With the Patriots winning the Superbowl, Boston is rife with patriotism once again. As rowdy as football fans after a big win, there's something at the core of sport celebration that mirrors events like The Boston Tea Party or Paul Revere's wild ride. Rebellion! Defiance! Another synonym for dissent! Since the OGW (Original George Washington) kickstarted the United States government in 1789, there has been as much political pride as unrest. And with that unrest comes the core of American music—from folk greats, to New Jersey punks, to our favorite Riot Grrrl act. With millions of Americans flooding the streets to celebrate our nation's most significant holiday, we've compiled a list of our favorite protest jams to say, "We like our Presidents, but sometimes they kind of suck."
"This Land Is Your Land" -Woody Guthrie
You've heard this song done a thousand times over, and by twice as many artists. It's pretty much the epitome of the American protest song. And while protest songs far pre-date Guthrie, he certainly was a pioneer for the classic bleeding-heart style commonly attached to protest songs. Hailing from Okemah, Oklahoma, Woody Guthrie was a true all-American boy. Picking up his famously inscribed guitar, he crafted this tune in response to the uncomfortably non-secular "God Bless America." Woody used his fascist-killing axe to declare each coast and everything in between as something belonging to the people, separate from governments and deities alike. This song is your song, this song is my song.
"Born In The U.S.A." -Bruce Springsteen
Massachusetts is located close enough to New Jersey that people can appreciate The Boss for his mastery of simple, rugged lyrics and anthemic guitar riffs. Though guised as a patriotic sort of song, "Born In The U.S.A." is actually quite the contrary. With rippling anti-war lyrics, Bruce laments that he was, indeed, born in the U.S.A. Though not explicitly a protest song, Bruce is known for his political stances in his music, and place as a hero of the working class. "Born In The U.S.A" makes remorse at where you're from an alright thing to feel.
"Self Evident" -Ani DiFranco
It seems a little cliche to include something 9/11-related in this piece, but after some deliberation I decided that "Self Evident" is way too important not to include. While 10 year old me was enthralled by Green Day's American Idiot- arguably, whether you dig Green Day or not, the most pivotal, iconic post 9/11 and anti-Bush rock opera of its time, 19 year old me finds Ani DiFranco's piece much more eloquent, and delightfully more reserved. DiFranco is a wordsmith, wrapping metaphors into one another to create resonant, heartfelt pieces attached to a political connotation. "Self Evident" is actually a spoken word poem, but her spoken word contains cadences that mimic musicality, and her words strike so swiftly and powerfully that you hardly even notice there's no sound beyond her voice.
"Another Bag Of Bones" -Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is one of the more outspoken gingers in the world, writing delicate, poetic songs coupled with his emotionally wavering tenor. "Another Bag Of Bones" creates poetry out of unwarranted casualties in war. With anti-war songs gaining popularity alongside momentum in the Vietnam era, they seem to have almost become a thing of the past. But war hasn't. Kevin Devine swings the camera back onto an issue that is just as heartbreaking and real as when songs of this nature were commonplace. They don't call redheads "fiery" for nothing.
"A More Perfect Union" -Titus Andronicus
If you like allusions, you're in for a treat. New Jersey punks in residence Titus Andronicus scribed this 7-minute epic with a truncated speech Abraham Lincoln gave that warned against lending too much power to the government while also hinting that the strongest revolutions would be domestic. "A More Perfect Union" laments the now lost American Dream™ with screeching, melancholy references to Springsteen, a Civil War era marching song, while closing with a soured line from the "Battle Hymn Of The Republic.
"Working Class Hero" -Green Day
This cover is not only phenomenally done, but is also a part of something really cool. Back in 2007, a bunch of artists you probably like collaborated to make an album called Instant Karma. Composed entirely of John Lennon covers, all proceeds of the album benefitted the struggling nation of Darfur. This tune in particular is haunting, due to a refreshingly sensitive, husky-voiced Billie Joe Armstrong, as well as an almost hypnotic chorus. A salute to blue-collared America, John Lennon penned this in unwavering support of the middle class while solidly flipping off "the machine." The original is just as stellar, but these punk icons add a much needed layer of humility and grit.
"Double Dare Ya" -Bikini Kill
As if you weren't already suspecting such a fury-fueled band like Bikini Kill would end up in this list—the only question is: Which song to pick? "Double Dare Ya" comes as one of many anthems of the late 90s Riot Grrrl movement, declaring that women do indeed have rights—and Kathleen Hanna "double dares" them to exercise them in a shrill, raucous voice. The feminist movement hasn't necessarily been host to many explosive songs, but that's not to say it's any less important.
"Homeless" -Paul Simon
There's a lot more to Paul Simon than "Sounds Of Silence." In his most successful solo album to date, Graceland is a worldly political masterpiece gaining critical acclaim and contempt alike. Collaborating with South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, one of the most prominent male choruses from the region, Simon put together a heart-wrenching record featuring traditional South African instruments alongside his masterful narrative to create a musical apartheid-focused anecdote. "Homeless" features lyrics in Ladysmith's leading lad Joseph Shabalala's native tongue, Zulu, and the decadent harmonies Paul Simon is so well known for.
"Rockin' In The Free World" -Neil Young
What political playlist is complete without a little Neil? Similar to Bruce Springsteen's pseudo-patriotic track, "Rockin' In The Free World" seems as sweet and wholesome as apple pie. But a closer listen to the lyrics reveals stories of despondent single mothers and rampant homelessness. In classic Young fashion, Neil uses this tune to shed light on a grand issue—while also distracting us from it.
"Big Yellow Taxi" -Joni Mitchell
Climate change activists have been around long before "going green" was a trendy thing to do. Joni Mitchell wrote this sugar-sweet hit back in the 70s, crooning about how humans were degrading all things beautiful and green into parking lots. Deforestation, pesticide use, and global warming are all touched with a wavering, cherubic voice and frenetically strummed guitar.
"The Times They Are A-Changin'" -Bob Dylan
It's safe to say the Vietnam era brought the greatest volume of political songs in American history. With noted influence from Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan stands as the poster child for folk music. Though nearly 20 years post-Guthrie, this Dylan classic holds onto stylings of the past with stripped down guitar and chant-like vocals. "The Times" is a call to recognize everything is not as it seems, and change is inevitable—particularly with 1970's youths, whose rebellious spirit fell disparate with their bootstrap-pulling elders.
"Where Do The Children Play?" -Cat Stevens
In a similar fashion as Joni Mitchell, this song touches on increasing global industrialization in addition to environmental issues, culminating in asking, where do the children play? If we continue to destroy our world in the way we have, Yusuf Islam worries the poor children will have no more green space, no more safe place left for them to play. In the heartwarming fashion Cat Stevens is known for, his full voice adds some much needed sympathy to the song.