Famous 1960s Songs With a Message
63Coming of age during the 1960's was a time like no other! People were "tuning in, turning on, and dropping out." The Viet Nam war had many a young man enrolling in college for a student deferment or facing the reality of being drafted.
"I Feel Like I'm, Fixin' To Die" by Counrty Joe and The Fish never made it to the top 40, but it definitely had a catchy rag-time feel to it. The clip is from Woodstock.
"Universal Soldier" written by Buffy Sainte-Marie become popular by the Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist Donovan. The song was released as a single in 1965 and reached #53 on the Billboard charts.
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How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? .... and the third verse
How many years can a mountain exist
Before its washed to the sea?
Yes, n how many years can some people exist
Before theyre allowed to be free?
Yes, n how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesnt see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,
The answer is blowin in the wind.
Written by Bob Dylan, but made popular when recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary, this song was also recorded by Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, and Neil Young.
"Eve of Destruction" is a protest song that was written in 1965 by P. F. Sloan. It was indeed, a warning of the apocalypse to come.
Wikipedia cites:
The song is a grave warning of imminent apocalypse, and considered by some to be the epitome of a protest song. It expressed the frustrations and fears of young people in the age of Vietnam, the nuclear arms race, and the civil rights movement.
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Nice treasure, is it?
Brings back some memories, Russ and Vladimir. Thanks for taking the time to read and listen to my Hub Page.
I was born in 1961 and remember much of the times, the music and the trouble. I will be glad when war is no more, yet I know that until Messiah returns this will not be so. And strange thing about it, after the earth enjoys !,000 years of utter peace during HIS reign, the armies of the evil one will march against HIM.
Will they ever learn?
You know that Bob Dylan has a real name right?
Robert Zimmerman, nice Jewish boy. He also wrote "All along the watchtower"...and yes, a lot of other people made his music more known than he ever did. But he got the money from it all. LOL
Just like Dolly Pardon who wrote "I will always love you"
Then Whitney Houston sang it and cha-ching!!!!
Bob also had 2 Christian records in the early 1980's as you know.
Shalom
Todd,
Thanks ever so for taking the time to read my hub and respond even! I remember when Dylan had his spiritual conversion so that would also make him a Messianic Jew! As for the battle, nothing new under the sun, BUT we know who is the VICTOR!!
Shalom to you !
Ahhh, I too recall those troublesome days. Glad they're gone but now we have more. Where are the protest singer/songwriters?
Ralwus - Thanks for you comment! You raise a really good point! Perhaps the youth of today are too busy texting eachother or playing X-Box and have lulled themselves into a techo-coma. The fervent activism of the 60's has been replaced with a politically correct stupor!
Although in a sense, we were far from Woodstock and the Hippie culture and the happenings in Viet Nam, the 60's did impact on us even in India.
To my reckoning, probably the greatest music ever produced was in that period. Ofcourse there is so much one could add to your list.
Thanks for sharing.
sabu ~ Thank you for reading and responding! It is interesting to know that the 1960s impacted you too as a young and upcoming adult. Perhaps you might write a Hub on the influential music of that time for you?
Again, thanks for stopping by.
Thank you Catlyn.
Great idea.
I shall have to jog ye old grey cells, put on my thinking cap, research some and voila, out comes a Hub.
Good hub! I am a child of the 60s as well! Thanks!
Thanks for passing through, Stix and glad you enjoyed the Hub!
I think it would serve us all to remember the era of these songs, and not allow history to repeat itself. But it may be too late. Great music.
RunAbstract ~ Thanks for stopping by. I agree with you , but I may be missing something, as it seems as though the music of today is not as focused on the grim condition of the world at large.
Hey Catlyn, how about the Youngbloods' Everybody Get Together?
Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the dove is on the wing
And you need not know why
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Some will come and some will go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grass
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing,
You must understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!
Peace. =:)
Winsome ~ Quite a bit more on the positive side, I would say and definitely a timeless message! Thanks for the lyrics too.
Russ52 2 years ago
Nice Anthology Of The "60's" Music With A "Message"...