Best Anti-War songs?
 

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone had any particular favourite anti-war songs... well besides me I guess.

Personally I don't like the standard "hippy" crap, I'm more of a fan of the songs that speak to the sorrow and loss.

The Pogues - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Dropkick Murphys - Green Fields of France
A Perfect Circle - Imagine (good video too)
CCR - Run Through The Jungle
Irish Rovers - Farwell to Nova Scotia
Emerson Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man

CCR - Fortunate Son

"Oliver's Army" - Elvis Costello
"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding" - Elvis Costello
"War" - Edwin Starr

"Give Peace a Chance" - John Lennon

"Sky Pilot" - I think the Animals? FYI, a Sky Pilot is also a name for a military chaplain. I defy anyone to listen to the entire song without getting weepy.

Sky Pilot is by The Animals.... was going to list it, but the song has never really "grabbed" me (stylisticaly I guess - it just seemed like they were trying to hard).

The Gunner's Dream by Pink Floyd

I'm sure it's because my elder brother listened to it over and over and over and over and over... I love the sound of bagpipes to this day! Also,

Blowin' In the Wind - Bob Dylan
Cruel War - Peter, Paul, and Mary (but originated during the War Between the States)

Requiem for the Masses -- Terry Kirkman and the Association

(Four Dead in) Ohio -- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Scarborough Fair -- Simon and Garfunkle (The part about Generals order their soldiers to kill, and to fight for a cause they have long ago forgotten.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone -- Peter, Paul and Mary

Peace Train -- Cat Stevens

I'm sure I'll think of more.

Great call. David Crosby cried after performing the take for the album.

"El Derecho de Vivir" Victor Jara (killed in Chile by Pinochet regime)

"What's Goin' On" by the late great Marvin Gaye

War Pigs - Black Sabbath

One - Metallica

Ride of the Valkyries - Richard Wagner

The pipers are playing "All The Bluebonnet's Are Over The Border" (about the Jacobite invasion of England in 1745) by the Royal Scot Dragoon Guards.

Was that pro-Jacobite or not? I know that the whole area was full of war at the time!

Firmly Jacobite - the blue bonnet was the defacto uniform of the Jacobite supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Sir Walter Scott even penned some lyrics for it ~ which is how I know the song... interesting fact it appeared on Little House on the Prarie sung by Laura Ingolls... it's also the Regimental Quick March for the Calgary Highlanders up here in Canada

Coven's "One Tin Soldier"

I wouldn't call it anti-war although some could take it that way, but I love SSgt. Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Beret. I remember it was one of my dad's favorites when I was little (he was in the 82nd Airborne before he got married)

How can you not lget a kick out of a song with lyrics like:
"Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Berets "

I'd say it was more pro-war than anti. At the end, the soldier is killed, but asks his wife to be sure his son becomes Special Forces.

"Back at home a young wife waits.
Her Green Beret has met his fate.
He has died for those oppressed,
Leaving her his last request.

Put Silver Wings on my son's chest.
Make him one of America's best...

...Have him win The Green Beret."

It is a good song, though. Unfortunately, SSgt. Sadler, who later became an officer, committed suicide some years ago.

I gotta admit I'd never considered the song to be anti-war... I'd always seen it as being a firmly pro-war song - probibly because I associate it with that horrible John Wayne film.

Yeah, I think KR alludes to that in her original post -- it not being anti-war anyway.

You're right, bad film.

I'm trying to remember a Motown song with anti-war leanings. Our college marching band actually did a "peace sign" formation while playing it which was pretty daring at a state supported school in those days. I'm sure it will come to me sometime. Maybe.

The director went on to the University of Oklahoma and used the song -- but without the formation. Maybe a little too daring for Soonerland.

The only Motown one I can think of is the one Jill1228 mentioned already - Marvin Gaye's - What's Going On

or perhaps you're thinking of Norman Whitfield & Edwin Starr's - War? (it had a marchin beat to it, so it'd be easier for a band to pull off)

But I just thought of another song I left off:
Buffalo Springfield's - For What Its Worth

I could issue the same challenge for the Pogues song I listed ~ I've seen that song silence and sobber many army parties (Canadian, Brit, Aussie) and Irish pubs... I find it so impactful because of the lyrical content, coupled with tradition 'Celtic' lamment ballad format.