Words by Artist Jenny Holzer
You know those songs that speak the words you wish you could articulate? The songs that get your blood boiling and your body ready for a revolution? Not that you’re likely to start one, but sometimes, just a song can give a voice to millions. Just a single line can take you out of yourself, your day-to-day life, your running internal dialogue about errands, work, money, dinner parties, what people might think about you, that thing you wish you hadn’t said, whether or not you forgot to buy coffee for the morning, forgetting to take out the garbage, missing a deadline. All that stuff melts away and the world gets bigger than you, you get bigger than your own little world, and a message comes in. People die in unfair wars. People are murdered in protests. Bad, serious shit is happening or has happened and will continue to happen. You care. You really do. And sometimes, just breaking out of yourself is enough. Sometimes you’ll be moved to make one small change in your life, no matter if it’s just a bag of food at the local shelter or organizing a march against laws you believe are unfair. The songs to come are about big stuff, big political stuff, changing philosophies, the stuff of history. The songs to come break your world apart, shift the tectonic plates of the soul, and make you want to do something. There’s nothing ironic about it. Nothing cloying, nothing false, nothing precious about working to bridge differences to make our country and the planet a more peaceful place. Hey, I was raised by revolutionary thinkers who lived through the events that spurred the songs to follow. And that revolutionary spirit is in my blood. And while some of these songs may initially make you want to pick up a gun, maybe they’ll instead inspire you to pick up a pen, pick up the phone, raise your fist and fight for what you believe in. After all, to paraphrase my husband Elvis Costello, “What’s so funny ’bout peace, love and understanding?”
1. Straight to Hell, The Clash
“Let me tell me bout your blood, bamboo kid. It ain’t Coca-Cola, It’s Rice. Straight to hell, boy, go straight to hell, boy.” The mighty Clash were not afraid to speak out about what lots of people wanted to forget. This one, sung from the perspective of the U.S., addresses the country’s policy that denied Visas to Vietnamese children fathered by U.S. soldiers during the war. Many of these fathers actually were married to the mothers. An entire generation left behind, hated by their countrymen and often killed there, the mothers disowned by their families. All in purgatory, another casualty still ringing loud and clear when the Clash put this song to tape. Thou shalt not take the name of Joe Strummer in vain.
2. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Gil Scott Heron
Commercialism. Poverty. Injustice. And ain’t nobody wanna hear about it. You’ll wanna play this song in Grand Central Station over and over and over again just to get people to wake the fuck up. The revolution will be live.
3. Fight the Power, Public Enemy
Complacency is nothing new. And when Public Enemy hit the scene, these guys did not hold back. They were telling their generation to get up off their knees and stand up again and make real “The Fear of a Black Planet.” And as an astute commenter on this particular link stated, “The true irony is that all of us, black, white and indifferent are prisoners to a system with no alternatives.”
4. Ohio, Neil Young
Four college kids murdered by the powers that be while protesting the Vietnam war. On campus. Neil Young wrote this song and recorded it immediately. Days after the shootings this song was ringing in the streets.
5. Masters of War, Bob Dylan
I honestly believe him when he says he’s not a protest-song writer. Not political. His songs are personal and its up to the listener how they’re going to take it. The words pour through him, and they make me want to weep. And burn buildings down. Then get to my good side and pray.
Covered by The Roots
So there you have it. These classics are as relevant today as they were when they were written. History is long. It’s me who forgets. And I don’t want to forget. Now, get inspired. But don’t start any street-fights this weekend. And if you do, don’t blame me.
