Vietnam War Protest Songs Caroline Morris & Sarah Moore

1. Vietnam War Protest Songs Caroline Morris & Sarah Moore

2. American Opposition to Vietnam • Other than the Civil war, the war in Vietnam divided the nation more than any other war in history. • Many Americans thought the war in Vietnam did not involve the United States and was unnecessary to fight in. • War was against many people’s religion or personal beliefs. • “Hippies” did not believe in war because it went against their motto of “peace and love” and “make love not war.” • Thousands of students and young people rebelled against the war because it was their generation who was fighting and being drafted.

3. Importance of anti-war protest songs • Anti-war protests began in 1966. • Anti-war songs were an important part of the protests because they were able to express the feelings of disapproval many people had towards the war. • They created a sense of “national culture” by bringing people together to sing the same songs with the same disapprovals of the war. • Anti-war songs expressed a need for action that protesters urged the country to take! • The messages in the songs made people emotional, but also drove them to get their soldiers home. • Hearing these songs on the radio or being sung made many people want to join anti-war protests

4. “..the songs that stick with us the longest are generally songs about overcoming struggle..” -excerpt from quote by Kim Ruehl on war protest songs

5. Artists • Some of the most influential and popular anti-war songs were sung by: • Pete Seeger • Phil Ochs • Tom Paxton • The Beetles • John Lennon • Creedence Clearwater Revival

6. Pete Seeger

7. “Bring Em Home” • To the pointabout bringing soldiers home -“If you love your Uncle Sam, Bring them home, bring them home. Support our boys in Vietnam, Bring them home, bring them home.” -Part of Pete Seeger’s “Bring Em Home”

8. “Where Have All The Flower’s Gone” • Expressed the pointlessness of the war and the need for peace -“Where have all the grave yards gone, long time passing?Where have all the grave yards gone, long time ago?Where have all the grave yards gone?Gone to flowers, ev'ry one.When will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?” -Part of Pete Seeger’s “Where Have All The Flower’s Gone” -This part specifically asks what is the point of all the deaths in the war? “When will they ever learn?” calls for change

9. Phil Ochs

10. “Draft Dodger Rag” • Tells about different ways young men avoid going to war by dodging the draft • “Sarge, I'm only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleenAnd I always carry a purseI got eyes like a bat, and my feet are flat, and my asthma's getting worseYes, think of my career, my sweetheart dear, and my poor old invalid auntBesides, I ain't no fool, I'm a-goin' to schoolAnd I'm working in a DEE-fense plant” • Lyrics from Phil Ochs’s “Draft Dodger Rag”

11. “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” • Talks about how men have served in many previous American wars, but will not serve in the Vietnam war • “Oh I marched to the battle of New Orleans At the end of the early British war The young land started growing The young blood started flowing But I ain'tmarchin' anymore For I've killed my share of Indians In a thousand different fights I was there at the Little Big Horn I heard many men lying I saw many more dying But I ain'tmarchin' anymore “ -Part of Phil Ochs “I Ain’t Marching Anymore”

12. Tom Paxton

13. “Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation” • Expresses the dislike for President Johnson, and his decisions regarding the Vietnam War “I got a letter from L. B. J. It said this is your lucky day. It's time to put your khaki trousers on. Though it may seem very queer We've got no jobs to give you here So we are sending you to Viet Nam Lyndon Johnson told the nation, Have no fear of escalation. I am trying everyone to please. Though it isn't really war, We're sending fifty thousand more, To help save Viet nam from Viet Namese.“ -Part of Tom Paxton’s “Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation”

14. The Beatles

15. “Revolution” • Song about people wanting change, but going after it with violence, rather than peace • “You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it's evolution Well, you know We all want to change the world But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out Don't you know it's gonna be all right all right, all right” -Part of The Beatle’s “Revolution”

16. John Lennon

17. “Give Peace A Chance” • Considered an anthem of the anti-war movement Ev'rybody'stalkin' 'boutBagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, TagismThis-ism, that-ism, ism ismismAll we are saying is give peace a chanceAll we are saying is give peace a chance -Part of John Lennon’s “Give Peace A Chance”

18. Creedence Clearwater Revival

19. “Fortunate Son” • This song pointed out what kind of people were getting out of the draft “Some folks are born to wave the flag,Ooh, they're red, white and blue.And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no” -Part of CCR’s “Fortunate Son”

20. In Addition to Songs.. • Chants • “Hey, Hey, LBJ put those D*** guns away” • “Hey, Hey, LBJ how many boys have you killed today?” • “Hell No! We won’t go” • Fish Chant • “And it’s 1 2 3 what are we fighting for? Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn! next stop is vietnam And it’s 5 6 7 so open up them pearly gates. There aint no time to wonder why whopee we’re all gonna die.

21. Woodstock • Held in August ‘69 • 3 days of “peace and love” • Music expressing “peace and love” and related feelings was basically constantly played