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
