Essay on Protest Songs Throughout the Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, Americans were greatly influenced by the extensive media coverage of the war. Before the 1960’s and the intensification of the war, public news coverage of military action was constrained heavily by the government and was directed by Government policy. The Vietnam War uniquely altered the perception of war in the eyes of American citizens by bringing the war into their homes. The Vietnam War was the first U.S uncensored war resulting in the release of graphic images and unaltered accounts of horrific events that helped to change public opinion of the war like nothing it had ever been. This depiction by the media led to a separation between the United States government and the press; much of what was reported flouted

This song was influenced by Bob Dylan’s “Blowing In The Wind” and gave a visual representation of the discrimination that African-American face even at public places like movie theaters. Civil rights supporters sang this song with tears in their eyes and hope in their heart that the prejudice against African-Americans will end.

2. Is the intent of this song to promote or protest the Vietnam War? Why?

Vietnam was an entirely new type of war for the United States. It still remains morally and historically problematic in today’s society. The Vietnam War had a tremendous impact on American society and culture, primarily because it was the first war to be televised. The American press played a significant

The Vietnam conflict was the first war involving the United States to have a heavy media presence, taking pictures and writing down everything. This media presence allowed for the anti-war movement to have ammunition to fight their own battle, the battle against the war. Without the media’s enormous involvement the Vietnam Conflict may have been much different. The views of the average person were definitely affected by the images the media presented to them for the first time. The soldiers could have had a much different homecoming as well as the overall view of the war. The anti-war movement did have a reasonable basis and wanted change. They felt as citizens they were being taken advantage of and forced to do something they did not want

Throughout time, music has been an influential part of society. As a form of entertainment and expression, its impact has always been felt both economically and emotionally. During the Vietnam war, music evolved into more a form of expression rather than pure entertainment. Emotionally charged songs became a method to oppose the war, and vent frustrations. While many songs opposed the war, numerous others focused on peace and happiness. They provided a positive perspective in an otherwise depressing time. Along with incorporating passion into music, cultural diversity increased in music greatly. Black artists became progressively more popular and accepted in the musical scene. This respect

It was believed that America should not be in the Vietnam war. This is because of many reasons. One reason is that the war in Vietnam did not directly affect the United States in any way. United States officials believed that Communism violated democracy, so they wanted to fight in the Vietnam war just to try and stop Communism. Others believed that the United States fought in the war just to show their dominance as a country. Another reason that the United States should not have fought in the Vietnam War was because of how much money it would cost. It seemed like a waste of money to the general public since there would be no immediate effect. A big reason why people protested the Vietnam War was because of all the casualties that were bound to happen. Most people felt like the soldiers being sent were dying for no reason, and there would be no reward for their risk. Most of all United States citizens were mad about the draft.

Other Vietnam War Music Protest Songs During the Vietnam War, there was significant protest songs released. An example is “War” by Edwinn Starr, famous for the lyrics “War (huh)! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, say it again!”

As stated above, one of the sources of media used was the song recorded by the band The Animals called, "We gotta get out of this place". This song was created to place music in the hearts of the American experiences in Vietnam. The purpose of this song was to say that there is no life to live in Vietnam during the war. "We gotta get out of this place if it's the last thing we ever do, we gotta get out of this place cause, girl there's a better life for me and you." The troops were thinking that if they ever got out of the war, they would most definitely live a better life with their loved ones waiting for them at home. The way this song describes Vietnam is accurate in the sense that there are a numerous amount of trees blocking the sun from

A Montage at the beginning of the song is symbolic to the events in the past such as the Vietnam war and bombings in 1968.

Fan blades/helicopter blades rotating slowly above a troubled dreamer, Jim Morrison's voice singing "The End"... Young soldiers, on their way to Vietnam in the summer of Woodstock, marching on board their plane at Ft. Dix singing "Fixing To Die"... Correspondent Michael Herr catching helicopter rides out to the firebases, "cassette rock and roll in one ear and door- gun fire in the other," or crouched under fire in a rice paddy while Jimi Hendrix' music blares from the recorder held by the soldier next to him... Grunts linking arms in a beery E.M. club and screaming out the lyrics to the Animals' "We Gotta Get Out of This Place"...

Popular music in general, and certainly anti-war music specifically, became a space for cultural and political conflict and dialog, and at times a product and resource for broad movement against the war. The Vietnam War was accompanied every step of the way by an anti-war soundtrack that touched on every tone—melancholy and touching, enraged and sarcastic, fearful and resigned—and that captured the long demoralizing impact of this war.

The song’s specific issue is that it is meant to be pacifistic and against war but not anti-war. It was meant to make the people responsible for the outrages and the deaths feel guilty about the destruction they have caused in the war.

“Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” by Pete Seeger became a popular anti-war protest song during the 1960s. This song did not only protest against the Vietnam War but also made their generation more aware about the global problems. Songs like “Not Ready to Make Nice” by Dixie chicks about freedom of speech was written after they received death threats for singing against the Iraq war, protests against the violation of human rights. But music is not only used to protest, it is also used to give hope and optimism. “We Shall Overcome”, a song sung by Guy Carawan together with the Montgomery Gospel Trio and the Nashville Quartet, is perhaps the best known example of civil rights song. Instead of blaming the government, this song registered a feeling of hope and faith among African-Americans during the civil rights movement.

In this article, there are several examples that show the power of music for political change. One of the example mentioned in the article is the influence of the music of Bob Dylan in the sixties. The war in Vietnam was very controversial. While there were many problems within the country, many Americans were opposed to the tactics employed by the United States’ military on the populations, including napalm and Agent Orange. The music of Bob Dylan rallied many people against the Vietnam War and also against social inequality.