Happy birthday America ! Patriotic versus protest songs .

For better or worse, this is my country I'm proud of it and won't give up. Whether current actions are right or wrong I love my country . My own personal patriotism falls outside of government bounds. Every country has made mistakes and will make mistakes . I'm treading lightly here because I do not want this thread to turn into bickering post let's keep this a Music thread .


If you feel patriotism or hope play a song along that venue . If you don't and want your voice heard pick a protest song out that fits your disposition . Then after the venue you choose for your song add a small statement explaining you or the songs position . ( if you want to )

This song is both a patriotic and a protest song. In it's in time in 1945 it was spot on , again it was completely valid in 1985 as seen in the video and it is completely applicable today .



To me this song tells me how Beautiful, proud and strong our country is and despite current circumstances. The people are truly it's shepherds.

This ballad explains my position pretty damn well .




Our flag has flown limp in the past but we've always gotten over it .

a reply to: Greathouse
It's my country and I love it, yes, but I do not trust the government. If they'd stop stepping on the constitution and honor treaties I'd have more respect for them.

a reply to: Skid Mark

Your first song to me seems to be about a slave against the system . I can think of one with the same pretex!








The rich man's war has always existed I'm just afraid it always will despite what we say and how many times we say it through the years ...

a reply to: Greathouse

Patriotic versus protest songs

Protest songs are patriotic songs. Nobdoy feels motivated to write a protest song unless he feels something is wrong with society and should be put right. That is a patriotic impulse: a desire to protect and serve your society and its stated values.

The song you chose for your opening post is, in fact, a protest song. Woodie Guthrie, who wrote it, was serving notice on the political, religious, military and business interests who were, then as now, seeking to appropriate Americanness for themselves.

The song you chose for your second post is a classic example of the communications and propaganda devices by means of which the above-named conservative special interests sought to dominate and hijack the discourse on Americanness.

a reply to: Greathouse

Woody was a commie you know, that song was more about that.
selectingstones.com...

I see ole bruce left out part of the original
"As I went walking, I saw a sign there,
And on the sign there, it said ‘Private Property’
But on the other side, it didn’t say nothing!
That side was made for you and me.”

www.youtube.com...

Was going to embed but has some foul language so I'll just leave the link
BYOB by System of the Down.
www.youtube.com...
This is Boom by them, another great one.

a reply to: Sremmos80

I'm quite aware of all those facts thank you. Music has a different meaning to me it is an artform and is open to interpretation .


I see the protest where's your song?

a reply to: Greathouse

I believe that Slavery is about the federal reserve and how we're basically enslaved to the system as it is.
I agree, it's been a rich man's war for generations and the common man (or woman) has always been a pawn.

If there was a new way, I'd be the first in line.

a reply to: Greathouse

Well ya when you take parts out of the song it does leave the interpenetration open.

If you knew those were part of the song is there a reason to chose a version with out it in?


Here is another one.

a reply to: Sremmos80

Which version are you talking about? Because you did not post the original lyrics either . I would like to add something also. Woody Guthrie was called a communist because of his union activism and the label was stuck on him during the first red scare then enhanced under McCarthyism .


1940 lyrics .....

This land is your land, this land is my land
From the California to the Staten New York Island,
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters,
God blessed America for me.
[This land was made for you and me.]
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
And saw above me that endless skyway,
And saw below me the golden valley, I said:
God blessed America for me.
[This land was made for you and me.]
I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
And all around me, a voice was sounding:
God blessed America for me.
[This land was made for you and me.]
Was a high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said: Private Property,
But on the back side it didn't say nothing —
God blessed America for me.
[This land was made for you and me.]
When the sun come shining, then I was strolling
In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling;
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting:
God blessed America for me.
[This land was made for you and me.]
One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple
By the Relief Office I saw my people —
As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if
God blessed America for me.
[This land was made for you and me.]


Come on dude you've seen my post history. You know very well my head is crammed with useless trivia . Lol






The song tells me to keep trying until we get it right .

a reply to: Greathouse

Talking about the one in the op, that The Boss is singing.

I just posted the lyrics that were missing from that, but the link goes into detail about his original lyrics.


Just to change up the genre here.

And he was considered a communist because he was involved with the communist party here in the states.

a reply to: Sremmos80

Yes that whole musical interpretation versus artistic licensing thing .


For an example a heart rending redemption of the Star-Spangled Banner by Yoko Ono .

Some conservative protest songs (by adoption, regardless of the songwriters' original intentions)

a reply to: Greathouse

Well we will have to agree to disagree there.
I would say leaving verses out can drastically change the meaning.

I do agree that art can be interpreted differently, but in its whole form and not some taken out.


And Yoko was still better then Jamie Foxx at the Mayweather Pac man fight.

a reply to: Astyanax


Nice selection you left out Barry McGuire




And what I interpret as a ray of hope from Bob Dylan .




But I do thank you for Merle Haggard !!!!

Was gonna go with the Disturbed version, but the og artist deserves the credit.

This is more about our little rock in general, not at all exclusive to us in the States.

I have always liked this song . Late 70s early 80s was a dark time we heard the exact things we are hearing now about the US. But you mess with one of us you mess with all of us . ( except everyone that wants to say not me on this thread ) sigh

a reply to: Greathouse

Nice selection you left out Barry McGuire

Because it is a lousy song, a cheap cash-in on the protest movement by someone whose heart definitely isn't in it. The Merle Haggard song is pretty bad too — a stock country melody with contemptible lyrics. Not Merle's finest moment by any means; he was a little confused back then. But it's a redneck classic, so I left it in.

On the subject of patriotic music, I favour this (actual) quote from Albert Einstein.

When a person can take pleasure in marching in step to a piece of music, (it means) he has been given his big brain only by mistake.

a reply to: Astyanax

First opinion immaterial and strictly opinion .

Second opinion normal normal reaction from a country music neophyte.

Not surprised you would like Einstein. A pacifist who urged Roosevelt to build an atomic bomb, womanizer, estranged from his eldest son and a male chauvinist pig .

Have you ever seen the letter he gave his wife with a list of demands ?


CONDITIONS
You will make sure:
that my clothes and laundry are kept in good order;
that I will receive my three meals regularly in my room;
that my bedroom and study are kept neat, and especially that my desk is left for my use only.
You will renounce all personal relations with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons. Specifically, You will forego:
my sitting at home with you;
my going out or travelling with you.
You will obey the following points in your relations with me:
you will not expect any intimacy from me, nor will you reproach me in any way;
you will stop talking to me if I request it;
you will leave my bedroom or study immediately without protest if I request it.
You will undertake not to belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behavior.

source


I know it was the whole America thing in the title that caused you to post so vindictively .


So in protest i.e. aligned with the music thread not a opinion thread .


Enjoy this song I'm sure you will love it !!!!





Oh yeah and potato !