20 Protest Songs That Matter: No. 20
- Posted by Spinner Staff
- Comments (178)
In 'The Wild One,' angry young rocker Marlon Brando answered an innocent question -- "Hey Johnny, what are you rebelling against?" -- with a curt reply that spoke volumes: "Whaddya got?" Rock never settles for the status quo, teaching generations that questioning authority is a cornerstone of democracy. Here are 20 all-time declarations of independence, each spun at 45 revolutions per minute.
--Bob Marley and the Wailers (1973)
Rebelling Against: Opression!
The late, saintly Bob Marley's signature anthem has become a fill-in-the-blank template for righteous causes of all stripes. Not only is it the official fight song of Amnesty International, but Peter Tosh's sung-spoken interlude – "You can fool some people sometime/ But you can't fool all the people all the time" -- has been called a precursor to rap.
Listen to 'Get Up, Stand Up'
Buy it on iTunes
--Bob Marley and the Wailers (1973)
Rebelling Against: Opression!
The late, saintly Bob Marley's signature anthem has become a fill-in-the-blank template for righteous causes of all stripes. Not only is it the official fight song of Amnesty International, but Peter Tosh's sung-spoken interlude – "You can fool some people sometime/ But you can't fool all the people all the time" -- has been called a precursor to rap.
Listen to 'Get Up, Stand Up'
Buy it on iTunes
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Reader Comments(1 of 9)
ahmadat 2-12-2008
wuzz gud i digg dis song
Jayregenat 3-01-2008
Hey, Don't forget the best protest song of all..." Revolution " by the Beatles. Thanx - Jay
Jay Regenat 3-01-2008
Hey !!! You can not forget the best protest song of all. It was " REVOLUTION " by the Beatles. Thanx...JAY
abzmrxzat 4-05-2008
u are all stupid rap music is the best muzic know to man itz rok muzic that makes u all depresed all theeeeeeeeeese people are lying saying that rap muzic is an infuences but itz not remembah dat student that listed to marilyn manson and started shoooootin people in his skoool so i conclude that rap music rullllessss p.s rock is for emo's
Carraigheat 5-06-2008
NO " FEEL LIKE IM FIXIN TO DIE RAG" ????????
no protest list without that.
the best!!!!!!!!!!
khurstseniorat 5-10-2008
Actually Peter Tosh , taught Bob Marley, Bunny Livingstone, and Alton Ellis (caonsidered one of Jamaica's best) how to play music!. Peter wrote 'Get Up -Stand Up by himself. His lyric was 'sick and tire of this game of technology, humbly asking Jesus for his mercy' Bob changed it to sick and tired of the ism sischsm and some other less militant words. People act like they don't overstand rasta lyrics. Electric Avenue? downtown babylon! - ras-k
Jerryat 6-29-2008
PROTEST SONGS/MUSIC....Do you idiots think this is still 1967????
GET A LIFE!!!!
kv5350at 9-02-2008
Take your own advice, you f_cking retard
jlsat 8-07-2008
You all missed it.
"SAVE THE COUNTRY" by Laura Nyro was the quintessential protest song for ending war that my generation had. Check it out. It should be our song of the century.
zk650at 9-02-2008
"Welcome to the Machine" - Pink Floyd
kv5350at 9-02-2008
Another Brick in the wall
kv5350at 9-02-2008
Another Brick in the wall
kevin d. hurstat 9-19-2008
Peter Tosh wrote this anthem, taught Bob,( Bunny Wailer whom wrote The Electric Slide)and Alton Ellis , one of Jamaica's best musicians, how to play MUSIC. As far as rap, Jamaicans outside Kingston did not have electricity so enterprising men drove there with 'sound systems' on trucks and held dances with bands and people would get up and 'signify ' just like calypso where they did not watch the government controlled evening news on tv. They listened to the truth being spewed by Sparrow or whom ever who would turn in out during carnival. Third world's lead Singer Rugs said when he was a lickle bwoy he saw King Stitt and some of the founding fathers of reggae were DJs U-Roy, Eek-A-Mouse etc. and when the Wailers were teens making a record was a hustle, they rented the facilities to record, engineer, and pressed their own records! It seems americans think of the 3rd world as backwards. In remote parts of the world India e.g.the first phone they had was a cell, first tv a satellite for the whole village! Jamaicans were 'rapping' in the 50s and mixing in the 60 sand by the 70s Biggie Smalls mom was a Jamaican. Teenage Jamaicans in NYC invented Rap! Bob Marley worked at a facory in Delaware where his mom lived to make money to do 'Catch A Fire' recorded in Jamaica then he took the tapes to England where they added rock licks and pressed the records in Canada!
al8189at 7-15-2007
Comparing Bob Marleys lyrics and musical talent to Rap music is sacreligious. The person who even thought of the comparison is a sick, sick person. One day, the world will come to realize that the fall of the modern civilization is because of Rap music and its followers
Dr. Dennis M. Szalat 7-15-2007
I am sure you probably put some thought into your top 20 protest songs, and you probably have received a number of comments concerning other songs that should have been included. For the life of me I cannot comprehend why you neglectd the quintessential protest song ever, John Prine's, "Sam Stone". Please rethink your selections !
Pat Harrisonat 7-15-2007
You have to include Country Joe and the Fish's anthem "I'm fixin' to die" for me to take this list seriously. There ain't no need to wonder why, whoopee, we're all gonna die.
RockySnutsat 7-15-2007
Rock on.
Barbaraat 7-15-2007
What about Country Joe and the Fish: "I-Feel-Like-i'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag"? That was my musical mantra during the Vietnam War. And so many songs by Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez... Remember "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night"? Or, more recently, "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" by U2? Do more research and go back in time, PLEASE.
marcuskillacamat 3-23-2009
well Barbara i think that you have a piont but you can't always be as one.
Tomat 7-15-2007
How in the world could "I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" by Country Joe and the Fish escape this list!?!?!?