Music and the Anti-War Movement - Steffon Swenson
The article, Music and the Anti-War Movement, by James Perone chronicles the music of the Vietnam War era. Perone, begins, by dissecting the first of the anti-war music which was mainly focused on an abstract view of war and the constant threat of nuclear annihilation. He discussed a lot of Bob Dylan’s songs including “Blowin’ in the Wind� and the song “Where Have All the Flowers Gone� by Pete Seeger. Perone said of Dylan’s song that he brought an “ . . . anti-war, anti-discrimination, anti-apathy message to millions (p. 36).
As the years of progressed and the country became more opposed to the war in Vietnam, the songs reflected the sentiments. Songs became stronger and more accusatory. Left-leaning protest singers tried to sway the government not only through their songs, but also through letters. For example, Joan Baez sent a letter that told the government she would not pay sixty percent of her income tax because she did not want it to go towards military funding.
Oddly, songs that were gentler were able to make an impact as well. Songs such as John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance� and Cat Stevens’s “Peace Train� reflected the “ . . . extent to which objection to Vietnam had become part of general American popular culture� (p.57). It is interesting to look at the changes that took place in lyrics and sounds as the war progressed and American sentiment towards the war changed.
Music was especially crucial in 1970 after the Kent State protests and killings. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young wrote an extremely memorable song followings these events called, “Ohio.� The song was about tin soldiers that represented the National Guard and also placed the blame on President Nixon for the killing of four innocent college kids. Perone wrote that, “his lyrics suggest, in a veiled manner, that the events should serve to galvanize the movement against the prevailing power structure, while simultaneously acknowledging that the situation in America has evolved to the point that the soldiers are now being used against citizenry� (p.62).
This era in history stands apart from all others because of the sheer number of anti-war songs produced. As Perone chronicled the changes in music during this era, the reader is able to understand how music affected citizens and at the same time accurately represented historical events.