Protest Songs

October 14, 2007 5:55 PM

So are you ready to march on Washington to protest in song? Here are some lyrics. Some examples from the 60's. Something sweet from Bob Dylan. Speaking of Zimmermans, here's Roy's take on Iraq.

Roy is new to me, but apparently he protests in song about a lot of stuff.

posted by snsranch (33 comments total)

Anti-War Songs of the Vietnam Era (self-FPP)
posted by Poolio at 5:59 PM on October 14, 2007

When the President Talks to God
posted by danb at 6:07 PM on October 14, 2007 [3 favorites]

Why would a person who supposedly is delivering a message and who would pay to see live charge $1.50 per track/$16-$70 per collection for me to learn their songs?

What's the message?

How about, "Roy Zimmerman has needs, too."

Sorry. I really am. But: Pass.
posted by humannaire at 6:12 PM on October 14, 2007

I was just about to post that, danb. great song, and I'm surprised GE-owned NBC broadcast it.
posted by drjimmy11 at 6:13 PM on October 14, 2007

danb, that kicks ass.
posted by snsranch at 6:17 PM on October 14, 2007

"So are you ready to march on Washington to protest in song?"

Flippant answers that come to mind in response to that question:

1. Can I bring my Wii?
2. Only if we can put my recliner on casters and someone can push me.
3. Washington? Where's that and such as?
4. Sorry but the protest conflicts with my catching up on Desperate Housewives with Tivo.
5. My parents concieved me during a Vietnam War Protest in Washington DC forty years ago, and I don't want children. So I'd have to say no. Just in case.
6. Are pizza and beer provided or do we have to bring our own?
7. My only protest is that there's not enough blood and carnage on Fox News. Bring it on!
8. Will the 'Free Speech Zone' they corral us into be near a Starbucks, by any chance?
9. I'd rather wait for the war protests to hit DVD.
10. I have an irrational fear that Michael Moore will sit on me.
posted by ZachsMind at 6:18 PM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

roy zimmerman is pretty good
posted by es_de_bah at 6:19 PM on October 14, 2007

What is the last thing that Bright Eyes says in "When the President Talks to God", and what does it mean?

He says it a couple times; it sounds something like "little mish mish".
posted by Flunkie at 6:30 PM on October 14, 2007

The singing revolution helped bring down the soviet union.
posted by proneSMK at 6:30 PM on October 14, 2007

To answer my own question, it seems to be "fil mish mish", which is apparently an Arabic saying meaning something along the lines of "don't hold your breath" or "ain't gonna happen".
posted by Flunkie at 6:36 PM on October 14, 2007

"He says "Fil mish mish" at the end. It's Arabic. It literally translates to "When apricot season comes" but means "I doubt it" or "When pigs fly" or something like that..."
posted by puke & cry at 6:37 PM on October 14, 2007

too slow
posted by puke & cry at 6:37 PM on October 14, 2007

ok, so roy zimmerman needs his own fpp iff'n he hasn't already got one...

oh..and, puke & cry, and conor says phil mishmish...cuz conor likes to help out unknown folks, i guess. he did nice stuff for simon joyner too.
posted by es_de_bah at 6:54 PM on October 14, 2007

Phil Mishmish?

Any relation to Bill Fillmaff?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:03 PM on October 14, 2007

In a perfect world, the above FPP would have included a link to this interesting segment [warning: 3-sec. commercial intro], directed us to the hip-hop living legends, The Coup [MySpace] (notorious for the prescient image of the World Trade Center being destroyed on the cover of the early-September 2001 release, Party Music), this FPP from three months ago, and maybe even this AskMeFi thread about songs to do with impeaching the president from earlier this year.

...just sayin.
posted by humannaire at 7:08 PM on October 14, 2007

Public Enemy live, "Son of a Bush"
posted by surplus at 7:11 PM on October 14, 2007

Here's to the State of George W.

This is an updated version of Phil Ochs' "Here's to the State of Mississippi", written by Tim Robbins, and performed by Eddie Vedder.
posted by Poolio at 7:17 PM on October 14, 2007

And here's Eddie Vedder covering Bob Dylan's "Masters of War".
posted by Poolio at 7:19 PM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Anti-war songs? Here's my contribution.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:32 PM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

From our side of the pond, Dick Gaughan doing Ewan MacColl's Father's Song
posted by Abiezer at 7:44 PM on October 14, 2007

Thanks for the links everyone, they ,by far, surpass my original post.
posted by snsranch at 8:10 PM on October 14, 2007

"Thanks for the links everyone, they ,by far, surpass my original post."

wow... just wow...

good post...good responses... thanks all
posted by HuronBob at 8:22 PM on October 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

@Poolio

I saw Ben Harper and Vedder cover "Masters of War" at Lollapalooza this year, and it was positively amazing. I'd kill for a copy of the performance. Too bad it was recorded but not released.
posted by secret about box at 9:08 PM on October 14, 2007

march away
posted by larry_darrell at 9:22 PM on October 14, 2007

Mikey-San: I saw Ben Harper and Vedder cover "Masters of War" at Lollapalooza this year, and it was positively amazing. I'd kill for a copy of the performance.

A simple "thanks" will suffice :)
posted by Poolio at 9:48 PM on October 14, 2007

Waves of Grain by Two Gallants is easily the best protest song of this generation's fiasco.
posted by Manjusri at 10:01 PM on October 14, 2007

The people sang Protest songs in response to military aggression.
posted by romanb at 2:16 AM on October 15, 2007

Shit, Poolio, I swear I looked on YouTube at some point. Maybe before that recording was posted.

Thanks. :)
posted by secret about box at 7:23 AM on October 15, 2007

Man, this just makes me want a really good audio recording sooooo badly.
posted by secret about box at 8:26 AM on October 15, 2007

And the reason Fil Mish Mish has this meaning is because apricot season, when you can actually get your hands on (decent|any) apricots lasts around 2 weeks or so. So it is a thing of rarity.

In a sense, this would have to make it a more hopefule statement than "When pigs fly", right?

Pigs never fly. Apricot season happens for 2 weeks each year.
posted by Deathalicious at 3:28 PM on October 15, 2007

I saw Ben Harper and Vedder cover "Masters of War" at Lollapalooza this year

Waitaminit. We still have lollapaloozas?
posted by humannaire at 7:57 PM on October 15, 2007

Alright. I see your Vedder/Harper's "Master of War" at Lollapalooza 2007, and see you a The Roots "Star-Spangled Banner/Master of War" at Bonaroo 2007.
posted by humannaire at 8:04 PM on October 15, 2007

Alright. I see your Vedder/Harper's "Master of War" at Lollapalooza 2007, and see you a The Roots' "Star-Spangled Banner Re-dux/Masters of War" at Bonaroo 2007.

[Snark! Now with links!]
posted by humannaire at 8:06 PM on October 15, 2007