Music and the Vietnam War
Popular music supported and protested the Vietnam war.
While much of the music of the time period gravitated towards themes of peace, love
and freedom, there are many examples of songs with messages that directly supported
or protested the Vietnam war. Other songs described more complex problems and
ideals that were unique to the time period and circumstances of the war.
The Vietnam War is
not well understood
by most Americans.
While I grew up
watching images of
battles, arriving
coffins and political
statements on news
broadcasts, it wasn’t
until some years later
when I truly grew to understand the conflict and was
able to make a personal decision as to the purpose
of the war. “Some Americans believe that Vietnam
was a national policy blunder costing some 58,000
American lives and billions of tax dollars. That it
divided the country at a time when it most needed to
be unified leaving scars that are yet to be healed.
Others believe the war was a noble cause similar to
the United Nations effort that kept South Korea free.
As the 1960s wore on, the war divided the United
States. Protests and riots erupted. Politicians
straddled both sides. The war had ended but the
pain and confusion from this misunderstood war
remains to this day.”
(Schroeder)
Since music reflects society, songs of social protest
and songs of support for the war were written and
found their way to the airwaves of American popular
music. While the overall message of the peace
movement embraced an anti- war theme, there were
examples of support for the American soldier and
eventually the pride of America and what it means to
be an American.
Jimi Hendrix
1
Jimi Hendrix’s performance of the Star Spangled
Banner has long served as an example of support
for the soldiers, for patriotism and for the actual
horrors of the battle field during the war. When one
listens to the Hendrix’s manipulation of his guitar,
the sounds of bombs, gunfire, and diving planes are
heard. Hendrix quotes “Taps” to honor the fallen
soldiers. Emotions of
pain, anguish and
futility are heard in
between the
explosions Hendrix is
wrenching from his
guitar. His performance
climaxes with the
cadenza of the last
verse of the anthem which brings the listener back
to reality
with a feeling of purpose and patriotism. This
example can be interpreted as by the listener as pro
war and anti war, but I believe that Hendrix did not
support the war but was an avid sympathizer for the
American soldiers. Hendrix, being an innovator of
new sounds through the use new amplification and
also newly invented electronic effects pedals that
were used to emulate the sounds of war. (KNJ)
“Ballad of the Green Berets”
Barry Sadler was a Special Forces Paratrooper who wrote the “Ballad of the Green Berets”, which became a
hit on popular radio stations. This song offers a pro fighting point of view.
“Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret”
(Hone)
During his song Sadler describes the tough training, the hardship,
the courage, and the fact that only three percent of soldiers
are chosen to be Green Berets.
Sadler ends his ballad with the image of the young wife
who is left to pass on the tradition to the soldier’s son.
(RDX Graphics Corporation)
“The Fortunate Son”
“Fortunate Son” was written by John Fogerty from the perspective of an American male who is eligible for the
draft. Fogerty points out the advantages that more “fortunate” males may have over his song’s character due to
political ties or who may be better off financially. Fogerty sings, “Some folks are born made 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 aint me, it aint me, I ain’t no senators son, son. It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one, no,” (Lyrics
Freak)
Fogerty then goes on to comment on the difference of persons who
choose military careers and those who are chosen by the draft. His view
questions how much sacrifice is expected from America’s soldiers and
the differences between those who choose to serve and those whoa re
chosen. “Some folks inherit star spangled eyes, Ooh, they send you
down to war, lord, And when you ask them, how much should we give?
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh, It aint me, it aint me, I
ain’t no military son, son. It ain’t me, it ain’t me; I ain’t no fortunate one,
one.”
(Music Group)
“Sky Pilot”
Eric Burden’s song offers a completely different view of the Vietnam
War. The miss conception is that the title implies that Burden is
glorifying the Air Force Pilot, when actually the term “Sky Pilot” refers to
a military chaplain. Burden’s song views the war through the role of the
military chaplain who is trying to do his best to calm the soldiers before
the battle action and to help the soldiers feel that they are justified with
their role in the war with God’s approval. “As the young men move out
into the battle zone, he feels good, with God you're never alone, He
feels tired and he lays on his bed. Hopes the men will find courage in
the words that he said All the while, the chaplain is finding solace for
himself through his job and through his relationship and belief.
(WWW.Lyrics007.com)
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The Vietnam Protest Leaders
Phil Ochs
Apartheid struggle, the history of European
colonization, as well as the relationship of big
business and government to wars.
A staggering figure in the
history of protest music,
Phil Ochs has been one of
this century’s most prolific
songwriters who has
addressed almost all
aspects of injustice throughout the world. Ochs’
contributions include songs about the Civil Rights
movement, the Cuban War, the Vietnam War, and
general songs which speak to America’s war history.
Ochs also composed songs about the South African
Ochs’ contributions to the subject of the Vietnam War
are so numerous that he could warrant a topic of
study. His many compositions include; “Draft Dodger
Rag 'I Ain’t Marching Anymore”, “The War is Over”,
“Talking Vietnam”, “White Boots Marching in a
Yellow Land”, and “Vietnam”. Clearly, Ochs never
received fame of other 60’s protest icons, this does
not diminish Ochs’ contribution to history. (Trent)
Bob Dylan
Joan Baez
Pete Seeger
Considered the leader of the 60’s
protest movement, Dylan can be
easily viewed as the most famous
of all protest singers. Dylan’s
protest song contributions, like
Phil Ochs, cover a variety of
topics and concerns, such as the
Civil Rights Movement, workers
rights, human rights and
connections of big business to
politics and war. Dylan’s songs
specific to the Vietnam War are
numerous, often using imagery to
relay his message of protest.
Dylan’s compositions include,
“Blowin’ in the Wind”, “Masters
of War”, “It’s Alright Ma, (I’m
Only Bleeding)” and “The Times
They Are A Changin’. (Sonic Itch
Music)
Another highly outspoken leader
of the Vietnam Protest movement,
Baez has the unique distinction of
being the most politically active of
the Vietnam protest singers. Baez
began her career as a political
activist during the Civil Rights
movement performing the Pete
Seeger song “We Shall
Overcome” during march the on
Washington led by Martin Luther
King. Baez regularly advocated
draft resistance, payment of taxes,
and protest of war. She led a peace
delegation to North Vietnam in
1972, addressing human rights
issues. She helped establish a U.S.
branch of Amnesty International in
Vietnam. (Joan Baez)
Considered one of the founding
fathers of protest song, Pete
Seeger began his career during the
50’s as a Socialist supporting labor
unions in the United States and
strongly opposing Russian
communist policies. In the
Vietnam era, Seeger attacked
Lyndon B. Johnson with his
comedy album, “Dangerous
Songs” in 1966 using comedy to
help with his message. Seeger
regularly protested the war during
public appearances. Seeger has
long been considered to be the
successor to Woody Gutherie and
became the fatherly leader of all
protest singers as a friend and
mentor to Ochs, Baez, Dylan and
others. (Pete Seeger)
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John Lennon
The outspoken member of the Beatles, Lennon became a leader in the
Vietnam protest movement while living in New York with his wife,
Yoko Ono. During a stay at the Amsterdam Hilton in 1969, Lennon
and wife Ono staged the first “Bed-in” for peace which attracted
world-wide media attention. It was during the second “Bed-in” for
peace in Montreal that Lennon composed and performed the famous
“Give Peace A Chance” from their hotel room during a live television
broadcast. Many famous celebrities were present during this, including
Mick Jagger and Tommy Smothers. The song was later performed by
over a half million protesters in Washington D.C. on October 15th
1969. Lennon was also instrumental in helping to free poet and activist
John Sinclair from prison by performing a free concert and later writing a song for him. Lennon later composed
his hit “Imagine” which could be considered anti war but I believe it to be a protest song addressing all human
rights issues using subtle imagery. Lennon envisions “all the people, living life in peace” and “a brotherhood of
man”, that “shares all the world”. (John Lennon)
Obvious protest songs
There were many songs from the Vietnam era that had blatant protest themes, many became hits and are still
played on popular radio stations. Songs such as “The Unknown Soldier” by the Doors, “War” by Edwin Starr
whose refrain, “War, what is it good for?, Absolutely nothing!” and “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die-Rag” by
Country Joe and The Fish which became one of the anthems of the Woodstock Festival. Crosby, Stills Nash and
Young’s “Ohio” whose account of the Kent State shootings foreshadowed the futileness of the protest
movement in the face of government led violence. (Kenen)
Vietnam protest songs during the 1980’s
Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel
Billy Joel’s hit “Good Bye Saigon”, describes the closeness that existed among the
American troops during the Vietnam War through the refrain “Yes We Would All go
Down Together”. I witnessed a concert in Portland, Maine where Joel invited
members of his road crew onstage who were veterans to help him perform the song.
“Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen was a huge hit in which “in part a tribute
to Springsteen's friends who had experienced the Vietnam War, some of whom did
not come back; it also protests the hardships Vietnam veterans faced upon their
return from the war.” (Classic Rock Legends) (Bruce Springsteen)
Other Recent Protest Singers
Many not so famous song writers and composers such as John Prine, Steve Earle, and Billy Bragg continue to
remain outspoken about world concerns, while others such as Bono, use their fame to help issues all over the
world. It is clear that music does indeed reflect society’s reactions and sometimes leads people on all levels to
work towards more humane resolutions.
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