This Machine Kills Fascists: the Protest Music Thread

Hilarious intro to this one:

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Hmmm, needs more punk…

…it might be a bit Crass…

…some classic Fingers…

…a tasty Prawn…

…And everyone loves a bit of Cock

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…in their game?

The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid
And the marshals and cops get the same
But the poor white man’s used in the hands of them all like a tool
He’s taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
’Bout the shape that he’s in
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game

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I like this version of that a lot:

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Listening to some Akala:

it’s a spotify list, but still:

John Lennon’s Protest Song Playlist, as chosen by Yoko Ono

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Not very diplomatic…

A bit Tankie, but I like this version. And I love this verse…

No more deluded by reaction,
On tyrants only we’ll make war!
The soldiers too will take strike action,
They’ll break ranks and fight no more!
And if those cannibals keep trying,
To sacrifice us to their pride,
They soon shall hear the bullets flying,
We’ll shoot the generals on our own side.

I wish this song was no longer relevant.

Could have been written yesterday.

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That’s another day gone by, son, close your eyes
For the moon is chasing clouds across the skies
Go to sleep and have no fear, son
For your mam and dad are near, son
And the giant is just a shadow on the wall

Go to sleep and when you wake it will be light
There’s no need to fear the darkness of the night
It’s not like the dark you find, son
In the depths of some men’s minds, son
That defies the daily coming of the dawn

Lie easy in your bed and grow up strong
You’ll be needing all your strength before too long
For you’ll soon be on your way, son
Fighting battles every day, son
With an enemy who thinks he owns the world

Stop crying now, let daddy dry your tears
There’s no bogeyman to get you, never fear
There’s no ogres, wicked witches
Only greedy sons-of-bitches
Who are waiting to exploit your life away

Don’t you let 'em buy you out or break your pride
Don’t you let yourself be used then cast aside
If you listen to their lying
They will con you into dying
You won’t even know that you were once alive

No more talking now it’s time to go to sleep
There are answers to your questions but they’ll keep
Go on asking while you grow, son
Go on asking till you know, son
And then send the answers ringing through the world

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Vietnam medley from John Prine (Sam Stone may refer to Korean War, but same diff).

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I’m not sure if this counts as obvious protest music, but a thread elsewhere reminded me of this obscure little number:

I thought it was interesting because it takes on the issues of electronic privacy, the database state and the facebookification of the world with early 80s pop music. The music might be of its time, but the message is bang up to date.

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Can’t find an audio of this, but if anyone else can, that’d be fantastic.

You almost couldn’t find a more Nostrodamian set of lyrics for our time

Don Henley Little Tin God

"A new age is dawning
On fewer than expected
Business as Usual"
That’s how the headline read
Some shaky modern saviors
Have now been resurrected
In all this excitement
You may have been misled

People want a miracle
They say "Oh Lord, can’t you see us?
We’re tryin’ to make a livin’ down here
And keep the children fed"
But, from little dark motel rooms
To “Six Flags over Jesus”
"How are the mighty fallen"
So the Bible said

You don’t have to pray to a little tin god
Step out of the way for a little tin god
You might fear the reaper, fear the rod
But you never have to get down on your knees
You don’t have to holler, "please, please"
No, you never have to get down on your knees
For a little tin god

The cowboy’s name was "Jingo"
And he heard that there was trouble
So in a blaze of glory
He rode out of the west
No one was ever certain
What it was that he was sayin’
But they loved it when he told them
They were better than the rest

But you don’t have to pray to a little tin god
Step out of the way for a little tin god
You might hate the system, hate the job
But you never have to get down on your knees
You don’t have to holler, "please, please"
No, you never have to get down on your knees
For a little tin god

Throw down a rope from heaven
And lead the flock to water
The man in the middle would have you think
That you have no other choice
But to wander in the wilderness
Of all the upturned faces
If you stop and listen long enough
You will hear your own small voice

But you don’t have to pray to a little tin god
Step out of the way for a little tin god
You might fear the reaper, fear the rod
But you never have to get down on your knees
You don’t have to holler, "please, please"
No, you never have to get down on your knees
Never have to holler, "please, please"
You never have to get down on your knees
You never have to holler, "please, please"
You never have to get down on your knees
For a little tin god

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