Anti-War songs, yo.

When the Vietnam War came to middle America, family communities and college campuses were erupting in anger and rage. In order to direct their anger and discontent with war, people looked to music to express their feelings. Protest music had been popular in America long before the Vietnam War and began with stringed instruments and troubadours. However, the anti-war music during this time period took protest music to a different level. This generation of people took the initiative to express their unhappiness about the lies the government were telling them about the war in Vietnam. Combat veterans were coming home before the end of the war, revealing what truly happened in the war and what the government hadn’t been telling American citizens. Messages were found in lyrics of protest songs about the “barbaric and unjust war” that the government was simply brushing off, calling it a “conflict” or an issue easily solved by police action.

This music served as a cause for action and a cry for an end and the government just wasn’t listening. Feeling disenfranchised, Americans became united by this kind of music, similarly to how the blacks felt with the music during the civil rights movement. Vietnam was on everyone’s minds. It was talked about in the newspapers, radio, television, movies, magazines and even in normal conversation. Young men under the age of thirty were scared that they may be drafted for the war because they did not wish to die for a cause undefined to them and that would not effect the freedom of the United States. The Vietnam War was not a solution to world problems and soldiers did not feel as though their service was justified.

In the late 1960s, soldiers began waiting to be stationed in Vietnam. Although many may have been young and naïve, they were not stupid and questioned the United States involvement in the war. Scarred by the images and experiences of warfare, soldiers expressed this fear with their families and friends. As the war continued on, protest music became more meaningful and thought provoking. This kind of music inspired and energized soldiers in the war in hopes that their messages would be heard and a change would be made. “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” by Country Joe McDonald and the Fish was one of the most popular anti-war anthems. On May 4, 1970, the shootings at Kent State University amplified the problems with the United States’ involvement in Vietnam. Soon after, anti-war songs such as Chicago’s “It Better End Soon”, Edwin Starr’s “War” and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Ohio” emerged, inspiring Americans all over.

Pictures:

http://unit8catherinej10.wikispaces.com/

http://web.mit.edu/drb/Public/PhotoThesis/

Information:

http://www.jwsrockgarden.com/jw02vvaw.htm

http://folkmusic.about.com/od/toptens/tp/Top10Protest.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4498011.stm