Music about War (in honor of Memorial Day)

This topic has 16 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 months, 3 weeks ago by Rikirk69.

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May 29, 2023 at 11:24 am #300340
Vknid
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I found myself this weekend driving for a handful of hours by myself. I had SiriusXM on and they had one of the usual guest announcers doing his thing. But instead of playing the usual classic rock, in honor of memorial day, he was playing songs about war. The super cool thing is he was playing some very old stuff that really was interesting, poignant and made you think.

Here is one that was written about WW2 in 1944 as far as I can tell.

If you look at the other songs this man preformed they are not complex pieces but deliver VERY thoughtful lyrics. From what I can tell this man was anti-war and pro freedom. I have no clue of his politics and I am not endorsing them but this man’s story and his songs about it I find are damned awesome.

Here is another interesting selection. This is a cover of an Italian song about going off to WW2 performed by (believe it or not) Chumbawamba. It’s short, sweet and really pretty but you can feel the sadness in it which I am sure is the point.
May 29, 2023 at 1:02 pm #300342
comicsgate
Good call above. Bob Dylan based his whole act off that guy.
May 29, 2023 at 1:10 pm #300343
comicsgate
I don’t even like this band, but the song had substance.
May 29, 2023 at 1:28 pm #300345
comicsgate
The song’s lyrics deal with the mindset of military men across the world in the 1980s, wondering if and when the democratic countries of NATO and the communist states of the Warsaw Pact will end the Cold War standoff with conventional battle or a nuclear exchange. Hay sings in the persona of a mid-level officer wishing to learn from his superiors if his men are going to war or not.
May 29, 2023 at 1:35 pm #300347
comicsgate
The narrative established by the songs is told from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran returning to his home country to witness hatred, suffering, and injustice. Gaye’s introspective lyrics explore themes of drug abuse, poverty, and the Vietnam War.
May 29, 2023 at 1:43 pm #300348
comicsgate
May 29, 2023 at 1:44 pm #300349
Vknid
Moderator
Not to derail the purpose of the thread but after looking into it more, I suggest anyone even remotely interested look into Woody Guthrie’s songs. He himself went through many tribulations as so many did during that time frame in America. His songs are essentially musical historic references to those hard times.

To stay on point here is one of my favorite songs about war and or war times.
May 29, 2023 at 1:59 pm #300351
comicsgate
Ashamed that I know nothing of Woody Guthrie but stories and trivia. Never listened to him. Hanging my head in embarrassment.

In the paper today, tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the TV page

D’you wear a black armband when they shot the man
Who said, “Peace could last forever”?
And in my first memories, they shot Kennedy
I went numb when I learned to see
So I never fell for Vietnam
We got the wall in D.C. to remind us all
That you can’t trust freedom when it’s not in your hands
When everybody’s fightin’ for their promised land
May 29, 2023 at 3:36 pm #300352
Vknid
Moderator
Found this one today. I think myself and Tom Morello might disagree on many a political thing but I really like his music and his collaborations.

Also I think this quote by Thomas Sowell is a good reminder about why horrific things like war happens. I think this is especially the case in the last few decades.

“What is history but the story of how politicians squandered the blood and treasure of the human race” — Thomas Sowell
- This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by Vknid.
May 29, 2023 at 5:25 pm #300355
comicsgate
Not a fan of this band, but heard this one
May 30, 2023 at 4:21 am #300376
comicsgate
esoteric antiwar song
you’ll never hear it anywhere
November 20, 2023 at 11:47 am #309770
comicsgate
November 22, 2023 at 8:23 am #309852
Rikirk69
- This reply was modified 5 months, 3 weeks ago by Rikirk69.
November 22, 2023 at 8:40 am #309854
Rikirk69
November 22, 2023 at 10:20 am #309859
DarthVengeant
Premium
This song puts a tear in my eye every time
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Music about War (in honor of Memorial Day)

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