Protest Songs

[tn_8tiv]

Does anyone have a favorite protest song?

Bob Dylan
Blowin' In The Wind

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps on the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're foreve banned?
The answer, my friends, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people fly?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it takes till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind,
The answer is blowin in the wind

How many years can mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exit
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friends, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind

 

[Thrillhouse]

Black Sabbath - War Pigs

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds

Oh lord yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor

Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'till their judgement day comes, yeah!

Now in darkness, world stops turning
Ashes where their bodies burning
No more war pigs of the power
Hand of god has sturck the hour
Day of judgement, god is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan, laughing, spreads his wings

Oh Lord Yeah!

 

[Aibhistear]

This is a pretty new song by a group called Anti-Flag. They wrote it withen a couple weeks after 9/11 but it seems to fit just as well for what is going on now.

Anti-Flag
9/11 For Peace (From Mobilize)

It's in the paper every day
You see it in the headlines and you feel so sick
As another life leaves this world - this world so full of hate - but short!
Short on compassion, short on humanity
Asking myself in vain, shaken by the shock…
"Do we even have a chance?"

I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it

This is a plea for peace (world peace)
To the oppressors of the world (and to…)
To the leaders of nations,
Corporate profit takers,
To the every day citizen
Greed, envy, fear, hate- the competition has to stop!
When you see someone down - now is the time to pick `em up
Set our difference aside and never look back!

I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it

Isn't everybody tired of the fighting?
Isn't everybody tired of the killing?
Isn't everybody tired of the dying?
Hatred?
Violence?
Fighting?
Killing?
Dying?

I don't want to die
I don't want to kill
I don't want to kill
I don't want to die
We are all human
It's time to prove it

 

[Thrillhouse]

Edwin K. Starr - War

War-huh-yeah
what is it good for?
absolutely nothing
Say it again
War-I despise
'Cos it means destruction
Of innocent lives
War means tears
To thousands of mothers how
When their sons go off to fight
And lose their lives
I said
War-huh
It ain't nothing but a heartbreak
War
Friend only to the undertaker
It's an enemy of all mankind
the thought of war blows my mind
war has caused unrest within the younger generation
induction then destruction, who wants to die?
It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War
it got one friend that's the undertaker
War has shattered
Many young men's dreams
made him disabled, bitter, and mean
life is much too short and precious to spend fighting wars these days
war can't give life, it can only take it away
It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War
Friend only to the undertaker
We've got no place for it today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's just got to be a better way
War
War
War-Good God, yall
Give it to me, yeah
What is it good for?

 

[curious2c]

no lyrics...too lazy

CCR

'Run Through The Jungle'

 

[Thrillhouse]

Country Joe and the Fish - Fish Cheer

Gimme an F…
Gimme a I…
Gimme a S…
Gimme a H…

What’s that spell?
What’s that spell?
What’s that spell?
What’s that spell?
What’s that spell?

yeah, c’mon on all you big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
he’s got himself in a terrible jam
way down yonder in Vietnam
so put down your books and pick up a gun
we’re gonna have a whole lot of fun

and it’s 1, 2, 3, what’re we fighting for?
don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn
next stop is vietnam
and it’s 5, 6, 7, open up the pearly gates
well there ain’t no time to wonder why
whoopee! we’re all gonna die

well c’mon generals, let’s move fast
your big chance has come at last
gotta go out and get those Reds
the only good Commie is one who’s dead
and you know that peace can only be won
when we’ve blown ‘em all to kingdom come

chorus

well c’mon on Wall Street
don’t be slow
why this is war a-go-go
there’s plenty good money to be made
by supplin’ the Army with the tools of the trade
just hope and pray that if we drop the bomb
they drop it on-the Vietcong
chorus

well c’mon mothers throughout this land
pack your boys off to Vietnam
c’mon pops, don’t hesitate
send ‘em off before it’s too late
be the first one on your block to have your boy come home in a box

and it’s 1, 2, 3, what’re we fighting for?
don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn.
…

 

[Thrillhouse]

NWA - Fuck the Police

Right about now, NWA court is in full effect
Judge Dre presidin'
In the case of NWA versus the police department
The prosecution attorneys are M.C. Ren, Ice Cube, and Eazy
Mothafuckin' E
Order, order order
Ice Cube, take the mothafuckin' stand
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothin' but
the truth, so help yo' black ass?
"You're goddamned right!"
why don't you tell everybody what the fuck you gotta say...

Fuck the police commin' straight from the underground
A young nigger got it bad 'cause I'm brown
And not the other color
Some police think
They have the authority to kill a minority
Fuck that shit 'cause I ain't the one
For a punk motherfucker with a badge and a gun
To be beaten on and thrown in jail
We can go toe to toe in the middle of a cell
Fuckin' with me 'cause I'm a teenager
With a little bit of gold and a pager
Searchin' my car, lookin' for the product
Thinkin' every nigger is sellin' narcotics
You'd rather see me in the pen
Than me and Lorenzo rollin' in a Benz-o
Beat up police, out of shape
And when I'm finished, Bring the yellow tape
To tape off the scene of the slaughter
Still gettin' Swoll' off bread and water
I don't know if they fags or what
Search a nigger down and grabbin' his nuts
And on the other hand
Without a gun, they can't get none
But don't let it be a black and a white one
'Cause they'll slam ya down to the street top
Black police showin' out for the white cop
Ice Cube will Swarm
On any motherfucker in a blue uniform
Just 'cause I'm from the CPT
Punk police are afraid of me, huh
A young nigger on the warpath
And when I finish, it's gonna be a bloodbath
Of cops dyin' in L.A.
Yo, Dre, I got something to say ...

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!

SCENE I :

Pull your goddamn ass over right now
Aw, shit, and what the fuck you pullin' me over for?
'Cause I feel like it, just sit your ass on the curb and shut the
fuck up!
Man, fuck this shit
All right smartass, I'm takin' your black ass to jail

M.C. Ren, will you please give your testimony to the jury about
this fucked up incident?

Fuck the police and Ren said it with authority
Because the niggers on the street is a majority
A gang - that's wit whoever i'm steppin'
And a motherfuckin' weapon is kept in
A stand-by for the so called law
Wishin' Ren was a nigger that they never saw
Lights all flashin' behind me
But they're scared of a nigger so they mace to blind me
But that shit don't work, I just laugh
Because it gives 'em a hint not to step in my path
To police, I'm sayin', "Fuck you punk!"
Readin' my rights and shit - it's all junk
Pullin' out a silly club so you stand
With a fake-assed badge and a gun in your hand
But take off the gun so you can see what's up
And we'll go at it, punk, and I'm a' fuck you up
Make you think I'm a' kick your ass
But drop your gat and Ren's gonna blast
I'm sneaky as fuck when it comes to crime
But I'm a' smoke 'em now and not next time
Smoke any motherfucker that sweats me
And any asshole that threatens me
I'm a sniper with a hell of a scope
Takin' out a cop or two that can't cope with me
The motherfuckin' villain that's mad
With potential to get bad as fuck
So I'm a' turn it around
Put in my clip, yo
And this is the sound
Yeah, Somethin' like that
But it all depends on the size of the gat
Takin' out a police would make my day
But a nigger like Ren don't give a fuck to say...

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!

SCENE II :

Yo, Man, whatcha need?
Police, open now (oh shit), we have a warrent for Eazy E's arrest
Oh shit
Get down and put your hands up where I can see 'em!
Man, what did I do?
Just shut the fuck up and get yo' motherfuckin' ass on the floor
But I did'nt do shit
Man, just shut the fuck up

Eazy E, why don't you step up to the stand and tell the jury how
you feel about this bullshit?

I'm tired of the motherfuckin' jackin'
sweatin' my gang while I'm chillin' in the shack an'
Shinin' the light in my face and for what?
Maybe it's because I kick so much butt
I kick ass, or maybe it's 'cause I blast
Oh a stupid-assed nigger when I'm playing with the trigger
Of an Uzi or an AK
'Cause the police always got somethin' stupid to say
They put up my picture with silence
'Cause my identity by itself causes violence
The E with the criminal behavior
Yeah, I'm a gangster, but still I got flavor
Without a gun and a badge, what do you got?
A sucker in uniform waitin' to get shot
By me or another nigger
And with a gat, it don't matter if he's smaller or bigger
(Size don't mean shit, he's from the old school, fool)
And as you all know, E's here to rule
Whenever I'm rollin', keep lookin' in the mirror
And ears on cue, yo, so I can hear a
Dumb motherfucker with a gun
and if I'm rollin' off the eight, he'll be the one
That I take out and then get away
While I'm driving off laughin', this is what I'll say ...

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!

The verdict :

The jury has found you guilty of being a red-neck, white-bread,
Chicken-shit motherfucker
"That's a lie! that's a goddamn lie!"
Get him out of here!
"I want justice!"
Get him the fuck out of my face
"I want justice!"
Out right now!
"Fuck you, you black motherfuckerrrrrrrrrrr!"

Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!
Fuck the police!

 

[celiaKitten]

Which Way Are You Goin'? | Jim Croce

Which way are you going, which side will you be on
Will you stand and watch while, all the seeds of hate are sown
Will you stand with those who say, let his will be done,
One hand on the bible
One hand on the gun
One hand on the bible
One hand on the gun

Which way are you looking, is it hard to see
Do you say what's wrong for him, is not wrong for me
You walk the streets, righteousness but you refuse to understand
You say you love the baby
Then you crucify the man
You say you love the baby
Then you crucify the man

Everyday, things are changing, words once honored turned to lies
People wondering, can you blame them
Its too far to run, and too late to hide

Now you turn your back on, all the things that you used to preach
Now its let him live in freedom, if he lives like me
Well you light has changed, confusion rains, what have you become
All your olive branches turned to spears
When your flowers turned to guns
Your olive branches turned to spears
When your flowers turned to guns

 

[Thrillhouse]

Cat Stevens - Peace Train

Now, I've been happy lately,
Thinkin' about the good things to come
And I believe it could be;
Something good has begun.

Oh, I've been smilin' lately,
Dreamin' about the world as one
And I believe it could be;
Some day it's going to come

'Cause out on the edge of darkness,
There rides a peace train.
Oh, peace train take this country.
Come take me home again.

Now, I've been smiling lately,
Thinkin' about the good things to come
And I believe it could be;
Something good has begun.

Oh, peace train soundin' louder.
Glide on the peace train.
Ooh, ah, ee, ah, ooh, ah.
Come on, now peace train.

Yes, peace train holy roller.
Everyone jump on the peace train.
Ooh, ah, ee, ah, ooh, ah.
Come on, now peace train.

Get your bags together.
Go bring your good friends too
Because it's gettin' nearer;
It soon will be with you.

Now, come and join the livin'.
It's not so far from you
And it's gettin' nearer;
Soon it will all be true.

Oh, peace train soundin' louder.
Glide on the peace train.
Ooh, ah, ee, ah, ooh, ah.
Come on, now peace train.
Peace train.

Now, I've been cryin' lately,
Thinkin' about the world as it is.
Why must we go on hating?
Why can't we live in bliss?

'Cause out on the edge of darkness,
There rides a peace train.
Oh, peace train take this country.
Come take me home again.

Oh, peace train soundin' louder.
Glide on the peace train.
Ooh, ah, ee, ah, ooh, ah.
Come on, now peace train.

Yes, peace train holy roller.
Everyone jump on the peace train.
Ooh, ah, ee, ah, ooh, ah.
Come on, come on, come on.
Yeah, come on, peace train.
Yes, it's the peace train.
Ooh, ah, ee, ah, ooh, ah.
Come on, now peace train.
Peace train.
Ooh, ah, ee, ah, ooh, ah

 

[tn_8tiv]

Damn, some of these songs are bringing back memories.

Thanks Celia...love that one too.

 

[celiaKitten]

Hang A Flag In The Window | David Rovics

We want a safer country
And it's in God we trust
So we'll bomb you during Ramadan
Turn your world into dust
But pull up on your boostraps
And stand on your own two feet
While we blow them off with cluster bombs
Disguised as something to eat

We stand for freedom
And prosperity
So we'll bomb your schools and hospitals
And make sure you live in misery
All you evildoers
And your children and your wives
With our B-52's we'll show you
How we value civilian lives

Give us your hungry, your restless
We'll show you democracy
A military trial
Or detention indefinitely
We'll have homeland security
Thomas Ridge all hail
We may not find the terrorists
But we can throw the left in jail

And we will all be safe
And we shall have no fears
Once our retinas have been scanned
And all the walls have ears
And we're all in good hands
When the FBI is in the know
We're sure they'll look after us
Just like they did with COINTELPRO

(Chorus)
So hang a flag in the window
And all hail to the chief
Follow the leader
And suspend your disbelief
Our country right or wrong
You know what to do
Sing God bless America
Oh that red, white and blue

When facing anyone with boxcutters
We'll say put up your dukes
As we spend fifty billion
On bombers and nukes
We're a beacon of light
And just to make the point
We'll cut taxes on the rich
And throw the poor into the joint

Yes we'll bail out the airlines
Put on your green fedoras
And for all the laid-off workers
We've got maquiladoras
Yes capitalism will save us
For have you ever seen a
More convincing proof
Than Enron and Argentina

(Chorus)
So hang a flag in the window
And all hail to the chief
Follow the leader
And suspend your disbelief
Our country right or wrong
You know what to do
Sing God bless America
Oh that red, white and blue

The Axis of Evil
We'll bomb 'em down the skids
There'll be no more terrorists
Once we kill their kids
People may starve
And economies may crumble
But those folks'll just
Have to learn to be more humble

And give us your money
Debt repayments with aplomb
While we scour the map
For some targets left to bomb
And as another city falls
Upon our sacred American soil
At least we got our Daisy Cutters
And that Alaskan oil

(Chorus)
So hang a flag in the window
And all hail to the chief
Follow the leader
And suspend your disbelief
Our country right or wrong
You know what to do
Sing God bless America
Oh that red, white and blue

 

[celiaKitten]

IGNORELAND | REM

These bastards stole their power from the victims of the Us v. Them years,
wrecking all things virtuous and true.
The undermining social democratic downhill slide into abysmal
lost lamb off the precipice into the trickle down runoff pool.
They hypnotised the summer, Nineteen seventy-nine.
Marched into the capital brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready,
heartless, and labeled. Super U.S. citizen, super achiever,
mega ultra power dosing. Relax.
Defense, defense, defense, defense. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ignoreland. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ignoreland.
The information nation took their clues from all the sound-bite gluttons.
Nineteen eighty, eighty-four, eighty-eight, ninety-two too, too.
How to be what you can be, jump jam junking your energies.
How to walk in dignity with throw-up on your shoes
They amplified the autumn, Nineteen seventy-nine.
Calculate the capital, up the republic my skinny ass.
T.V. tells a million lies. The paper's terrified to report
anything that isn't handed on a presidential spoon,
I'm just profoundly frustrated by all this. So, fuck you, man. (fuck 'm)
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ignoreland. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ignoreland.

If they weren't there we would have created them. Maybe, it's true,
but I'm resentful all the same. Someone's got to take the blame.
I know that this is vitriol. No solution, spleen-venting,
But I feel better having screamed. Don't you?
They desecrated winter, Nineteen seventy-nine.
Capital collateral. Brooding duplicitous, wicked and able, media-ready,
heartless, and labeled. Super U.S. citizen, super achiever,
mega ultra power dosing. Relax.
Defense, defense, defense, defense. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ignoreland. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ignoreland.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ignoreland. Yeah, yeah, yeah

 

[celiaKitten]

Eve of destruction | Barry McGuire

The Eastern world, it is explodin',
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'.
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin',
You don't believe in war -- but what's that gun you're totin'?
An' even the Jordan river has bodies floatin'.
But you tell me, over and over and over again, my friend,
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Don't you understand what I'm tryin' to say,
An' can't you feel the fears I'm feelin' today?
If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away,
There'll be no one to save, will the world in a grave.
Take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy.
An' you tell me, over and over and over again, my friend,
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Yeak, my blood's so mad feels like coagulatin',
I'm sittin' here just contemplatin'.
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation,
Handful of senators don't pass legislation,
An' marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin',
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin'.
An' you tell me, over and over and over again, my friend,
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China,
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama.
Ah, you may leave here for four days in space,
But when you return it's the same ol' place,
The poundin' of the drums, the pride an' disgrace.
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace.
Hate your next-door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace,
An' tell me, over and over and over again, my friend,
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction,
No, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

 

[celiaKitten]

For What It's Worth | Buffalo Springfield

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

 

[plasticman33]

From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We will fight our country's battles
On the land as on the sea.
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marines.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job -
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heavens scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

 

[celiaKitten]

And the tradition continues ..

http://www.dtdmedia.com/music_for_peace.html

 

[tn_8tiv]

And the tradition continues ..

http://www.dtdmedia.com/music_for_peace.html

Great link Celia...thanks.

 

[celiaKitten]

A wonderful thread, Thank you for it.

 

[ksmybuttons]

tn_8tiv:


Second verse:

How many ear's must one man have, before he can hear people cry?

Pete Seeger - ... on July 26, 1956, the House of Representatives voted 373 to 9 to cite Pete Seeger and seven others (including playwright Arthur Miller) for contempt.
After the citation came an indictment, and then a trial.


Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
The girls have picked them ev'ry one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the young girls gone?
They've taken husbands, every one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the young men gone?
They're all in uniform.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
They've gone to graveyards, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
They're covered with flowers, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

 

[tn_8tiv]

One Tin Soldier
words and music by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter
Copyright © 1969 by ABC / Dunhill Music, Inc. (See below for more information.)

Listen children, to a story, that was written long ago.
About a kingdom, on a mountain, and the valley folk below.

On the mountain, was a treasure, buried deep beneath a stone
and the valley people swore they'd have it for their very own.

(Chorus)

Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend,
do it in the name of Heaven, you can justify it in the end.
There wont be any trumpets blowing, come the judgment day.
On the bloody morning after, One Tin Soldier rides away.

So the people of the valley, sent a message up the hill,
asking for the buried treasure, tons of gold for which they'd kill. Came an answer, from the kingdom, with our brothers, we will share,
all the secrets, of our mountain, all the riches buried there.

(Chorus)

Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend,
do it in the name of Heaven, you can justify it in the end.
There wont be any trumpets blowing, come the judgment day.
On the bloody morning after, One Tin Soldier rides away.



Now the valley, cried with anger, mount your horses, draw your swords, and they killed the, mountain people.
So they won their just rewards.
Now they stand, beside the treasure, on the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone, and looked beneath it,
Peace on earth was all it said.

(Chorus)

Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend,
do it in the name of Heaven, you can justify it in the end.
There wont be any trumpets blowing, come the judgment day.
On the bloody morning after, One Tin Soldier rides away.

 

[tn_8tiv]

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
Written by Pete Seeger
Sung by Peter, Paul & Mary

Where have all the flowers gone
A long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone
A long ago
Where have all the flowers gone
Girl, they're picked up, every one
When will they ever learn
When will they ever learn

Where have all the soldiers gone
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone
A long ago
Where have all the soldiers gone
They've gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn
When will they ever learn

When will they learn, ever learn
When will they learn
When will they learn, ever learn
When will they ever learn
When will they ever learn

If you don't know what we're talking about
when we say this
There's too many starving children
If ya don't know what we're killing each other
And We just ain't got time for ya brother

 

[celiaKitten]

With God on Our Side | Bob Dylan

Oh my name it is nothin'
My age it means less
The country I come from
Is called the Midwest
I's taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that land that I live in
Has God on its side.

Oh the history books tell it
They tell it so well
The cavalries charged
The Indians fell
The cavalries charged
The Indians died
Oh the country was young
With God on its side.

Oh the Spanish-American
War had its day
And the Civil War too
Was soon laid away
And the names of the heroes
I's made to memorize
With guns in their hands
And God on their side.

Oh the First World War, boys
It closed out its fate
The reason for fighting
I never got straight
But I learned to accept it
Accept it with pride
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.

When the Second World War
Came to an end
We forgave the Germans
And we were friends
Though they murdered six million
In the ovens they fried
The Germans now too
Have God on their side.

I've learned to hate Russians
All through my whole life
If another war starts
It's them we must fight
To hate them and fear them
To run and to hide
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side.

But now we got weapons
Of the chemical dust
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.

In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.

So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
If God's on our side
He'll stop the next war

 

[tn_8tiv]

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

 

[MercyMia]

My Lousy Translation

Ang Bayan Ko

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas, lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad, nag-alay ng ganda't dilag At sa kanyang yumi at ganda, dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka, na sadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad, kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag, ang 'di magnasang makaalpas
Pilipinas kong minumutya, pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika, makita kang sakdal laya.

This was the underground's alternative national anthem during a very difficult time in Philippine history. I attended a rally one night and there were thousands of us sitting around holding small lit candles in the dark. We all sort of whisper-sang this song and that quiet hummingness pressed deeper on my heart than the shouts of the activists' murderous epithets chanted with fists raised in anger. This protest song is based on love, vision and quiet diligence.

My horrible translation (just to share the gist):

My country the Philippines, land of gold and flowers
Love for her destiny, protecting her pure beauty
And for her modesty and purity, foreigners approach
My country, imprisoned, chained in suffering.

Even a bird who had freedom to fly, when caged will cry
How much more a country of extreme beauty, who no longer has freedom
Philippines, my beloved, nest of my tears and poverty
My desire, to see you utterly free.

 

[tn_8tiv]

Re: My Lousy Translation

Ang Bayan Ko

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas, lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad, nag-alay ng ganda't dilag At sa kanyang yumi at ganda, dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka, na sadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad, kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag, ang 'di magnasang makaalpas
Pilipinas kong minumutya, pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika, makita kang sakdal laya.

This was the underground's alternative national anthem during a very difficult time in Philippine history. I attended a rally one night and there were thousands of us sitting around holding small lit candles in the dark. We all sort of whisper-sang this song and that quiet hummingness pressed deeper on my heart than the shouts of the activists' murderous epithets chanted with fists raised in anger. This protest song is based on love, vision and quiet diligence.

My horrible translation (just to share the gist):

My country the Philippines, land of gold and flowers
Love for her destiny, protecting her pure beauty
And for her modesty and purity, foreigners approach
My country, imprisoned, chained in suffering.

Even a bird who had freedom to fly, when caged will cry
How much more a country of extreme beauty, who no longer has freedom
Philippines, my beloved, nest of my tears and poverty
My desire, to see you utterly free.

Thanks Mia for that beautiful post. We sometimes fail to realize that protest means against tyranny and oppression. Thanks for sharing. Hugs and kisses honey.