50 greatest protest songs

This page will be disappearing from the site in the near future, You’re invited to visit my new protest song page (August 2021):

66 great 21st century protest songs

The page that you’re on now contains this list (minus most of the original streaming links)

My 50 Greatest Protest Songs (December 2007)

and as a bonus, this 29 song podcast:

Protest Songs 1963 – 1973 podcast (February 2013)

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My 50 Greatest Protest Songs (December 2007)

My definition of a great protest song :-

– A piece of music that is a great song in its own right. Good words and fine sentiments are not enough. The music must move us.

– A song that has a purpose. A song that doesn’t confine itself to commenting on or bemoaning the ills of the world, but seeks in some small way to change things. It may do this by calling directly for something to happen – “free Nelson Mandela”, by informing us, by appealing to our hearts and our emotions, or by challenging commonly held ideas.

– It follows from this that a true protest song should address a specific issue or issues that are current. Songs about wars and revolutions in days long gone are not included here.

– Finally the song should provoke the listener : shock us, unsettle us, amaze us, inspire us, make us angry, make us sad or make us optimistic. If it doesn’t do any of these things, it hardly deserves to be called a protest song. So be warned : there’s a lot of anger and a lot of emotion in these songs.

Only one song per artist is allowed (my self imposed rule). And what goes in is down to my personal taste and prejudices (musically and politically).

50-46 (see 1st video playlist below)

50 Manu Chao – Rainin in Paradise 2007
Uptempo danceable number from the French born singer who has achieved international success with the group Mano Negra and more recently as a solo artist.

49 Crosby Stills Nash and Young – Ohio 1970
Recorded in response to the killing of four students and the wounding of nine others by soldiers during a peaceful antiwar protest at Kent State University. I’m not a big Neil Young fan, hence the low placing for this classic protest song.

48 Joan Baez & Mimi Farina – Bread and Roses
This song, inspired by the St Lawrence strike of 1912, has become a great anthem of women’s liberation.

47 Company Flow – Patriotism 1999
Punchy militant hip hop in search of a decent video.

46 Dar Williams – Empire 2005
Folk influenced rock. Here she uses her pen to attack Bush’s war on terror.

45-41

45 Steel Pulse – No more weapons 2004
UK roots reggae band.

44 Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate son 1969
The senators sons who weren’t sent to Vietnam in the 60s were themselves sending less fortunate young men to war three decades later.

43 Yes – Don’t kill the whale 1978
Delightfully 1970s with its big sweeping chords and unsophisticated video.

42 Paddy McGuigan – The men behind the wire 1975
In 1971 the British government introduced internment without trial in Northern Ireland. McGuigan’s song records the raiding of homes and the mass arrests of Republican sympathisers.

41 Tom Paxton – Lyndon Johnson told the nation 1965
I’d always thought of him as a 60s folk singer, so I was a little surprised to find that he’s recently re-recorded this as George W told the nation.

40-35

40 Jean Ritchie – Black waters 1977
Beautifully written song about the horrors of coal mining in Appalachia.

39 Tracey Chapman – Behind the wall 1988
Delicately crafted song about domestic violence.

38 The Herd – 77% 2003
Band from Sydney writing about the MV Tampa incident in which the Australian government refused to allow a ship to dock on Christmas Island that had rescued several hundred asylum seekers at sea. The song refers to a poll in which 77% of Australians expressed support for the government’s stance – other polls put the level of support even higher.

37 Nofx – Wolves in wolves clothing 2006
According to their Wikipedia entry, Nofx’s Fat Mike organised the website punkvoter.com, compiled two chart topping Rock against Bush CDs, and kicked off a Rock against Bush US tour. He’s probably most fondly remembered though for his musical tribute to Dubya Idiot Son of an Asshole.

36 Paris – AWOL 2003
Hip hop – but don’t let that put you off. There are some great hip hop songs here. This one tells a story and carries a powerful antiwar message.

35 Carl Read – If I had a rocket launcher
Acoustic version of the 1984 Bruce Cockburn song, which I prefer to the original.

34 Paul Robeson – No more auction block 1947

This chart would not be complete without Robeson’s amazing baritone. A true giant among protest singers.

33-29

33 Randy Newman – Political Science 1972
Dark humour !

32 Peter Gabriel – Biko 1980
Haunting song about the anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko who died in South African police custody in 1977. Gabriel is joined in this performance by the great Youssou N’Dour.

31 Dead Prez – Propaganda 2000
Perhaps tries to make too many political points, but I love the production on this, the way it integrates all the different elements.

30 Linton Kwesi Johnson – Sonny’s lettah (anti-sus poem) 1979
A poignant story, beautifully told. LKJ’s poem also captures the anger at the sus laws which led in 1981 to the Brixton riots.

29 Holly Near – I am willing 2003
Great uplifting anthem to sing along to.

28-23

28 Aceyalone – Ms Amerikka 2003
Intelligent lyrical alternative hip hop.

27 The Men They Couldn’t Hang – Shirt of Blue 1985
Tale based on the miners strike of 1984-85. One of my favourite bands.

26 Big Bill Broonzy – I wonder when I’ll be called a man 195?
Anti racist blues song.

25 Christy Moore – No time for love 1985
Ireland’s finest political balladeer.

24 Almanac Singers – I don’t want your millions, Mister 1941
Who are they ? Well Pete Seeger is on vocals, and Woody Guthrie plays guitar. Great union song from the 1930s.

23 Dead Kennedys – California Uber Alles 1979
Tongue in cheek satire directed against California governor Jerry Brown.

22 Public Enemy – Burn Hollywood, burn 1990

Blazing with anger against the white Hollywood establishment. Taken from the album Fear of a black planet.

21-16

21 Bruce Springsteen – American skin (41 shots) 2000
Written about the death of Amadou Diallo, shot 41 times by four cops from the NYPD in 1999. He was unarmed. The cops were acquitted of all charges.

20 Bob Marley and the Wailers – Them belly full (but we hungry) 1975
A hungry mob is an angry mob …

19 Sage Francis – Makeshift Patriot 2001
About America’s response to the 9/11 attacks, rather than the attacks themselves. A masterpiece. The sample at the end is from the movie Don’t Look Back, and is taken from an interview with Bob Dylan by Time magazine.

18 The Clash – The Call Up 1980
One of several powerful political songs from the Sandinista album.

17 Chris Wood & Karine Polwart – Moving on song 2006
Wonderful rendition of Ewan MacColl’s classic folk song about the rights of the travelling people.

16 The Special AKA – Free Nelson Mandela 1984
Upbeat, feelgood record which helped make anti-apartheid campaigners feel strong.

15-10

15 Phil Ochs – I ain’t marching anymore 1965
Brilliant 60s political singer songwriter with a cultured voice.

14 Barry McGuire – Eve of destruction 1965
This raw version of the apocalyptic song by PJ Proby went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic and became the rallying cry for supporters of the 26th amendment to the US Constitution, which changed the voting age from 21 to 18.

13 Mahalia Jackson – We shall overcome 1968
Pete Seeger may have done most to popularise this song, but this gospel version by Mahalia Jackson surely can’t be bettered.

12 Junior Reid – One blood 1990
Rousing Jamaican anti-racist anthem.

11 NWA – Fuck tha police 1989
When hip hop still had the power to shock. Explosive music and violent lyrics. From Straight outta Compton.

10 ani difranco – Self evident 2002
Long post 9/11 poem which hits one target after another with its skilful use of words. Extraordinary.

9-4

9 Tom Robinson – Glad to be gay 1976
Direct and passionate from its great opening line, ‘The British police are the best in the world’.

8 DAM – Meen Er Habi 2001
The first Palestinian rapper. Incisive and angry commentary on the Palestinian situation (with subtitles). Amazing.

7 Woody Guthrie – This land is your land 1940
The father of the modern protest song sings his most famous number. Though I’d have liked to have Deportee here. Are there any recordings of Guthrie singing this online ?

6 2Pac – Changes 1998
Sampling Bruce Hornsby’s The Way It Is, 2Pac’s powerful song differs from most gangsta rap records in that it doesn’t just talk about the reality of life in America’s inner city ghettos, it generalises rather than personalises, and points the finger of blame : ‘instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me’.

5 Babyface feat Stevie Wonder – How come, how long 1997
Really moving song about domestic violence.

4 Sam Cooke – A change is gonna come 1965
This melodious song came to epitomise the aspirations of the US Civil Rights struggle. It was covered by several Motown artists, but Sam Cooke’s remains the definitive version.

3 Edwin Starr – War 1970

By some distance the most popular protest song of them all in the last three decades – this is the one that protestors and demonstrators love to sing and love to hear.

2 Bob Dylan – Only a pawn in their game 1964

I could have picked any one of many classic Dylan songs (Blowin in the Wind, Masters of War, Hattie Carroll, Times they are a changin’ …) but this is a personal favourite. Starting from the assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Dylan unravels the psychology of white racism and writes its epitaph.

1 Billie Holiday – Strange fruit 1939

The awesome power of this song comes partly of course from Billie Holiday’s voice and the evocative imagery, but also from the revolutionary slow paced delivery which arrests the listener’s attention yet is so appropriate to the subject matter.

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Protest Songs 1963 – 1973 podcast (February 2013)

Protest Songs 1963 – 1973
Protest songs 1963-73
80m 0 seconds

1. Bob Dylan – Oxford Town (Freewheelin’ 1963)
One of his most topical songs, about James Meredith’s attempt to defeat the colour bar in higher education.
2. Peter La Farge – Take Back Your Atom Bomb (As Long as the Grass Shall Grow: Peter La Farge Sings of the Indians 1963)
3. Louisiana Red – Ride On Red, Ride On (Lowdown Back Porch Blues 1963)
This is a later recording : accompanied by Little Victor’s Juke Joint.
4. Louis Killen – Farewell to the Monty (The Iron Muse (A Panorama Of Industrial Folk Music) 1963)
Written by Johnny Handle in 1959 about the Montagu Pit in County Durham.
5. Joan Baez – Birmingham Sunday (Joan Baez/5 1964)
Written by Richard Fariña about the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing.
6. Tom Paxton – What Did You Learn in School Today? (Ramblin’ Boy 1964)
7. Miriam Makeba – Ndodemnyama (Beware, Verwoerd!) (An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba 1965)
Anti-apartheid song addressed to South African Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd.
8. Barry McGuire – The Sins Of a Family Fall On The Daughter (Eve Of Destruction 1965)
Written by PJ Proby who also wrote Eve Of Destruction.
9. J.B. Lenoir – Alabama Blues (Alabama Blues 1965)
10. Len Chandler – Murder on the Roads of Alabama (WNEW’s Story Of Selma 1965)
11. Phil Ochs – Draft Dodger Rag (I Ain’t Marching Anymore 1965)
12. The Dubliners – Come And Join The British Army (More of the Hard Stuff 1967)
This song goes back to the 19th century.
13. Malvina Reynolds – What’s Going On Down There (Sings the Truth 1967)
14. Elena Morandi – Lettera del condennatto a morte (Encuentro de la Canción Protesta. Casa de las Americas 1967)
15. Rolando Alarcon – Coplas del pajarito (The Little Bird’s Complaint) (Encuentro de la Canción Protesta. Casa de las Americas 1967)
16. Pete Seeger – Waist Deep In The Big Muddy (Waist Deep In The Big Muddy And Other Love Songs 1967)
17. The Flying Burrito Brothers – My Uncle (The Gilded Palace of Sin 1969)
18. John Lee Hooker – I don’t wanna go to Vietnam (Simply the Truth 1969)
19. The Last Poets – Wake Up, Niggers (The Last Poets 1970)
20. Gil Scott-Heron – Whitey On the Moon (Small Talk at 125th and Lenox 1970)
21. Hazel Dickens – Black Lung (Strange Creek Singers 1970)
Her brothers were all coal miners : this was written for one of them who died from the disease.
22. Toots & the Maytals – Give Peace A Chance (Monkey Man 1970)
23. Jacqui & Bridie – Back Buchanan Street (The Perfect Round 1970)
Written by Harry and Gordon Dison for a BBC song writing competition in the mid-1960s, it struck a chord at a time when slum clearances in Liverpool were displacing many families.
24. Joe Glazer – Don’t Tear It Down (Garbage and Other Songs of Our Time 1971)
25. Paul Revere and The Raiders – Indian Reservation (Indian Reservation 1971)
Written by John D Loudermilk and first recorded in 1959 by Marvin Rainwater. Paul Revere made the song one of the biggest selling hits of the 1970s.
26. Victor Jara – Plegaria a un labrador (El Derecho de Vivir en Paz 1971)
27. Robert Pete Williams – Viet Nam Blues (Robert Pete Williams 1971)
28. Barbara Dane – Kent State Massacre (I Hate the Capitalist System 1973)
The Kent State shootings also inspired Neil Young’s Ohio.
29. Dave Van Ronk – Luang Prabang (Going Back to Brooklyn 1994)
Van Ronk was certainly performing this in the early 70s, I don’t know if the explicit content was the reason why he didn’t record it at the time (it didn’t stop Patrick Sky from recording a version in 1974). The tune is nicked from Byker Hill.