Best Protest Songs of All Time

13 January 2011

Give Peace A Chance: John Lennon

We all know the greats by John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Michael Jackson. Songs that evoke emotion and ideas of revolution. However, even as recently as the 21^st century, there have been some great protest songs that may have escape you. This list was incredibly difficult to cut down, and some songs I’d have preferred couldn’t go in, replaced by ones I may not like, but have to be there. I’ve tried to strike a balance. There isn’t space to put videos for the full list, but just assume we’d recommend them all.

10. ‘The Streets Are Ours’ - The King Blues

Under everyone’s radar, The King Blues are one of the few bands keeping protest music fresh and thriving. Building their name by performing shows at squats, protest marches and even in some sewers in London, they live the scene. ‘The Streets Are Ours’ is a perfect protest tune, complete with a percussion/whistle breakdown half way through. It’s protest-reggae at its absolutely finest, making references to the original graffiti of the Churchill monument in Parliament Square (where he was given a Mohican). With the student protests, this song is even more apt and relevant, and the call-and-response of “Who’s streets? Our Streets!” is so powerful.

9. ’Put Out The Fire’ - Queen

A little known song from their Hot Space album, it proves that Queen were, at their heart, a rock band. As the name suggests, it was an anti-arms song that went back to the bands roots. A big anti-war anthem, it’s also got a blistering solo that Brian May apparently recorded whilst drunk. Impressive, and part of a powerful track that is both underrated and relatively unknown.

8. ‘Where Is The Love’ - Black Eyed Peas

Putting this over Queen may seem like madness, but it’s got a spot on the list because it’s great to get some real hart in a stagnant R&B/hip-hop scene. The genre gets a lot of mainstream stick, but this track proves that it can be thoughtful and powerful. Before Black Eyed Peas became a bit of a joke with songs like “I’ve Got A Feeling”, they had this hit. Discussing terrorism, and how it’s happening within the CIA and KKK, closer than we all think, it’s a fantastic commentary for the times it was written in.

7. ‘Love Ire & Song’ - Frank Turner

A genuinely moving and beautiful track, it’d be a bit higher if this was a personal favourites list. It’s a fantastic tale of growing apathy by being let down by past generations, about growing despair as we get older. The chorus line of “But once we were young, and we were crass enough to care…but I guess you live and learn. We won’t make the same mistakes again” is pessimistic but powerful. The song builds to a stunning climax which is sure to conjure up fist-pumping and swaying. It’s a fantastic call to arms, especially the line “If we’re stuck on this ship and we’re sinking, then we might as well have a parade”. Really, every line has power and emotion, all we can say is check this song out right now.

6. ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ - U2

Bono may be a bit annoying, and U2 past their time, but this is a brilliant track. Written about Bloody Sunday, a massacre during The Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1972. The military drumbeat serve it well and whilst it’s not universally relatable, it is surely good that such a terrible event has a musical memorable such as this.

5. ‘Earth Song’ - Michael Jackson

Whatever public opinions of him personally were/are, Michael Jackson was an undeniably great entertainer who did cover some sensitive issues in his music. ‘Earth Song’ differs from the rest of the songs on this list in that while it’s a protest song, it’s about the environment and looking after our planet. It doesn’t fit with the rest of the theme, but it deserves a spot on the list for being one of the more mainstream environmental songs in history.

4. ‘Hero of War’ - Rise Against

Back to anti-war, this is a poignant acoustic ballad based on three real-life accounts of soldiers in Iraq. Written from the point of view of a soldier, it tells the story of how he started optimistic about the glory of war, before the growing realisation of the horror. The blunt imagery and tales give the song greater impact, more so because it’s based on personal accounts.

3. ‘One’ - Metallica

Combined with the dark video directed by Bill Pope and Michael Salomon, this is a haunting track that tells the story of a soldier blown up in battle. It’s disturbing and makes an undisputable case against war. Have a read of this line from the end of the track:

“Landmines has taken my sight
Taken my speech
Taken my hearing
Taken my arms
Taken my legs
Taken my soul
Left me with life in hell”

It’s a thought provoking masterpiece from one of metal’s greatest bands. If you’ve not heard it, find it now, we’ll wait…

Done? OK, let’s get to the penultimate entry…

2. ‘Civil War’ - Guns N’ Roses

Another epic anti-war track, Guns N’ Roses hit rock perfection with ‘Civil War’. Suitably epic without being clichéd, it’s everything a political rock song should be. Yes, it’s long, but Slash’s solos are simply mind-blowing. It all ended badly for the band, and Chinese Democracy may have tarnished their legacy somewhat, but this is a reminder that GNR could be relevant, interesting and flawless.

1. ‘Give Peace A Chance’ - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band