This week I have chosen my 10 favorite songs that all have the “Vietnam War” in common. I for one was still to young to remember much but have read and watched a lot of stories about it. With the 2016 Presidential Election just around the corner and one of the candidates pretty much looking like if she/he wins America will be in a major war soon after they take office and possible deporting immigrants whether they are legal or not (is what I’m afraid of), we can look back in time via the music to a time when thousands of Americans were killed by a senseless war started by and kept going by politicians. America at home was in a crisis that at some point could have turned into another Civil War type situation. Young people protesting, being beaten, even killed as one of my choices notes. Colored people who simple wanted equal writes were being beaten, hosed down by fire hoses, kicked out of restaurants, bathrooms and that list goes on and on. One good thing that did come out of all this was that musicians were writing some of the greatest rock songs ever written.
Narrowing this list to just ten songs was pretty hard, I could have gone to at least 30 that I like and far beyond that if I produced a whole list of just the songs I’ve heard. So first I’m sorry that some of your favorites are not included and I’m sure your top ten is a lot different then mine. I look forward to hearing what some of your favorites are. First a couple honorable mentions: Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction”, Black Sabbath “War Pigs”, Arlo Guthrie “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”, The Doors “The Unknown Soldier”, The Animals “Sky Pilot” and a very special shout out to The Doors “The End” because of how the song creates the tone for Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now
So here we go:
10) “Saigon Bride” by Joan Baez
9) “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield
8) “War (What is it good for?)” by Edwin Starr
7) “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” by “Peter, Paul & Mary”
6) “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills Nash & Young
5) “Child in Time” by Deep Purple
4) “Give Peace A Chance” by John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band
3) “I’m Feel Like I’m A Fixin’ to Die Rag” by Country Joe
2) “Machine Gun” by Jimi Hendrix
1) “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Forgotten Rock Classics 
These songs bring back vivid memories. I think it was a turning point in American history. Now many of those protesters are “over 30” and part of the establishment.
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I hope they are good memories that they bring back. As for being a turning point for America you are so right.
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Nice post and collection of songs. Surprised no mention (honorable or otherwise) of Jimmy Cliff’s song Vietnam. Dylan especially loved that song. Anyway, thanks to Tangled Up In Music I have stumbled on your work and given you a follow!
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Robert you are right about Cliff’s song. My bad on that one. Great tune by a great artist.
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Hey no worries! It was a great list already, including the ones that didn’t quite make the cut! A few years ago Jimmy revamped it and changed it to ‘Afghanistan’. Very effective. Glad to have come across your work!
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Enjoyed looking at your blog also. Looking forward to seeing more in the future.
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Pingback: Monthly Roundup: 10 Great Posts (October) – Tangled Up In Music
Great list. Certainly one of the most popular themes for both music and film.
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Tangled Up in Music I’m glad you liked it. I thought it would be a easier post then it turned out to be.Narrowing a list to just ten was a great big pain in the you know what.
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Saigon Bride could be the theme song for Syria today. Baez’s voice and that lovely soft strum brought back many memories. And I tried to find my face in the 300,000 “Fuckers” that Country Joe called upon to sing. I wore granny glasses and had long straight brown hair which described many of the girls and guys there that weekend. I believe that music united many people and did bring the war to a close. And today, Bob Dylan wins a Nobel Prize! Who’da thunk it back then?
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Clare Thanks to you I found “Saigon Bride” after your post on Baez a couple months ago. It really does make a strong statement that easily could refer to Syria today. Ever time I listen to Country Joe I think of you and Charlie now. Dylan had a couple tunes about the war that barely missed my list and his songs back in the day were pretty powerful in shaping how the “hippies” viewed the war at the time. It just took the some adults “A LOT” longer to figure out how stupid the war was then the younger generation took.
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I was in college and I remember sitting with my boyfriend and listening to the radio when they did the birthday lottery for young men to decide who would go first. And when I was a junior, at the time of Kent State, we shut down regular classes and the students and professors set up speakers and classes on the war. We invited our parents and grandparents to come to campus and go to the classes with us. That’s why I have a terrible feeling of foreboding right now. I’m more afraid of the day after election day than I am of election day.
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Very scary but we have to believe that after election day we get the best one of the two evils running. Everyday more junk comes out on Trump and at some point his followers have go to come to there senses? Also maybe his followers have forgotten what the Nazi’s did in WWII? What do they really think that they will be save from his tyranny if they vote for him? Afraid Not!!!
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DennisI, I love Obama’s speech in Ohio on Saturday. to paraphrase: “Come on man! Do you think this guy is really going to be there for people who need help, who have lost their jobs? Get real, man!”
And Michelle is doing a great job speaking up about girl’s and women’s right to live in a world where they are afforded the dignity that is their right. I’m really proud of the Democrats who have become unified in working against this buffoon and now I will refer to him as “the predator”. I still am amazed at the people who are so full of anger and hate that it is blinding them to believe he will be of any help to quench their fears and anger if he gets power. We’re all angry, but that doesn’t condone being racists,, women haters, liars and predators.
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Clare I never really thought much of Michelle until this last year or so. Watched her on The Tonight Show and a few other ones and she is one hell of a lady. Plus during this election her speeches, demeanor and class have stood out. She is smart, brilliant and a “CLASS ACT” that we as Americans should be proud that she was the 1st lady of this great nation for 8 years!!!
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I saw her speak 8 years ago . I was in the front row and she signed the poster I was holding.That was when Barack first started to run for office and I was bowled over.
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I’m guessing hat poster is hanging up somewhere. Pretty Special!!!!
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I’ve stored it away with other election items from 9 years ago. My nephew ran the Obama headquarters in Ames for the Iowa Caucuses. I had him send me some of the info they were distributing. I’ll have to look through it some day.
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‘Fortunate Son’ is a song I never get tired of. When I was Kid It just rocked. When I grew up (or just got bigger) the lyrics told the story. Fogerty lives it.
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CB your right on how Fortunate Son has stood up through time. Even today when I hear it you can’t help put start rocking along with it.
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I’m sure that was an incredible relief for your parents. When I was a kid living in Detroit, there was a family across the street who had lost a son in Vietnam. They had a flagpole, and the American flag was always half-staff. I’ve never forgotten it.
I listened to “Saigon Bride” just now. I like Joan, but I’d never heard this song before. What a gorgeous tune, lyrically and musically. Those horns really add poignancy to an already poignant song.
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Pete glad you enjoyed the song. Amazing how something like that can stay in your mind after all these years. I wonder if the family could have ever imagined that by doing that to the flag would still be remembered.Sure would bring a tear or two to there eyes I’m sure.
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Some great songs here! I’ll have to check out the Deep Purple and Joan Baez songs, as well as give a closer listen to “Sky Pilot.” I did a piece on Phil Ochs a while ago, and he has many good songs, especially “I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore” and “We Seek No Wider War,” which was maybe the first anti-Vietnam War song (so early it was never officially released by him) .
Like you, I was (fortunately) too young to be drafted, but I absorbed that war from “trickle down” effect. Thanks for the great article, Dennis.
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Green Pete I found your post on Phil very enlightening when I read it awhile ago. Learned a lot about him that I didn’t know. “I Ain’t Marching No More” was one of the last tunes that I cut to get my list down. Which by the way I had never heard until after reading your post. When you do listen to “Sky Pilot” don’t listen to the radio version. Listen to the album version which is longer and gives you more perspective on being about the war. Also if you read my post https://forgottenrockclassics.com/category/bombay-calling/ you will find the a video on “Child in Time”. Funny you bring up the draft as my brother was maybe 6 months away from being old enough for it when they stopped drafting. I remember the relieve my Mom and Dad had after the draft was stopped.
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