Soundtrack to the Revolution
Article Collaboration with Maya Katz and Mckenna Blackshire
I Ain’t Marching Anymore - Phil Ochs (1965)
An anti-war song, “I Ain’t Marching Anymore” was an anthem at protests and rallies throughout the 1960s. Influenced by the U.S.’s involvement in the Vietnam War, each verse focuses on different wars and battles fought by the U.S. including the War of 1812, World War II and the Mexican-American War. Throughout the song Ochs repeats the line: “I ain’t marching anymore” which I would say reflects his belief that he can’t justify fighting for his country anymore. He expands on this idea through prompting the question, “Now look at all we’ve won with the saber and the gun, tell me is it worth it at all.” Finally, he concludes with sentiment “Call it, Peace, or call it, Treason / call it, Love, or call it, Reason / but I ain’t marching anymore.” To me, this song is a perfect representation of the realization that your country isn’t everything you believe it should be.
- McKenna Blackshire
“Talkin Bout A Revolution” - Tracy Chapman (1989)
Tracy Chapman’s “Talkin Bout A Revolution” opened her debut album and is the perfect climate for today's society. Although Chapman wrote this anthem in the 1970s, it still proves relevant and its message of change clearly rings through. Tracy sings “Don't you know / They're talkin' 'bout a revolution / It sounds like a whisper.” People have been whispering about a revolution, but now we are yelling. As Tracy says, the tables are finally turning and we are ready to run and change the world for the better.
- Maya Katz
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron (1971)
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is a blunt and impassioned call to action in response to the spoken-word piece “When the Revolution Comes” by The Last Poets. The central motif of “the revolution will not be televised” can be interpreted in a variety of ways: social change cannot be created without our active participation and social justice work is not about making ourselves look good. These ideas are reiterated throughout several points of the song, for example “the revolution will not make you look five pounds thinner” and “there will be no highlights on the eleven o’clock news.” Heron’s words remind us to reflect more holistically on our principles and the ways in which we fight for them. Furthermore, this song highlights various social and political issues which are still relevant today including the ignorance of selective activism, the unnerving rule of capitalism and the glorification of black violence.
- McKenna Blackshire
“Get Up, Stand Up” - Bob Marley (1973)
“Get Up, Stand Up” is not only a reminder for everybody to stand up for the rights that they were born with, it is also a reminder for everybody to squeeze every last ounce of pure joy out of life because you have the opportunity to. There is so much change that every single human being on the planet is capable of and this song is a friendly nudge telling you that if you see something wrong, you have the power to change it. Bob Marley chants “Preacher man, don't tell me/ Heaven is under the earth/ I know you don't know/ What life is really worth.” There are a multitude of different beliefs and opinions that constantly stimulate society, but often very little change is seen. This song calls out for people to stand up for their rights and there is no time like the present to stand up for what you believe in.
- Maya Katz
A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke (1964)
Based on the events of Cooke’s life, “A Change is Gonna Come” speaks to the struggle of African-Americans in the 60s and the hope which surrounded the budding Civil Rights Movement. This song is considered Cooke’s best composition for its rawness in discussing the emotional complexities that defined much of his perspective as a Black man. This is well encapsulated in his line, “It’s been too hard livin’ / But I’m afraid to die / ‘Cause I don’t know what’s up there / Beyond the sky”, which resonates especially hard when considered in the context of Cooke’s untimely death. For me, a lot of the beauty of this song comes from Cooke’s ability to hold hope in his heart in spite of all he’s suffered: “It’s been a long / A long time common’, but I know / A change gon’ come.”
- McKenna Blackshire
“Weave Me the Sunshine” - Peter Yarrow (1972)
It is not new news to anybody that 2020 has not been the most ideal year. Full of disappointment after disappointment, reflecting on this unusual year, it is hard to see anything positive. Luckly, the year is coming to a close and we have many things to look forward to. “Weave Me the Sunshine” hums to “Weave me the sunshine out of the pouring rain/Weave me the hope of a new tomorrow and fill my cup again.” Gazing back into my memory, I can resonate with weaving sunshine out of pouring rain. Although this year was overflowing with misery, people found new ways to spark joy in their lives. In March, thousands of people stood on their balconies, front lawns, and hung their heads out of their windows to cheer for the front line workers returning home from work. Others discovered a newfound love for the outdoors. It also became totally acceptable to wear sweatpants everyday. Some protested and found joy in a community who sought long awaited change. Additionally, we have a new president to look forward to, not to mention the first female vice-president. And the list goes on and on. This song portrays the hope that can be seen as we look into the future and also the sunshine in the gloomy past year.
- Maya Katz
God - John Lennon (1970)
“God” is from John Lennon’s first post-Beatles solo album, and it is an utter musical masterpiece as one of Lennon’s most vulnerable works next to “Imagine”. Considered radical in every era since, “God”, to me, is Lennon’s denouncement of symbols of power in favor of love and pure humanity. The song consists of three verses. In the first, he argues, “God is a concept by which we measure our pain.” In the second, he tells listeners he doesn’t believe in religious, political and social figures such as “Jesus,” “Elvis,” “Kennedy,” or even the “Beatles,” and instead he believes in himself and his lover, Yoko Ono. In the third, he explains, “the dream is over,” which can be interpreted to describe both the changes in his musical career and the changes in his life philosophies. To me, this song offers a semblance of comfort, as it’s a reminder that even if we lose every superficial standard we measure ourselves and our world by, we still have love and life.
- McKenna Blackshire
“Where The Poison Is”- FINNEAS
Mere hours after the 2020 United States presidential election was called for Joe Biden, FINNEAS released “Where The Poison Is” with the caption, “You’re fired.” This song is a blunt slap in the face to the Trump administration and how they have dealt with the issues that faced the country during his term. FINNEAS belts, “When all my friends get sick, it's on the president/ When all my friends get sick, it's on his government/ Take me to the place where the poison is/ To put a face to what's poisonous/ To give him a little taste of his medicine/ There's a snake that thinks it's the president.” He later sings, “Once we put this all behind us/ We get to go right back to school shootings and a climate crisis/ I wanna buy a house on the South Island/ Can't say I'm proud to be American” which I think that many Americans can resonate with. As a country, we have no true idea of what the new presidential term will bring, but we do know that in a short month, we will have a president that will listen to others ideas and try to bring back some humanity to this country.
- Maya Katz