Please do NOT write on reading
MUSIC IN HISTORY
The sixties were a time of unprecedented social unrest in the US & the youth of the time were not hesitant to express
their opinions. There were signs demonstrating for everything from women’s liberation to civil rights, environmental
issues, and of course – the Vietnam War. It was an exciting time in history and the music awakened a lot of people to
what was happening in the world.
‘I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die-Rag’
Country Joe & the Fish was a rock/folk band most widely
known for musical protests against the Vietnam War.
The group’s name is derived from leftist politics;
“Country Joe” was a popular name for Joseph Stalin,
while “the fish” refers to Mao Zedong’s statement that
the true revolutionary must “swim among the people as
a fish.” Their most famous song was this one – sung at
Woodstock.
Come on all of you big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
He’s got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Viet Nam so
Put down your books & pick up a gun we’re
Gonna have a whole lotta fun
(CHORUS)
And it’s one, two, three, what are we fighting for
Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam
And it’s five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates
Ain’t no time to wonder why, whoopee we’re all gonna
die
Come on wall street don’t be slow
Why man this war is a go-go
There’s plenty good money to be made by
Supplying the army with the tools of its trade
Let’s hope & pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong
Come on generals, let’s move fast
Your big chance has come at last
Now you can go out & get those reds
Cuz the only good commie is the one that’s dead &
You know that peace can only be won when we’ve
Blown ‘em all to kingdom come
Come on mothers throughout the land
Pack your boys off to Viet Nam
Come on fathers don’t hesitate
Send your sons off before it’s too late
And you can be the first ones on your block
To have your boy come home in a box
‘Fortunate Son’
By American rock band Credence Clearwater Revival,
this famous, militant song was released in Nov. 1969. It
symbolizes the thoughts of a man who is being drafted
& spoke out against the war in Vietnam, but was
supportive of the soldiers fighting there.
Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh they’re red, white, & blue
And when the band plays “Hail to the chief”,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,
It ain’t me, it’ ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son, son
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no,
Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale,
Yes
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no millionaire’s son, no
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no
Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, “How much should we give?”
Ooh, they only answer More! More! More! Yeah
It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no military son, son
It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, one.
Happy X-Mas (War is Over)
John Lennon’s lyrics are based on a campaign in late
1969 with his wife, Yoko Ono, who rented billboards &
posters in 11 cities around the world that read: “WAR IS
OVER!” (If You Want It) Merry Christmas from John &
Yoko.” The cities included New York, Tokyo, Rome,
Athens, Amsterdam, London & Toronto. At the time, the
U.S. was deeply entrenched in the unpopular Vietnam
War.
So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
A new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near & the dear ones
The old & the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas (war is over…)
For weak & for strong (… if you want it)
The rich & the poor ones
The road is so long
And so happy Christmas
For black & for white
For the yellow & red ones
Let’s all stop the fight (2x)
Repeat
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And, it's all over
The war is over
It's all over
The war is over
Well, all over, baby
All over, baby
Oh, over, yeah
All over, baby
Wooooo, hah-hah
All over
All over, baby
Oh, woa-yeah
All over
All over
Heeeeyyyy
Search & Destroy
The Unknown Soldier
This 1968 song by “The Doors” was Jim Morrison’s
reaction to the Vietnam War & the way it was portrayed
in American media at the time.
Wait until the war is over
And we're both a little older
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Unborn living, living, dead
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And it's all over
For the unknown soldier
It's all over
For the unknown soldier
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Hut
Hut
Hut ho hee up
Comp'nee
Halt
Preeee-zent!
Arms!
Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier
Recorded by American rock band “The Stooges” in 1973,
lead singer Iggy Pop said that the title is from a column
heading in a “Time” article about the Vietnam War.
I'm a street walking cheetah
with a heart full of napalm
I'm a runaway son of the nuclear A-bomb
I am a world's forgotten boy
The one who searches and destroys
Honey gotta help me please
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby detonates for me
Look out honey, 'cause I'm using technology !
Ain't got time to make no apology
Soul radiation in the dead of night
Love in the middle of a fire fight
Honey gotta strike me blind
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby penetrates my mind
And I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
And honey I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
Forgotten boy, forgotten boy
Forgotten boy said
hey forgotten boy