Sep 20 2008
The Anti-War Songs
Vietnam. Never before in the history of mankind (at least, until the present war), has the mention of one word invoked memories of the carnage, heartbreak, stench and fighting of a war.
The Relic served in the US Army during the ‘Nam years and, while I was only stationed stateside (as an MP), I’d seen all too many of my brothers coming back from the war zone - and all somewhat different than when they shipped out.
Believe me: If “War Is Hell”, as Gen. Sherman said during the Civil War, then, in Vietnam, someone bought the deed to the place!
And, throughout America and the UK, singers of all genres were blaring the same message: Get Us OUTTA There! War IS Hell!!
One that was on every soldier’s lips was the late Edwin Starr’s song, simply titled, WAR! It was good enough to his #1 on July 25, 1970:
War!
What is it good for?
Absolutely Nothing!
(Repeat)
War is something that I despise
For it means destruction of innocent lives.
For it means tears in thousands of mother’s eyes.
When their sons go out to fight to give their lives.’
War!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing.
Say it again.
(Repeat)
It’s nothing but a heartbreaker
Friend only to the undertaker.
War is the enemy of all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind.
Handed down from generation to generation.
Induction destruction
Who wants to die?
War!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again.
War!
What is it good for?
War has shattered many young man’s dreams
Made them disabled, bitter and mean.
Life is too precious to be fighting wars each day
War can’t give life, it can only take it away.
It’s nothing but a heartbreaker.
Friend only to the undertaker.
There must be some place for these things today.
They say we must fight to keep our freedom,
But Lord there’s gotta be a better way.
Better than war.
War!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Now, some of the other songs, like Country Joe & the Fish’s I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag were popular over there (but not here, since it began with the popular “‘F’ Chant”), and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Fortunate Son, hit the situation squarely in the face.
But others, like Glen Campbell’s Galveston, seemed to cloak itself in love and local geography. Still, when the words are listened to, you’ll find a strong anti-war sentiment.
One of the most powerful, yet controversial, songs of the era was written by Neil Young in the wake of a stateside tragedy that’s yet to be explained. In 1970, four young students at Kent State University were mercilessly gunned down by National Guard troops during an anti-war protest. In view of that, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded the now-classic Ohio. The song was banned for a time in Ohio, as the government there thought it was not only a swipe at President Nixon and the Administration, but could also incite more “riots”.
Nonetheless, it came in at #14 on the charts on July 11, 1970:
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio. Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know? But the most plaintive and, some say, heart-wrenching song was by Freda Payne (Band of Gold), and called Bring The Boys Home. It hit the charts at #12 on June 26, 1971. It’s also considered the last major anti-war song of the Vietnam era:Fathers are pleading, lovers are all alone,
Mothers are praying - send our boys back home.
You marched them away - yes, you did - on ships and planes,
To a senseless war, facing death in vain.Bring the boys home (bring the back alive)
(repeat 3 times)
Turn the ships around, lay your weapons down.Can’t you see ‘em march across the sky, all the soldiers that have died.
Tryin’ to get home - can’t you see them tryin’ to get home?
Tryin’ to get home - they’re tryin’ to get home.
Cease all fire on the battlefield
Enough men have already been wounded and killed.
Bring the Boys home (Bring ‘em back alive)
(Repeat 3 times)Turn the ships around, lay your weapons down.
(Mothers, fathers and lovers, can’t you see them)
Ooooh, oooh……
Tryin’ to get home - can’t you see them tryin’ to get home?
Ooooh, oooh…
Tryin’ to get home - they’re tryin’ to get home.
Bring the boys home (bring ‘em back alive)
(repeat 3 times)
What are they doing over there, now (bring ‘em back alive)
When we need them over here,now (bring ‘em back alive)
What are they doin over there, now (bring ‘em back alive)
When we need them over here, now (bring ‘em back alive)Today (need I really say this?) we’re in a war that’s not only taking lives on both sides of the battlefield (by the way: what exactly is the “battlefield” in this nonsense?), but has drained us financially and emotionally! W and Chainmaster Cheney have taken on themselves to have a private war at our expense. And NO “victory” is imminent!! There’s no “front”, as such … no mapped out battle plans to win and raise our flag over a Suribachi or whatever. Even McCain said we could be there another 50 … even 100 … years!As Freda sang,What are they doing over there, now (bring ‘em back alive)
When we need them over here,now (bring ‘em back alive)Y’know, Rockaholics … yer Uncle Relic tries to stay away from politics on our little music kaffeklatsche. But maybe – just maybe — Barack Obama is the one we need in the White House, after all! We don’t need more of this “Bush Doctrine”. If you wanna get a new name for that nonsense (the “Doctrine”), call it what it is: Murphy’s Law.Next ish, we’re gettin’ back to the music and grooves that left us all with a load of good vibrations! So stay tuned. Until then, remember:
Keep yer eyes on the skies, yer feet on the ground, yer heart with the music …
and I’ll see ya on the flip side!
