Group 4

What is Protest Music?

A Protest Song is a song that is associated with a movement for protest and social change.

Why Protest Music?

Music allows us to express ourselves and our opinions in a way that writing and speaking cannot, it connects and inspires people. With the help of Protest Music, we can send a message and raise awareness on the problems or issues that arise in our society.

Interviews:

Name: Rajnandini

Song name: IMAGINE by John Lennon

Link :

https://youtu.be/ugrAo8wEPiI?feature=shared

Song lyrics:

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us, only sky

Imagine all the people

Livin' for today

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion, too

Imagine all the people

Livin' life in peace

You

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

Synopsis:

"Imagine" is a song by the English rock musician John Lennon which is his best-selling single of his solo career.The lyrics encourages listeners to imagine a world of peace, without materialism, without borders separating nations and without religion. The song's message of hope and unity has resonated with many over the years. The first message of the song is about ”a war not solving problems”, where the war just emerges hatred or anger, suffering, cry, fear, and trauma. To solve a conflict it is not necessary to fight , but it can be overcome by a diplomatic way or a peace treaty. The second message is about “realizing human as social and different creatures”, in which human cannot live without others, in other words, they need each other, but in reality they are different in several aspects. The differences should be used to help eachother and everyone should be willing to live in harmony.

Name : Aanya Sandeep Patel

Name of the song: EVE OF DESTRUCTION by Barry McGuire

Link:

https://youtu.be/qfZVu0alU0I?si=qCJ2tqXTSyWtkl_b

LYRICS:

The eastern world, it is exploding

Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’

You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’

You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’

And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’

But you tell me over and over and over again, my friend

Ah, you don’t believe … we’re on the eve of destruction.

Don’t you understand what I’m tryin’ to say?

Can’t you feel the fears I’m feelin’ today?

If the button is pushed, there’s no runnin’ away

There’ll be no one to save with the world in a grave

Take a look around ya boy, it’s bound to scare you boy

And you tell me over and over and over again, my friend

Ah, you don’t believe … we’re on the eve of destruction.

Yeah, my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’

I’m sitting here just contemplatin’

I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation.

A handful of senators don’t pass legislation

And marches alone won’t bring integration

When human respect is disintegratin’

This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’

And you tell me over and over and over again, my friend

Ah, you don’t believe … we’re on the eve of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China

Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama

You may leave here for four days in space

But when you return, it’s the same old place

The poundin’ of the drums, the pride and disgrace

You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace

Hate your next-door neighbour but don’t forget to say grace

And, tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend

You don’t believe … we’re on the eve of destruction

Mm, no no, you don’t believe … we’re on the eve of destruction.

Synopsis:

Eve of Destruction was an anti-war song written by P.F. Sloan in 1964 and recorded by Barry McGuire the following year. This mentions the Vietnam War without directly mentioning the Vietnam War, and instead is referred with the term “Eastern World”. The song emphasises on the risks and danger of nuclear weapons, and the dire consequences of them being used by any political power, that will affect all of humanity. It speaks of Political hypocrisy, and the struggle for civil rights. The song also repeatedly said that we are on the Eve of Destruction, to urge humanity to gain clarity in this matter of social injustice and the consequence that will be faced by the world due to unchecked political power. The song captured the attention of the people with its lyrics, that were raw, direct and confrontational.

Name: Divya Dharshini Y

Song Name: This land is your land by "Woody Guthrie"

_Abridgement_

This land is your land by "Woody Guthrie", basically is a protest song that talks about the American land, which is considered to provide various opportunities to people. Despite being a land of dream for many, there are people who are left behind due to various reason which includes factors like race, class, and immigration status etc. who cannot live the life in America which is a dream for many.

The song focuses on the peoples whose desire is to settle in America but couldn’t, like for instance if we talk about the expenses that are occurred during the process of immigration, it is more expensive so normal people could not afford it, or if we talk about inequality, whites are given more preferences rather than the blacks or the browns. So there are so many situations where people find difficult in immigrating to America.

_Link_ :

https://youtu.be/2Q7PULELvok?si=aqY6V3kxwmWuYNF-

_Lyrics_ :

This land is your land, and this land is my land

From California to the New York island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters