2026, History, Music, Uncategorized

Protest Songs

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I am sure it comes as no surprise that I have had this as an earworm all week.

This got me thinking about the history of protest songs, which I learned goes back centuries. It wasn’t until the 16th century and the invention of the printing press that protest songs were written down. They existed word of mouth before this. After Guttenberg, protest songs were often printed as broadsides and handed out in the streets. They were also sung in taverns and other meeting places. They were composed in response to religious and political upheaval as well as poor working conditions and economic inequality.

I found a recording of a very early German protest song from the 16th Century Peasant Revolt. It champions freedom of thoughts and ideas. It has been somewhat modernized, of course. It is amazing to see how many centuries-old protest songs are available to listen to on-line. One good source was the website for The First Amendment Museum, a museum located in Maine.

Yankee Doodle and A Mighty Fortress are protest songs. I imagine Baboons are most familiar with protest songs from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Husband recomnended this one:

I hope there are protest songs being written right now, and that we get to hear them. They are the earworms we need to have.

What protest songs you are you familiar with? Do some research and find older protest songs from other centuries.

43 thoughts on “Protest Songs”

    1. Oh do be generous in your posting. I could use a day of inspiration and remembering that humanity has survived harassment and aggression by a tyrant before. I have been trying to channel Ghandi this week.

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  4. Activists have been finding offices and parking lots of federal vehicles and pouring water everywhere so it freezes and the vehicles and boots cannot get traction. This is being touted as violent behavior.

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  7. Oh wow. I could give you our song list that we use on Monday afternoons here. (Email me if you want a copy.) Includes some of the old standards like Blowin’… , If I Had a Hammer…

    But we’re finding that the best ones to use are some newer ones that either have a call-and-response element, or that change just one word or phrase in each verse, so that people don’t need song sheets so much… you get more people joining in. Some of the newer ones (to me, anyway):

    We Shall Not Be Moved;
    One Foot in Front of the Other (Lead with Love)
    Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around

    And we end each week with We Shall Overcome, followed by Dona Nobis Pacem.

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  9. Waist Deep In The Big Muddy is a real event that came up in a discussion some of my online acquaintances and I had regarding “illegal orders” and Senator Kelly.

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  10. MLK Day by coincidence is also the NCAA Football Championship Day which 47 will be attending. I am hoping that the NCAA has the guts to have the school bands play it.
    Yes! This topic has wound me up!

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  17. Well, since WP won’t let me post the videos, I posted
    Hold On (Keep Your Eyes on the Prize)
    Garbage
    Hard Times Come Again No More.

    I don’t know if these are hardly strictly protest songs, but you should recognize them.

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    1. Church music has often been protests. There is a particular 15th century Hussite hymn that was purportedly written in opposition to how they were treated.

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  20. A young songwriter named Jesse Welles has been recording protest songs for our current state of affairs. I don’t know how to post the YouTube video but here’s a link to one of his latest, “Good vs. Ice”:

    Others that have been in my head lately are “A Change is Gonna Come” (is that a protest song?) and “Ohio.”

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  22. There is a place outside Decorah, IA, called The Center for Belonging that “nurtures grassroots community connection in spacious time through celebration, ritual, play, song, story, art, food, craft, and learning together with nature.” They hold retreats and seminars in the warm months…
    https://www.centerforbelonging.earth/

    One of its founders, Liz Rog, hosted one of our UU Services this past fall, and taught us some call-and-response songs for “the resistance”. The song I just posted was one of those songs she taught us…

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  24. Way OT I had my big MRI today. So far no reaction to the anesthesia. Lots of things seen, danger of a stroke for one. Several things about my eyes, which my eye doctor will have to explain. But it explains why I have balance issues. And I have a rare eye disorder. 1 in 10,000 babies’ eyes do not completely develop before birth. Mine is a mild example. It explains why I have problems with light. It may explain other things.
    Clyde

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  29. I submit that the Star Spangled Banner is a protest song.
    Given that, why aren’t all four verses sung at sporting events and the like?
    So sacred a song should be performed in its entirety.

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