gonna wash you up and wash you down.
Gonna lay the devil down, gonna lay that devil down.
Come on people! Sons and mothers!
Keep the dream of the two young brothers.
Gonna take that dream and ride that dove.
15 We could build the dream with love, I know,
We could build the dream with love, I know,
We could build a dream with love, children,
We could build the dream with love, oh people,
We could build the dream with love, I know,
20 We could build the dream with love.
2nd verse:
Come on, people! Come on, children!
There's a king at the glory river.
And the precious king, he loved the people to sing;
Babes in the blinkin' sun sang
25 We Shall Overcome.
Song # 3 - Eve of Destruction
Written by P.F. Sloan; performed by Barry McGuire
The song “Eve of Destruction” includes a line about voting. For your
information, during the Vietnam War, eighteen year olds were not allowed to
vote. However, they could be drafted to go fight for their country in the
war in Vietnam. This was not fair. They were not allowed to vote for the
members of Congress who were sending them to fight and maybe make the
ultimate sacrifice and die for their country. In 1971, eighteen year olds
finally won the right to vote.
____________________
This information will help you better understand the song:
The letter “g” is not included in many of the words. Instead an apostrophe
(‘) is used. Examples – explodin’ for exploding and flarin’ for flaring
Line 4 – totin’ – carrying
Line 10 – button is pushed – reference to atomic bomb
Line 15 – coagulatin’ – thicken; clot
Line 16 – contemplatin’ – thinking
Line 24 – Red China - reference to communist China
Line 25 – Selma, Alabama - reference to city where civil rights marches took
place during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s
Line 30 – grace – prayer before meals
____________________
The words of the song “Eve of Destruction” are on the next page. Go to this
website and sing along with Barry McGuire.
http://www.brownielocks.com/eveofdestruction.html
Eve of Destruction
Written by P.F. Sloan; Performed by Barry McGuire, 1965
5
The eastern world it tis explodin',
violence flarin', bullets loadin',
you're old enough to kill but not for votin',
you don't believe in war, what's that gun you're totin',
and even the Jordan river has bodies floatin',
but you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say?
Can't you see the fear that I'm feeling today?
10 If the button is pushed, there's no running away,
There'll be noone to save with the world in a grave,
take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy,
but you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
15 Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin',
I'm sittin' here, just contemplatin',
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation,
handful of Senators don't pass legislation,
and marches alone can't bring integration,
20 when human respect is disintegratin',
this whole crazy world is just too frustratin',
and you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Think of all the hate there is in Red China!
25 Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama!
Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space,
but when your return, it's the same old place,
the poundin' of the drums, th pride and disgrace,
you can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace,
30 hate your next-door-neighbour, but don't forget to say grace,
and you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.