Regrettably, war has been one of the constants throughout the history of mankind. Even in modern times, when we think we are supposed to be above killing and more predisposed to diplomacy, war rages. Another constant in the world has been music, and throughout its existence, it has been one of the primary mediums through which people speak out about their struggles. The fusion of these two constants has led to countless protest songs, helping people express their frustration and pass on history to future generations.
There are many critically acclaimed anti-war songs that most can name off the top of their heads, such as Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son". Especially now, many artists from all around the world continue to produce their own unique calls for peace. Yet, there are many songs, even from popular artists, that have received only a fraction of the attention they truly deserve. So, join me on a quick dive into anti-war music by looking at a list of 10 songs that, in my opinion, deserve far more recognition than they have received.
Ryuichi Sakamoto - "War & Peace" (2004)
"Is peace the hardest work? Is peace a time of tension? What are the different kinds of victory?"
Kicking off the list is Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “War & Peace”, an experimental take on common anti-war rhetoric and philosophy. A true master of sound, Sakamoto’s career is full of some of the most well-composed music in recent times. In “War & Peace”, accompanied by a number of disembodied voices, he asks important philosophical questions about war. Is war as old as gravity? When children fight with their siblings, are they learning to make war? Why is war so exciting? Especially with the novel access that everyday people have to see what happens in war, these are all questions we have to ask ourselves. Sakamoto stresses the importance of understanding the psychology behind conflict.
The Decemberists - "The Legionnaire's Lament" (2002)
"It's been a year or more, since they shipped me to this foreign shore, fighting in a foreign war"
In “The Legionnaire’s Lament”, The Decemberists sing about the thoughts and sorrows of a French Legionnaire from his perspective. They have established themselves as musical historians, often singing about historical events and reenacting them by embodying various characters. This allows them to spread a powerful message in “The Legionnaire’s Lament” as lead singer Colin Meloy impersonates a deployed French soldier, likely from the Napoleonic Era, switching between complaining about his conditions and dreaming about his home, Paris. Men and women are still sent to foreign shores to fight the same wars, and I don’t doubt that the lyrics match much of their internal dialogue. Anyone who believes in the glory or excitement of war should give this song a listen.
The Flaming Lips - "The W.A.N.D." (2006)
"Why can't they see it's not power, that's greed, to just want more and more?"
In their 2006 release, “The Will Always Negates Defeat”, The Flaming Lips speak about tyrants who believe they can control the world or be powerful through conquest. They spread their message through the voice of a futuristic wizard, adding a creative spin without diluting their point. The hard-rock sound of the song emphasizes their message and evokes an energetic, exciting feeling in the listener. This energy makes it a perfect protest song for today, especially for younger generations who often need excitement to pay attention.
Sizzla - "No War" (2017)
"Only the rich and fortunate profit war, damage the economy and empty your pockets, neighbors of nations going to waste, taxpayers money on their plate"
Jamaican reggae musician Sizzla offers his hand at an anti-war tune with "No War", a song you might find yourself dancing along to because of its infectious reggae groove. The subject matter is, however, more serious than the melody lets on, as Sizzla talks about educating future generations in Africa about the tragedy caused by war as well as mentioning who it is actually good for and why such a terrible practice continues. He also preaches his personal Rastafarian beliefs, a religion which primarily focuses on fostering inclusion and love amongst all people on Earth, and one that is quite fitting for an anti-war message. The ideas espoused by the song can also be copy and pasted to really any other place on earth, as educating children about war is crucial for every nation on the planet.
Willie Nelson - "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?" (2006)
"Let's just kill them all and let God sort em' out, is that what God wants us to do?"
On "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?", Legendary country singer Willie Nelson gives his take on the Middle Eastern conflicts which the United States had entered into at the turn of the century. He also focuses on the religious influences of war, in part due to his own Christian beliefs, but also in order to criticize the 43rd and 45th Presidents, who were at the same time devout Christians and ravenous warmongers. Coming from a member of the same religion, the song is especially impactful as someone who holds seemingly the same moral values is calling out the misinterpretation, or misuse, of those same values and beliefs. The song is soft yet impactful, getting its point across yet doing so in a very relaxed, country tone.
Immortal Technique - "The War Vs. Us All ft. Mumia Abu Jamal" (2005)
"This is a war on all of us, and the struggle against war is really a struggle for a better life, for the millions of folks who are in need here in this country"
Immortal Technique was one of the most talented lyricists in all of hip-hop throughout the aughts and still continues to be so up until the present day. He has also been an outspoken, yet sometimes polarizing, activist, promoting socialist political views. However, on "The War Vs. Us All", he let Mumia Abu-Jamal do the talking for him.
Abu-Jamal himself is a legendary figure among activists of any cause—as he was an activist and journalist before his arrest for murder in 1982—for which he has been in jail until the present day. He was even on death row at first. The story behind this conviction is extensive on its own, and I recommend anyone reading to look into it after finishing this article. On the song, Abu-Jamal gives a sobering speech about the military-industrial economic system which promotes war while also lambasting George W. Bush's Doctrine of preemptive strikes or attacking a nation before it has a chance to attack you. What he says is also emphasized by how he says it, with a voice that comes through the telephone sounding like a veteran news broadcaster.
Nahko and Medicine for the People - "Warrior People" (2013)
"Well, I will learn to be peaceful, but I keep my knife at my side"
It may be a bit of a cop out to have "Warrior People" on this list seeing as the performance posted above has nearly 10 million views on its own, however I also have never heard it brought up when people talk about anti-war protest songs, thus I think it deserves a sport on this list. Nahko and Medicine for the People are known for their social and environmental protest music, and often focus on speaking about the ongoing plight of indigenous people in the Americas. "Warrior People" sees Nahko speaking about his own Puerto Rican, Apache, and Filipino descent and about the oppression of his ancestors. Much of this oppression was continuously interlaced with warfare which led to multiple genocides, and thus the Native American struggle, and the struggle of the native populations of many areas, is one in the same with the struggle against war.
Los De Abajo - "War 4 Peace" (2002)
"There is no violence that disturbs my people anymore (Ya no violencia que perturbe a mi gente), because hatred and contempt don't fit in our minds (porque el odio y el disprecio no nos caben en la mente)"
Los De Abajo, named after a popular novel about the Mexican Revolution, have been pumping out some of the most unique and entertaining protest music for the past few decades. The band, starting off as a Ska four-piece which would eventually grow to eight members, have embodied the revolutionary spirit in Mexico since they began performing at workers rallies and other protests. "War 4 Peace" accentuates the message of peace and love which the group is trying to spread by backing it with a unique melody which incorporates a wide variety of musical influences. This mixing of genres is something the group is known for, and on the song, it adds energy to what they are trying to say, making it even more impactful. This multi-faceted musicality also makes the song appealing to people who like all sorts of different genres, blending the sounds into a perfect harmony.
Dar Williams - "Empire" (2005)
"And we'll kill terrorizers, and a million of their races, but when our people torture you, that's a few random cases"
Both of the Bushes are truly mainstays on this list as "Empire", by Dar Williams, speaks about the empires of old, while comparing them to the United States Empire which George W. Bush was trying to attain with his Neoconservative policies. The song has an incredibly smooth pop-rock melody, reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac, yet the melody is contrasted with the lyrics as Williams satirically sings about the "Empire's glory". The song ends with a happy ending, with the Empire eventually waxing and waning, though in a sad, and maybe implied twist, there is always another Empire that comes along to take the formers place.
Bright Eyes - "When the President Talks to God" (2005)
"When the President talks to God, do they drink near beer and go play golf, while they pick which countries to invade, which Muslim souls can still be saved?"
Much like Willie Nelson's "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?", "When the President Talks to God?" is another song about George W. Bush's morality and religious convictions, this time from the eyes of someone who opposes his religious views. The lyrics are very pointed, and there is no need to dig for any deeper meaning, but sometimes that's what you need to get a message across. The song is not entirely focused on war, speaking on the Republican President's many failings, though a good chunk of that failure is due to the policy of a "War on Terror", ultimately leading to a number of invasions and ceaseless troop deployments in the Middle East.
Musicians are very good at presenting digestible political messages through their songs and for this reason it is crucial that they are the storytellers of future generations. Protest songs don't only help to embolden people who are forced to live in a state of oppression, they can also pass on stories to future generations and allow them to learn about and analyze the past. All in all, I encourage every reader to delve into the genre of anti-war music, not only to learn more about the plight of the oppressed, but also to enjoy some damn good music.
Check out the full Spotify playlist for this article here. What do you want to see covered on Enharmonic Magazine next? Let us know.
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