The music community recently mourned the great Pete Seeger, who finally left the stage at the grand old age of 94. Seeger was a key figure in the protest song tradition, nurturing and inspiring a generation of left-leaning folkies including Bob Dylan.
It occurred to me that when Seeger started performing in the 1940’s, he could never have foreseen the breadth of political songwriting he would help to foster. Here are some personal favourites, in no particular order.
1. Billy Bragg – It Says Here Billy addresses the twisted patriotism of the British Press
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvi9DjmINpA
2. Bob Marley and The Wailers – Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
The Jamaican icon reminds us that poverty + hunger = riots
3. Bob Dylan – Masters of war A seething Dylan puts the arms manufacturers on trial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvr72uTd7kc
4. KRS-One – Sound of Da Police
The influential rapper compares US police to overseers on slave plantations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oENrgffA5VI
5. Dead Kennedys – Nazi Punks Fuck Off
Jello Biafra’s fearless broadside Nazi infiltration in the US punk scene.
6. Disposable Heroes of Hip-Hoprisy – Television The Drug of The Nation
A powerful indictment of mind-numbing US TV
7. Tom Robinson Band – Glad to Be Gay
Catchy queer anthem that hit the charts in 1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHG2LJGfEdw
8. Stevie Wonder – Living For the City
Stevie shines a light on the grinding poverty of urban blacks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfbvm52G8fE
9. Yes – Don’t Kill The Whale
English proggers address the whaling issue
10. Artists Against Apartheid – Sun City
A host of stars line up to urge a boycott of South Africa during the aparthied era
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlMdYpnVOGQ
Tom George 
Disposable Heroes of Hip-Hoprisy! I have not thought about that band in 10 years. Nice post. When it comes to Dylan, there are so many. I gotta go with either “The Death of Emit Till,” or “Hurricane.” There is so much to protest.
Much like Erich above, some of those were new to me. I’ve just listened to every one and I’m feeling pretty pumped up now!
What are we letting people do to our world?!
Wow . . . great line-up of protest songs. A few were new to me — thanks for that. Always on the look-out for great new music –even if it’s only new to me. Thanks so much for including the clips.
Got me thinking about my own personal favorite protest songs — there are so many . . . started to realize that much of the music I love is “protest” music of one sort or another.
One of the earliest songs I remember really latching onto (when I was like 13 years old) was a Kinks’ song, “I’m Not Like Everybody Else.” It was the B-Side of another song (“Dedicated Follower of Fashion” or Sunny Afternoon” maybe?) and wasn’t one of their hits, but for a young teen it was the breath of life itself.
The title of that Kinks song sums up exactly how I felt when I was 13, Erich!…The first song I ever wrote was a protest song – about “authority figures”! – although I haven’t written many protest ones since. But protest is on my mind at the moment as it’s the theme of a group art show that I’m involved with putting on here in Liverpool – I will probably do a blog report about it.
If you get a chance, check that Kinks song out sometime — it’s one of their best.
Best of luck with your art show. Would love to hear more about — would love to hear your report on it. Thanks.