Protest Songs

These are some songs that have been used as anthems for different causes.

Ohio - by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young is a song about an anti-war protest at Kent State University in Ohio. The National Guard opened fired and shot into the crowd of peaceful protesters. 4 students were killed. It was an event that shocked the nation.



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For What It's Worth always reminds me of the 1960s and the turbulance that was about to happen. The 60s were a time of hope and massive change, but it was also very messy. There were protests and riots, people were killed, beaten and arrested. The world was changing and the United States was experiencing massive changes.

This song is by Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth"



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The changes that started in the 1960s continued for many decades. In the 1980s however, Ronald Regan was elected president, and the mood in the country became more conservative. The gap between the rich and poor began to grow again. Mental hospitals were closed and people with mental illness began living on the streets as homeless people. Arrests for drug possession increased and more people were in prison. The government engaged in secret wars in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, and sold guns to Iran (also in secret). It was a dark time for many, but there was still hope for change. Tracy Chapman captures the spirit of these times in her song, "Talkin' Bout a Revolution".

Blowin' in the Wind

Peter, Paul and Mary made the song popular



Bob Dylan wrote the song

She Keeps Me Warm - Mary Lambert

Here is one video of Mary Lambert singing "She Keeps Me Warm"

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She says I smell like safety and home
I named both of her eyes “Forever” and “Please don’t go”
I could be a morning sunrise all the time, all the time yeah
This could be good, this could be good

And I can’t change, even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change, even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm, she keeps me warm

What’s your middle name?
Do you hate your job?
Do you fall in love too easily?
What’s your favorite word?
You like kissing girls?
Can I call you baby?
Yeah, yeah

She says that people stare ‘cuz we look so good together
Yeah, yeah, yeah

And I can’t change, even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change, even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm, she keeps me warm [x2]

I’m not crying on Sundays, I’m not crying on Sundays [x2]
Love is patient, love is kind [x4]
My love, my love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm, she keeps me warm

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Here is the 2013 video

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Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert

Same Love

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When I was in the third grade I thought that I was gay,
'Cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight.
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She's like "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-k, trippin'."
Yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she?
Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.
I remember doing the math like, "Yeah, I'm good at little league."
A preconceived idea of what it all meant
For those that liked the same sex
Had the characteristics
The right wing conservatives think it's a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made rewiring of a predisposition
Playing God, aw nah here we go
America the brave still fears what we don't know
And God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago
I don't know

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately?
"Man, that's gay" gets dropped on the daily
We become so numb to what we're saying
A culture founded from oppression
Yet we don't have acceptance for 'em
Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser
It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins
It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself
When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service those words aren't anointed
That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same, but that's not important
No freedom 'til we're equal, damn right I support it

(I don't know)

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

We press play, don't press pause
Progress, march on
With the veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
'Til the day that my uncles can be united by law
When kids are walking 'round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are
And a certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it all
But it's a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it's all the same love
About time that we raised up... sex

And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can't change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I'm not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
Love is kind

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Madonna, Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis, and Mary Lambert at the Grammy Awards performing "Same Love"
Queen Latifah performed a marriage ceremony with 33 couples. A few of them were same sex couples.

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Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin - Sisters Are Doing It

Now there was a time when we used to say that behind every great man there had to be a great woman
But in these times of change you know that it's no longer true
So we're comin' out of the kitchen 'cause there's something we forgot to say to you
We say, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves"
Standin' on their own two feet and ringin' on their own bells
We say, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves"

Now this is a song to celebrate the conscious liberation of the female state
Mothers, daughters and their daughters too
Woman to woman we're singing with you
The inferior sex has got a new exterior
We got doctors, lawyers (Yes we do), politicians too
Everybody take a look around
Can you see, can you see, can you see there's a woman right next to you
We say, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves" (Oh yes we are)
Standin' on their own two feet an ringin' on their own bells
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Now we ain't makin' stories and we ain't layin' plans
Don't you know that a man still loves a woman and a woman still loves a man just the same way

Sisters are doin' it for themselves
There was a time (There was a time), when they used to say (When they used to say)
That behind every great man there had to be a great woman
In these times of change you know that it's no longer true
So we're comin' out of the kitchen 'cause there's something we forgot to say to you
We say, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves"
Standin' on their own two feet and ringin' on their own bells
Sisters are doin' it for themselves (C'mon yeah, go for it, go for it)
Sisters (Sisters) are doin' it for themselves (Step on, c'mon do it girl)
Sisters are doin' it for themselves (Doin' it, doin' it, doin' it, doin' it, doin' it)
Sisters are doin' it for themselves (Doin' it, do it, doin' it, doin' it)
Sisters are doin' it for themselves (Doin' it for themselves) (Doin' it, doin' it, doin' it, doin' it)
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
I said, "Sisters are doin' it for themselves" (People pay, hear what we say)
Standin' on their own two feet an ringin' on their own bells (Sisters are doin' it for themselves)
Here we come now, doin' it, doin' it, we're doin' it, doin' it (Sisters are doin' it for themselves)

Aretha Franklin - RESPECT

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What you want, baby, I got it
What's you need? You know I got it
All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you get home
Hey baby, when you get home, mister

I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
I ain't gonna do you wrong because I don't wanna
All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you get home
Hey baby, when you get home, listen

I'm about to give all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
You give me my profits when you get there
Yeah baby, when you get home, oh, yeah, ooh

Your kiss is sweeter than honey
Guess what? So is my money
All I need is just a little respect when you get home
Baby, when you get home
[Incomprehensible] on me

R E S P E C T
Find out what it means to me
R E S P E C T
Take care, T C B

Oh, a little respect
Yeah, baby, I want a little respect
Now, I get tired, but I keep on tryin'
Runnin' out of foolin', I ain't lyin'
Yes, respect, all I need is respect

All I want, ooh yeah, I want little respect
Yeah, baby, a little respect
Oh honey, sock it to me
[Incomprehensible]
Ooh, I want a little respect

Alicia Keys - A Woman's Worth

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You could buy me diamonds
You could buy me pearls
Take me on a cruise around the world
Baby, you know I'm worth it

Dinner lit by candles
Run my bubble bath
Make love tenderly to last and last
Baby, you know I'm worth it

Wanna please, wanna keep
Wanna treat your woman right
Not just dough, better show
That you know she is worth your time

You will lose if you choose
To refuse to put her first
She will and she can
Find a man who knows her worth

'Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always come first
And a real man just can't deny a womans worth

If you treat me fairly
I'll give you all my goods
Treat you like a real woman should
Baby, I know you're worth it

If you never play me
Promise not to bluff
I'll hold it down when shit gets rough
'Cuz baby, I know you're worth it

She walks the mile, makes you smile
All the while being true
Don't take for granted
The passion that she has for you

You will lose if you choose
To refuse to put her first
She will and she can
Find a man who knows her worth, ooh

'Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always comes first
And a real man just can't deny a womans worth

No need to read between the lines spelled out for you
Just hear this song 'cuz you can't go wrong when you value
A womans worth
(Womans, womans, womans)

'Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always comes first
And a real man just can't deny a womans worth

'Cuz a real man knows a real woman when he sees her
And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her
And a real woman knows a real man always comes first
And a real man just can't deny a womans worth

Alicia Keys - Superwoman

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Everywhere I'm turning
Nothing seems complete
I stand up and I'm searching
For the better part of me

I hang my head from sorrow
State of humanity
I wear it on my shoulders
Gotta find the strength in me

'Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am, yes she is
Still when I'm a mess, I still put on a vest
With a S on my chest
Oh yes, I'm a Superwoman

This is for all the mothers fighting
For better days to come
And all my women
All my women sitting here trying
To come home before the sun

And all my sisters coming together
Say yes I will, yes I can

'Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am, yes she is
Still when I'm a mess, I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes, I'm a Superwoman

When I'm breaking down and I can't be found
As I start to get weak
'Cause no one knows me underneath these clothes
But I can fly, we can fly, oh

'Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am, yes she is
Even when I'm a mess, I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes, I'm a Superwoman, yes she is

Let me tell you, I am a Superwoman
Yes I am, yes she is
See, even when I'm a mess, I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes, I'm a Superwoman
Yes I am, said I'm a Superwoman, yes you are

Oh yeah, I'm tellin' you
I'm super, so super
I'm super, so super
Yes I am, yes we are
Yes I am, yes you are