Spinner

Count Five: Tom Morello's Favorite Political Songs

On his debut solo album, 'One Man Revolution,' Tom Morello, who played guitar with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave and is now recording as his alter ego the Nightwatchman, channels his songwriting efforts into an album of politically minded songs about change and redemption. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, Morello carries on a great tradition of socially conscious music. In that spirit, he recounts for Spinner his top five political songs.

1. 'Biko,' Peter Gabriel: I think this might be the greatest song of all time. 'Biko,' which concerns the martyrdom of Steven Biko, who was killed in a South African jail by security forces, is about a specific instance. But it has a timeless quality where hope and anger collide, and how the death of this great man could be the spark to overthrowing that racist regime. That's quite a thing to capture in three and a half minutes of music.

2. 'Imagine,' John Lennon: It's a song couched in such a beautiful melody that people don't realize it's about anarchist revolution. It's a song that, woven into the lyrics, has the hope for a just world of peace and harmony. But implied in the lyrics is that it will take a complete overthrowing of the status quo to get that -- and Lennon spoke of that in some of his writing. That song was often misunderstood.

3. 'This Land Is Your Land,' Woody Guthrie: Another great misunderstood anthem of protest, it's probably the most subversive song ever written. And it is no accident that when you learn the song in third grade they leave out the three class-war verses that make the chorus of that song resonate so true. The song was written as an answer to Irving Berlin's 'God Bless America,' which Guthrie thought was sticky-sweet patriotism and missed the point of what this country should be about.

4. 'White Riot,' The Clash: There are a number of Clash songs I could name, but 'White Riot' was probably the kickoff. There's a stanza I wrote on my refrigerator, and I used to look at it to gut-check myself every day. It was, "Are you taking over, or are you taking orders?/Are you going backwards, or are you going forwards?" The Clash and Joe Strummer -- heart-on-the-sleeve lyrics combined with such ferocity and unapologetic truth that it really felt like anything was possible in music and on the streets.

5. 'Redemption Song,' Bob Marley: Marley would have been a hero to billions whether he was Irish or Jamaican or Japanese. But he happened to be from Jamaica, so reggae music was the conduit for his genius. Yet there is no musical artist in the history of the world who is as important globally as Bob Marley. From frat parties at Stanford to teens in Kenya, 'Redemption Song' is sung, and it is certainly the spiritual content of the lyrics, the uplifting message and ... whatever that guy was channeling it's just true, and it's just beautiful. That guy is number one, and his number-one jam is 'Redemption Song.'

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mala

There's a very powerful song about the war called "New War" by music group Below Tha Surface. Everyone here must listen to it and share it with others. It's on their Garageband page. Go to http://www.garageband.com/song?|pe1|S8LTM0LdsaSjY1a-Ym4 to listen to it.

February 07 2008 at 10:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ghost

New FALLEN SOLDIER [forever on my mind] Video. Song about fallen troops.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=18652749

September 23 2007 at 7:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ghost

www.myspace.com/symplesymonrocks

2007 CD RELEASE: SYMPLE SYMON [and the RHYMIN’ PIE-MEN]
‘’ONE-EYED WILLIE FOR PRESIDENT’’ (and other political incorrectness)
TIRED OF THE SAME OL’ BS POLITICIANS, AND POLITICAL BLAH-BLAH?? BOY, HAVE WE GOT A CANDIDATE FOR YOU!
ONE-EYED WILLIE FOR PRESIDENT ‘08!!!! LISTEN to the words!!

www.myspace.com/symplesymonrocks

There is a great track for American Idol
fans:
‘’SANJAYA SUCKS/THANK YOU/SANJAYA SUCKED!!!’’

THERE IS EVEN MENTION OF MS. HALEY SCARNATO, AND MS. JORDIN SPARKS, ON THE SANJAYA SONG.
With a chorus of idol fans singing/yelling “He sucks-Sanjaya sucks! who can resist chiming in! lol…

The CD SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT ‘CD BABY’, AT ‘DIGSTATION’, AND ‘SONICBIDS’.
THE CD SHOULD BE OUT VERY,VERY SOON.
During the summer-delay, the project has grown from a 7-track ECD, to a full 13 track CD with 2 added bonus tracks.
CHECK BACK REGULARLY FOR RELEASE INFO.
TRACKS INCLUDE:
‘ONE-EYED WILLIE [FOR PRESIDENT]’ AND 2 VERSIONS OF ‘PLEDGE’ [‘’TRIPPIN’ VERSION’’, AND ‘‘ROCK VERSION’’]

‘’WILLIE 4 PREZ’’
IZ ABOUT HOW BUSINESS AND STOCKS WERE MUCH BETTER DURING ‘SPERM-GATE’, THAN THEY WERE WHEN ‘BUSH SAID BOMB’ AND BUSINESS DROWNED.
Both ‘’PLEDGE’’ versions are about how you really need to take everything you see/hear/are told by the gov’t with a grain-of-salt, and open eye, heart, mind, and brain… check out Pledge [trippin' version] mp3 on our myspace page.

Also, special guest Mark Hutchins of Austin, Tx. based
ROCKLAND EAGLES sings lead vocals on THE SKY(have u ever had 1 of ‘those’ days, where the whole-world seemed pissed u were here!??!).
He also appears on GSYE, and FALLEN SOLDIER (Forever On My Mind), about the loss of a loved-one in this iraq-war.
Fellow ROCKLAND EAGLE- Cris “The Fire” Burns’ mastering talents were put to use on this project too!!
Thanxxx, guys!!!! check them out @ www.rocklandeagles.com and here @ www.myspace.com/rocklandeagles

www.myspace.com/symplesymonrocks

September 06 2007 at 4:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ghost

new political songs: One-Eyed Willie for President, and Pledge [trippin & rock versions]

www.myspace.com/symplesymonrocks

2007 CD RELEASE: SYMPLE SYMON [and the RHYMIN’ PIE-MEN]
‘’ONE-EYED WILLIE FOR PRESIDENT’’ (and other political incorrectness)

TIRED OF THE SAME OL’ BS POLITICIANS, AND POLITICAL BLAH-BLAH?? BOY, HAVE WE GOT A CANDIDATE FOR YOU!
ONE-EYED WILLIE FOR PRESIDENT ‘08!!!! LISTEN to the words!!

www.myspace.com/symplesymonrocks

There is a great track for American Idol
fans:
‘’SANJAYA SUCKS/THANK YOU/SANJAYA SUCKED!!!’’

THERE IS EVEN MENTION OF MS. HALEY SCARNATO, AND MS. JORDIN SPARKS, ON THE SANJAYA SONG.
With a chorus of idol fans singing/yelling “He sucks-Sanjaya sucks! who can resist chiming in! lol…

The CD SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT ‘CD BABY’, AT ‘DIGSTATION’, AND ‘SONICBIDS’.
THE CD SHOULD BE OUT VERY,VERY SOON.
During the summer-delay, the project has grown from a 7-track ECD, to a full 13 track CD with 2 added bonus tracks.
CHECK BACK REGULARLY FOR RELEASE INFO.
TRACKS INCLUDE:
‘ONE-EYED WILLIE [FOR PRESIDENT]’ AND 2 VERSIONS OF ‘PLEDGE’ [‘’TRIPPIN’ VERSION’’, AND ‘‘ROCK VERSION’’]

‘’WILLIE 4 PREZ’’
IZ ABOUT HOW BUSINESS AND STOCKS WERE MUCH BETTER DURING ‘SPERM-GATE’, THAN THEY WERE WHEN ‘BUSH SAID BOMB’ AND BUSINESS DROWNED.
Both ‘’PLEDGE’’ versions are about how you really need to take everything you see/hear/are told by the gov’t with a grain-of-salt, and open eye, heart, mind, and brain… check out Pledge [trippin' version] mp3 on our myspace page.

Also, special guest Mark Hutchins of Austin, Tx. based
ROCKLAND EAGLES sings lead vocals on THE SKY(have u ever had 1 of ‘those’ days, where the whole-world seemed pissed u were here!??!).
He also appears on GSYE, and FALLEN SOLDIER (Forever On My Mind), about the loss of a loved-one in this iraq-war.
Fellow ROCKLAND EAGLE- Cris “The Fire” Burns’ mastering talents were put to use on this project too!!
Thanxxx, guys!!!! check them out @ www.rocklandeagles.com and here @ www.myspace.com/rocklandeagles

www.myspace.com/symplesymonrocks

September 06 2007 at 3:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Raheel

Insightful article about one of my idols.. Tom Morello.. I have followed him for the past 3 years.. I liked Out of Exile and he was very good with Audioslave.. I am waiting to observe how his new solo album will be received by the masses..Personally, 'House Gone Up In Flames' is a favorite.. I kinda like his classic guitar work supporting some absolutely feral songwork.. The album is named " One Man Revolution" and the songs back that statement.. Thanks to you folks for posting this article..

August 07 2007 at 2:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jimmy Higgins

This one's hard to find, but given the slow motion train wreck that is the occupation of Iraq, Tom and others would do well to try and dig it up:

In the remarkable "Honorable Peace," one of the finest and most savage protest songs of the Vietnam era, Gerry Goffin writes of the 1972 Christmas bombings of Hanoi ordered by Nixon and Kissinger:

I know the tide of protest has passed us by somehow,
But when will you speak out, if you don't speak out now?

(This puppy was recorded on Christmas Eve 1972 as the bombing intensified by, believe it or not, B.J. Thomas, Mr. "Rainsdrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," and almost universally forbidden radio play by station managers fearful of its blunt condemnation of Nixon.)

April 27 2007 at 9:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mybeautifulleah

how could anyone pick just one Clash song?

April 25 2007 at 6:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply