List of anti-war songs
An anti-war song is a musical composition that either states anti-war sentiments directly or one which the public and/or critics define as having an anti-war theme.
Some anti-war songs comment on the aspects of war, while others satirize war. Most promote peace, in some form or another, while others sing out against specific armed conflicts. Still others sing about the physical and psychological destruction that warfare causes to soldiers, innocent civilians, and the human race in general. Many of these songs are considered protest songs, and some have been embraced by various peace movements and peace activists.
Some popular anti-war songs include:
General peace
- "10th Man Downs" — Nightwish (2001)
- "A Little Good News" — Anne Murray (1983)
- "All These Things That I've Done" — The Killers (2004)
- "Amani" — Beyond (1991)
- "Dear Darcy" - Joshua James (2006)
- "Angel's Punishment" — Lacuna Coil (2002)
- "Anti-War Dub" — Digital Mystikz (2006)
- "Army Dreamers" — Kate Bush (1980)
- "Billy Don't Be a Hero" — Paper Lace (1974)
- "Billy Don't Be a Hero" — Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (also 1974)
- "Bleed Red" — Ronnie Dunn (2011)
- "Blowin' in the Wind" — Bob Dylan (1963)
- "Boom!" — System Of A Down (2003)
- "Brothers in Arms" — Dire Straits (1985)
- "Captured" — Malevolent Creation (2004)
- "Civil War" — Guns N' Roses (1990)
- "Classified 1A" — Cher (1971)
- "Come, Gentle Peace" — Roger Lee Hall (1981)
- "Crying Shame"- Jack Johnson (2005)
- "Le Déserteur" — Boris Vian (1954)
- "Disposable Heroes" — Metallica (1986)
- "Europa" — Globus
- "The Fiddle and the Drum" — Joni Mitchell (1969), A Perfect Circle (2004)
- "Fight War Not Wars" — Crass (1978)
- "From a Distance" — Nanci Griffith (1982)
- "The General" — Dispatch (1998)
- "The Lost Children" — Michael Jackson (2001)
- "The Ghost Of You" — My Chemical Romance (2005)
- "G.I. Blues" — Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine (2009)
- "Gimme Peace" — Tom T. Hall (1978)
- "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" — George Harrison (1973)
- "Give Peace A Chance" — Plastic Ono Band (1969)
- "Gods Of War" — Def Leppard (1987)
- "Going Down In Flames" — Three Doors Down (2002)
- "The Gunner's Dream" - Pink Floyd (1983)
- "La Guerre de 14-18" — Georges Brassens (1962)
- "Gunslinger" — Avenged Sevenfold
- "Half A World Away" — Joe Cerisano(2010)
- "Handlebars" — Flobots (2008)
- "Harold Land" — Yes (1969)
- "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" — John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band (1971)
- "Harmony" — Never Shout Never (2010)
- "Heal The World" — Michael Jackson (1991)
- "Hero Of War" — Rise Against (2008)
- "HIStory" — Michael Jackson (1995)
- "Hymn For The Dead" — Anti-Flag (2006)
- "I Ain't Marching Anymore" — Phil Ochs (1965)
- "I Don't Want To Be A Hero" — Johnny Hates Jazz (1987)
- "I Drive Your Truck" — Lee Brice (2012)
- "I Hope You Get Drafted" — The Dicks (1984)
- "I Wish You Peace" — the Eagles (1975)
- "If I Can Dream" — Elvis Presley (1967)
- "Il Nostro Sogno (Our Dream)" — Alfio (2006)
- "Imagine" — John Lennon (1971)
- "In Our Garden" — Naomi Shemer (1995)
- "Jet Fighter" — Butthole Surfers (2001)
- "John Brown" — Bob Dylan (1962)
- "Just A Dream" — Carrie Underwood (2007)
- "Killing in the name" — Rage Against The Machine (1992)
- "Lay Down Your Arms" — Doron Levinson (1973)
- "Lay Down Your Guns" — Emerson, Lake & Powell (1986)
- "Luglio, Agosto, Settembre (Nero)" — Area (1973)
- "Last Chance" — Shooting Star (1980)
- "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" — Ed McCurdy (1950)
- "Life" — Elvis Presley (1971)
- "Living With War" — Neil Young (2006)
- "Love Can Build A Bridge" — the Judds (1990)
- "Love Train" — The O'Jays (1973)
- "Major General Despair" — Crass (1982)
- "Man of War" — The Jacksons (1977)
- "March With Me" — Montserrat Caballé And Vangelis (1997)
- "Mandatory Suicide" — Slayer (1989)
- "La Marseillaise" — Léo Ferré (1967)
- "Masters of War" — Bob Dylan (1963)
- "Mercenary Song" — Steve Earle (1997)
- "M.I.A." — Avenged Sevenfold (2005)
- "Military Madness" — Graham Nash (1971)
- "Miss guéguerre" — Léo Ferré (1961)
- "Mr. President" — Janelle Monáe (2008)
- "Never Kill Another Man" — the Steve Miller Band (1970)
- "No Fuckin' War" — The Dicks (1984)
- "No More Trouble" — Bob Marley & The Wailers (1978)
- "Ode to Joy" - Friedrich Schiller (1785)
- "One Day" — Matisyahu (2009)
- "One More Parade" — Phil Ochs
- "One Tin Soldier" — Original Caste (1969)
- "Pacific Blues" — Léo Ferré (1961)
- "Part III" — Bad Religion (1982)
- "Part IV (The Index Fossil)" — Bad Religion (1988)
- "Peace Sells" — Megadeth (1986)
- "Peace Train" — Cat Stevens (1971)
- "Peace Will Come" — Tom Paxton (1977)
- "Peace Will Come (According To Plan)" — Melanie Safka (1970)
- "Pick Up The Bones" — Alice Cooper (2000)
- "Pipes Of Peace" — Paul McCartney (1982)
- "Power & the Glory" — Saxon (1983)
- "Potshot Heard 'Round The World" — Dead Kennedys (1986)
- "Prayer For Peace" — Perry Como (1958)
- "Prisoners of War" — Funker Vogt
- "Protocol" — Gordon Lightfoot (1976)
- "Rainbow Stew" — Merle Haggard (1981)
- "Rambozo The Clown" — Dead Kennedys (1986)
- "Ratziti Sheteda" — Uzi Hitman (1979)
- "Regardez-les" — Léo Ferré (1961)
- "Road To Joy" — Bright Eyes (2005)
- "Rooster" — Alice In Chains (1993)
- "Sacrifice" — Motörhead (1995)
- "Saltwater" — Julian Lennon (1991)
- "Semper Fi" — John Gorka (1991)
- "Shir LaShalom" — Lehakat HaNachal (1970)
- "Short Memory" — Midnight Oil (1982)
- "Soldiers" — ABBA (1981)
- "The Soldier Has Come Home" — Barry Sadler (1966)
- "Soldier Blue" — Buffy Sainte-Marie (1971)
- "Soldier's Poem" — Muse (2006)
- "Soldier Side" — System Of A Down (2005)
- "Some Mother's Son" — The Kinks (1969)
- "Still Spinning Shrapnel" — Skyclad (1995)
- "Stop The War" — Sugar Blue (2010)
- "Stupid, Stupid War" — Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
- "Survivor's Guilt" — Rise Against
- "Systematic Execution" — Malevolent Creation (1992)
- "Take No Prisoners" — Megadeth (1990)
- "Tank" — The Stranglers (1978)
- "This is War" — Thirty Seconds to Mars (2009)
- "'Til The Last Shot's Fired" — Trace Adkins (2009)
- "Tin Soldiers" — Stiff Little Fingers (1980)
- "Trooper's Lament" — Barry Sadler (1966)
- "Turn! Turn! Turn!" — Pete Seeger (1959)
- "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite The World)" — The Temptations (1971)
- "Universal Soldier" — Buffy Sainte-Marie (1964)
- "Unknown Soldier" — Breaking Benjamin (2006)
- "Véto de Dieu" — Alpha Blondy (1991)
- "Viva La Vida" — Coldplay (2008)
- "Waiting On The World To Change" — John Mayer (2006)
- "Walked in Line" — Joy Division (1979)
- "War" — Bob Marley & The Wailers (1976)
- "War" — Edwin Starr (1970)
- "War" — The Tengelsens (2010)
- "War?" — System Of A Down (1998)
- "War Baby" — Mick Jagger (1987)
- "War Is Not A Game" — Bill Durston (2005)
- "War Pigs" — Black Sabbath (1970)
- "The War Song" — Culture Club (1984)
- "War Song" — Neil Young And Graham Nash (1972)
- "War Sucks, Let's Party!" — Anti-Flag (2006)
- "Wardance" — Killing Joke (1980)
- "Wargasm" — L7 (1992)
- "Warrior" — Steve Earle (2004)
- "Washington Bullets" — The Clash (1980)
- "Wasted Life" — Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
- "We Are Here to Change the World" — Michael Jackson (2004)
- "We Are The World" — USA for Africa (1985)
- "We Don't Need the Army" — Slime (1981)
- "We're Not Gonna Take it" — Twisted Sister (1984)
- "We've Got Nothing But Love to Prove" — Faith Hill (2005)
- "We've Had Enough" — Michael Jackson (2004)
- "What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes" — Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (2002)
- "What's Going On" — Marvin Gaye (1971)
- "What's Left of the Flag" — Flogging Molly (2002)
- "When We Stand Together" — Nickelback (2011)
- "When The Children Cry" — White Lion (1989)
- "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" — Pete Seeger (1961)
- "Where Is The Love?" — The Black Eyed Peas (2003)
- "White Flag Warrior"- Flobots (2010)
- "Who's Gonna Win the War?" — Hawkwind (1980)
- "With God On Our Side" — Bob Dylan (1964)
- "World War" — Yellowman (2004)
- "The Yard Went On Forever" — Richard Harris (1969)
- "Yokel And Idiot" — Yoshiji Goto (1995)
- "Young" — Hollywood Undead (2009)
American Civil War
- "Abraham Lincoln" - Clutch (2009)
- "Accidental Racist" - Brad Paisley (featuring L.L. Cool J) (2013)
- "Arkansas Grass" - Axiom (1969)
- "Ben McCullough" - Steve Earle (1997)
- "The Big Battle" - Johnny Cash (1962)
- "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" - Paper Lace (1974)
- "Charleston Town" - Rob Lincoln (1984)
- "The Devil to Pay" - Iced Earth (2004)
- "Gettysburg" - The Brandos (1987)
- "God Bless Robert E. Lee" - Johnny Cash (1983)
- "In The Hills Of Shiloh" - Shel Silverstein (1963)
- "Johnny Reb" - Johnny Horton (1959)
- "The Klan" - Richie Havens (1968)
- "Lone Pine Hill" - Justin Townes Earle (2008)
- "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - The Band (1969)
- "Rebel Soldier" - Waylon Jennings (1991)
- "Shiloh Town" - Tim Hardin
- "Silent Reign Of Heroes" - Molly Hatchet (1998)
- "The Southland's Bleeding" - Waylon Jennings (1978)
- "Tears of God" - Josh Turner
- "Two Soldiers" - Bob Dylan (1993)
World War I
- "1916" - Motörhead (1991)
- "1917" - Linda Ronstadt (1999)
- "The Accrington Pals" - Mike Harding (1984)
- "All Quiet on the Western Front" - Elton John (1982)
- "All Together Now" - The Farm (1990)
- "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" - Eric Bogle (1972)
- "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)" - The Zombies (1968)
- "Cenotaph" - This Heat (1981)
- "Children's Crusade" - Sting (1985)
- "Christmas 1914" – Mike Harding[1] (1977)
- "Christmas in the Trenches" – John McCutcheon (1984)
- "Don't Sign Up For War" - Alistair Hulett and Dave Swarbrick
- "Field Of Poppies" - Dave Gwyther (2007)
- "Harry Farr" - Stray (2009)
- "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" – Radiohead (2009)
- "I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be a Soldier" - Peerless Quartet (1914)
- "It Could Happen Again" - Collin Raye (1996)
- "No Man's Land" aka "Green Fields of France" – Eric Bogle (1976)
- "Northwinds" - The Stranglers (1984)
- "One" – Metallica (1988)
- "Paschendale" – Iron Maiden (2003)
- "The Red Clydesiders" - Alistair Hulett and Dave Swarbrick
- "Scream Aim Fire" - Bullet For My Valentine (2007)
- "Some Mother's Son" - The Kinks (1969)
- "Snoopy's Christmas - The Royal Guardsmen (1967)
- "The Soldier's Sweetheart" - Jimmy Rodgers (1927)
- "Stay Down Here Where You Belong" - Irving Berlin (1914)
- "Yes Sir, No Sir" - The Kinks (1969)
Mexican-American War
- "Once to Every Man and Nation" – James R Lowell (1845)
Spanish Civil War
- "1936" – Sin Dios (1997)
- "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" – Manic Street Preachers (1998)
- "For Whom the Bell Tolls" - Metallica (1985)
- "Last Lincoln Vet" - Lev Svetek-Zorin (2010)
- "Sketches of Spain" – The Nits (1983)
- "Spanish Bombs" – The Clash (1979)
- "Viva La Quinta Brigada" - Christy Moore (1983)
Spanish-American War
- "Galveston" - Glen Campbell (1969)
- "Lequi of the National Guard" - Bob Connely (1975)
- "The Battleship Maine" - Mary C. Mann (1926) New Lost City Ramblers (1961)
American Indian Wars
- "Apache Tears" - Johnny Cash (1964)
- "Buffalo Soldier" - Bob Marley (1980)
- "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" - Walela (1997)
- "Calico Indians" - Rasputina about the Anti-rent wars (2010)
- "Cherokee" - Europe (1986)
- "Comanche (The Brave Horse)" - Johnny Horton (1960)
- "Creek Mary's Blood" - Nightwish (2004)
- "Custer Died for Your Sins" - Floyd Westerman (1969)
- "Custer Got His... (Anti-Custer Song)" - S-cuk Gogs (2007)
- "Freedom" - Rage Against the Machine (1992)
- "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" - Paul Revere & The Raiders (1971)
- "Indians" - Anthrax
- "Mr.Custer" - Larry Verne (1960)
- "Noble Indian Chief" - Hand Full of Peter (2006)
- "Run To the Hills" - Iron Maiden (1982)
- "Soldier Blue" - Buffy Sainte-Marie (1971)
- "Stars and Stripes" - Anti Flag
- "Wampum Prayer" - Tori Amos (2002)
- "White Man" - Queen (1976)
World War II
- "170" - Kaizer's Orchestra (2001)
- "Aces High" - Iron Maiden (1984)
- "Stalingrad" - Accept (2012)
- "Angel of Death" - Slayer (1986)
- "At Mail Call Today" - Gene Autry (1945)
- "Attero Dominatus" - Sabaton (2006)
- "Auschwitz" - Francesco Guccini
- "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" - Johnny Cash (1964)
- "Bring the Boys Back Home" – Pink Floyd (1979)
- "Do the Mussolini (Headkick)" - Cabaret Voltaire (1978)
- "Enola Gay" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1980)
- "Goodbye Blue Sky" – Pink Floyd (1979)
- "Johnny Come Lately" - Steve Earle (1988)
- "Kenji" - Fort Minor (2005)
- "Laybo" – Rafi Weinstock (1995)
- "Let Me Live" - Angel Dust (2000)
- "The Longest Day" - Iron Maiden (2006)
- "Mr. Churchill Says" - The Kinks (1969)
- "Nagasaki Nightmare" – Crass (1981)
- "No More War" - Heidi Little (2005)
- "Northwinds" - The Stranglers (1984)
- "Primo Victoria" - Sabaton (2005)
- "Reality Asylum" – Crass (1979)
- "Red Sector A" - Rush (1984)
- "Semper Fi" - John Gorka (1991)
- "Soldiers Last Letter" - Ernest Tubb (1944)
- "Stalingrad" - Nightingale (2005)
- "Sullivan" – Caroline's Spine (1993)
- "Thank You, Mr Churchill" - Peter Frampton (2010)
- "The Aftermath" Iron Maiden (1995)
- "The War" - Angels and Airwaves (2005)
- "War is Hell (On the Homefront Too)" - T.G. Sheppard (1982)
- "When the Tigers Broke Free" – Pink Floyd (1982)
Korean War
- "The Door" - George Jones (1974)
- "Freedom" - Rob Lincoln (1991)
- "I Bombed Korea" - Cake (1994)
- "Jutlandia" - Kim Larsen (1979)
- "Korea Blues" - J.B. Lenoir (1970)
- "Missing In Action" - Ernest Tubb (1952)
- "Roll Call" - Johnny Cash (1967)
- "Suicide Is Painless" - Johnny Mandel from the film, M*A*S*H (1970)
Vietnam War
- "8th of November" - Big and Rich (2006)
- "19" – Paul Hardcastle (1985)
- "2 + 2 = ?" – Bob Seger System (1968)
- "21st Century Schizoid Man" – King Crimson (1969)
- "50,000 Names" - George Jones (2001)
- "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" – Arlo Guthrie (1967)
- "All You Need Is Love" - The Beatles (1967)
- "American Woman" – The Guess Who (1970)
- "Back in Vietnam" – Lenny Kravitz
- "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" – The Temptations (1970)
- "Ballad of Ho Chi Minh" Ewan MacColl (1958)
- "Ballad of Penny Evans" - Steve Goodman (1971)
- "Baba O'Riley" - The Who (1971)
- "The Big Parade" - 10,000 Maniacs (1989)
- "Big Time In The Jungle" - Old Crow Medicine Show (2004)
- "Billy Don't Be a Hero" – Paper Lace (also recorded by Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods) (1974)
- "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" – Public Enemy (1989)
- "Born in the USA" – Bruce Springsteen (1984)
- "Bring The Boys Home" – Freda Payne (1971)
- "Bring Them Home" – Pete Seeger (1966)
- "Calley" - Dog Faced Hermans (1994)
- "Charlie Don't Surf" – The Clash (1980)
- "Child in Time" - Deep Purple (1970)
- "Commando" - The Ramones (1977)
- "Copperhead Road" - Steve Earle (1988)
- "Daddy Won't Be Home Anymore" - Dolly Parton (1988)
- "Daniel" - Elton John (1973)
- "Dear Uncle Sam" - Loretta Lynn (1965)
- "Disk of Sun" Ewan MacColl (1969)
- "Duty Called" - Greg Wilson (2000)
- "Eve of Destruction" - Barry McGuire and P.F. Sloan (1965)
- "Fixin to Die Rag" Country Joe McDonald (1967)
- "Fortunate Son" – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
- "The Grave" – Don McLean (1971)
- "Galveston" - Glen Campbell (1969)
- "Galveston Bay" - Bruce Springsteen (1995)
- "Gimme Shelter" - Rolling Stones (1969)
- "The Girl Next Door" - Country Joe MacDonald (1984)
- "Give Peace a Chance" - The Plastic Ono Band
- "Goodbye to Viietnam" - Kitty Hawkins (1965)
- "Goodnight Saigon" - Billy Joel (1981)
- "The Great Compromise" - John Prine (1972)
- "Guns, Guns, Guns" – The Guess Who (1972)[citation needed]
- "Hallelujah Day" by Jackson 5 (1973)[citation needed]
- "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – John Lennon & Yoko Ono/The Plastic Ono Band (1971)
- "Harvest for the World" – The Isley Brothers (1976)
- "Hello Vietnam" - Johnnie Wright (1965)
- "I Ain't Marching Anymore" – Phil Ochs (1965)
- "I Am a Lucky One" - Barry Sadler (1966)
- "I Don't Wanna Go To Vietnam" – John Lee Hooker (1968)
- "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" – Country Joe and the Fish (1967)
- "I have seen the rain" - Pink
- "I Should Be Proud" – Martha and the Vandellas (1970)
- "I Was Only Nineteen (A Walk in the Light Green)" – Redgum (1983)
- "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" - Grand Funk Railroad (1970)
- "In The Army Now" – Status Quo (1986)
- "Inoculated City" – The Clash (1982)
- "Into The Fire" - Sabaton (2005)
- "It Better End Soon" - Chicago (1970)
- "It's All Happening Now" - Peggy Seeger (1968)
- "Jackknife Johnny" - Alice Cooper (1978)
- "Jimmy Newman" – Tom Paxton (1969)
- "Jimmy's Road" - Willie Nelson (1965)
- "Johnny Come Lately" - Steve Earle (1988)
- "Kay" — John Wesley Ryles (1968)[2][3]
- "Kent State Massacre" - Jack Warshaw (1970)
- "Khe Sanh" - Cold Chisel (1978)
- "Kill for Peace" – The Fugs (1966)
- "Kill Your Sons" - Lou Reed (1970)
- "Kim's Nightmare" - Miss Saigon Soundtrack (1989)
- "Last Train to Nuremberg" – Pete Seeger (1970)
- "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" – Melanie Safka (1970)
- "Letters From Vietnam" - Barry Sadler (1966)
- "Live Those Songs Again" - Kenny Chesney (2002)
- "Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation" – Tom Paxton (1965)
- "Machine Gun" - Jimi Hendrix (1970)
- "Mama Bake a Pie (Daddy Kill a Chicken)" - Tom T. Hall (1970)
- "Man in Black" - Johnny Cash (1971)
- "March to the Witch's Castle" - Funkadelic (1973)
- "Moratorium" - Buffy Sainte-Marie (1971)
- "More Than a Name on a Wall" - The Statler Brothers (1989)
- "My Son John" – Tom Paxton (1966)
- "One More Parade" - Phil Ochs
- "Orange Crush" – R.E.M. (1988)
- "Old Hippie" - The Bellamy Brothers (1985)
- "Path of Glory" - Petula Clark (1967)
- "People, Let's Stop the War" – Grand Funk Railroad (1971)
- "Pull Out The Pin" – Kate Bush (1982)
- "Readjustment Blues" - John Denver (1972)
- "Requiem for the Masses" - The Association (1967)
- "Rooster" - Alice in Chains
- "Running Gun Blues" – David Bowie (1970)
- "Saigon Bride" – Joan Baez (1967)
- "Salute to the Nurses" - Barry Sadler (1966)
- "Sam Stone" – John Prine (1971)
- "Seek And Destroy" – Metallica (1983)
- "Simple Song of Freedom" – Bobby Darin (1968)
- "Sky Pilot" – Eric Burdon and The Animals (1968)
- "Smiley" - Ronnie Burns (1969)
- "Something to Believe In" - Poison (1990)
- "Still in Saigon" - the Charlie Daniels Band (1982)
- "Stoned Love" – The Supremes (1970)
- "Straight to Hell" – The Clash (1982)
- "Sunshine" - Jonathan Edwards (1971)
- "Super Bird" - Country Joe and the Fish (1967)
- "Sweet Cherry Wine" - Tommy James and the Shondells (1969)
- "Talkin' Vietnam" – Phil Ochs (1964)
- "That Old Porch Swing" - Eddy Arnold (2005)
- "The Soldier Has Come Home" - Barry Sadler (1966)
- "The War Drags On" - Donovan (1965)
- "This Ain't Nothing" - Craig Morgan (2010)
- "This Is My Rifle" - Mark Maysey (1999)
- "Three-Five-Zero-Zero" - from the musical, Hair (1968)
- "To Susan on the West Coast Waiting" - Donovan (1969)
- "Travelin' Soldier" – Dixie Chicks (2002)
- "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story" – Jedi Mind Tricks (2006)
- "Unknown Soldier" – The Doors (1968)
- "Vietcong Blues" - Junior Wells (1966)
- "Vietnam" – Phil Ochs (1962)
- "Vietnam" – Jimmy Cliff (1970)
- "Vietnamerica" - The Stranglers (1981)
- "Vietnam Blues" - Kris Kristofferson (1966)
- "Vietnam Glam" - Indochine (1993)
- "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" - Pete Seeger (1967)
- "The Wall" - Bruce Springsteen (2003)
- "War" - Edwin Starr (1970)
- "War Games" - the Monkees (1968)
- "The War Is Over" - Phil Ochs (1968)
- "War Movie" - Jefferson Airplane (1971)
- "War Pigs" – Black Sabbath (1971)
- "Wasted Life" – Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
- "What did you Learn in School?" Tom Paxton (1968)
- "What's Going On" – Marvin Gaye (1971)
- "Where Are You Now, My Son?" – Joan Baez (1973)
- "White Boots Marching In A Yellow Land" – Phil Ochs (1968)
- "Wild Irish Rose" - George Jones (1998)
- "Wooden Ships" – Crosby, Stills & Nash and Jefferson Airplane (1969)
- "World of Trouble" - Molly Hatchet (1998)
- "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" - John Prine (1971)
- "Welterusten meneer de president (Sleep well Mr. President)" - Boudewijn de Groot (1966)
Kent State shootings
- "Ohio" – Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young)/Neil Young (1970)
- "Student Demonstration Time" - the Beach Boys (1971)
Dominican Republic
- "The Marines Have Landed on the Shores of Santo Domingo" - Phil Ochs (1966)
The "Troubles"
- "78 RPM" - Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
- "Alternative Ulster" – Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
- "Belfast Child" - Simple Minds (1989)
- "Bloody Sunday" - Stiff Little Fingers (1979)
- "Corridor Or Cells" - Test Dept (1986)
- "Damned to Be Free" - Bad Religion (1982)
- "Drunken Lullabies" - Flogging Molly (2002)
- "Each Dollar A Bullet" - Stiff Little Fingers (1991)
- "Ether" – Gang of Four (1979)
- "Fly the Flag" – Stiff Little Fingers (1980)
- "Fuck Religion" - The Exploited (1990)
- "Get Your Dead Hand Off My Shoulder" - Therapy? (2012)
- "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" – Paul McCartney and Wings (1972)
- "Heal This Land" - Maire Brennan (1998)
- "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" - Megadeth (1990)
- "If They Come in the Morning" aka "No Time for Love" Jack Warshaw (1976)
- "My Youngest Son Came Home Today" – Eric Bogle (1993)
- "No More of That" - Stiff Little Fingers (1979)
- "Oliver's Army" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1979)
- "Out in the Fields" - Gary Moore and Phil Lynott (1985)
- "The Island" - Paul Brady
- "The Luck of the Irish" – John Lennon (1972)
- "Peace on Earth" – U2 (2000)
- "State of Emergency" - Stiff Little Fingers (1979)
- "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six" – The Pogues (1988)
- "Sunday Bloody Sunday" – U2 (1983)
- "This is Not Your Country" - Morrissey (1997)
- "Ulster" - Sham 69 (1977)
- "Wasted Life" - Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
- "White Noise" - Stiff Little Fingers (1979)
- "Zombie" – The Cranberries (1994)
Anti-draft
- "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" - Arlo Guthrie (1967)
- "All I Want" - The Offspring (1997)
- "Bad Company" - Bad Company" (1974)
- "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" – Public Enemy (1989)
- "B.Y.O.B." - System of a Down (2005)
- "The Call Up" – The Clash (1980)
- "Draft Dodger Rag" – Phil Ochs (1965)
- "Draft Morning" – The Byrds (1967)
- "Draft Resister" – Steppenwolf (1969)
- "**** a War" - Geto Boys (1991)
- "G.I. Blues" - Elvis Presley (1960)
- "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted" - Frank Zappa (1981)
- "Kill the President" – The Offspring (1989)
- "Know Your Enemy" - Angry Mic (2008)
- "Legion of Stoopid" - Machinae Supremacy (2004)
- "My Uncle" - The Flying Burrito Brothers (1969)
- "One Man Rock and Roll Band" - Roy Harper (1971)
- "Phone Call from Leavenworth" - Chris Whitley (1991)
- "Refuse/Resist" – Sepultura (1994)
- "Sgt Baker" - Primus (1991)
- "Symphony of Destruction" – Megadeth (1993)
- "Take it Back"- Cream
- "They Were All Out of Step but Jim" - Irving Berlin (1918)
- "This Is The Army, Mr. Jones" - Irving Berlin (1942)
- "War Party" - Eddy Grant (1982)
- "War/No More War" - Heidi Little/LIGHT/Dreams of Grandeur (2005–2010)
- "When Ya Get Drafted" – Dead Kennedys (1980)
Cold War/Nuclear Annihilation
- "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
- "1999" - Prince (1982)
- "2 Minutes to Midnight" – Iron Maiden (1984)
- "20 Tons of TNT" – Flanders and Swann
- "99 Luftballons" and "99 Red Balloons" – Nena (1983)
- "Atomic Garden" - Bad Religion (1992)
- "Balls to the Wall" - Accept (1983)
- "Battalions of Fear" - Blind Guardian (1988)
- "Big Joe Blues" - Pete Seeger (2007)
- "Blackened" – Metallica (1988)
- "Black Planet" - The Sisters of Mercy (1985)
- "Brighter than a Thousand Suns" - Iron Maiden (2006)
- "Breathing" - Kate Bush (1980)
- "Burning in the Skies" - Linkin Park (2010)
- "Children of the Grave" – Black Sabbath (1971)
- "Cold War" – Funker Vogt (2000)
- "Come Away Melinda" - Harry Belafonte
- "Curfew" - The Stranglers (1978)
- "Dawn Patrol" - Megadeth
- "Destruction Preventer" - Sonata Arctica (1999)
- "Eagle Fly Free" – Helloween (1988)
- "East at Easter" - Simple Minds (1983)
- "Electric Funeral" - Black Sabbath (1970)
- "Eve of Destruction" – P.F. Sloan (also recorded by Barry McGuire and The Turtles) (1965)
- "Fantastic Voyage" - David Bowie (1979)
- "Fight Fire with Fire" – Metallica (1984)
- "Forever Young" - Alphaville (1984)
- "Fire in the Sky" - Saxon (1981)
- "Future Legend"/"Diamond Dogs" - David Bowie (1974)
- "Hammer to Fall" – Queen (1983)
- "Heroes" - David Bowie (1977)
- "Hiroshima" - Wishful Thinking (1971)
- "I Come and Stand at Every Door" (based on a poem by Nazım Hikmet) – Pete Seeger (1962); The Byrds (1966)
- "It only takes two to tango" - The Stranglers (1981)
- "It's a Mistake" – Men at Work (1983)
- "Killer of Giants" – Ozzy Osbourne (1986)
- "Killing Fields" - Scanner (1988)
- "Land of Confusion" – Genesis (1986)
- "Leningrad" - Billy Joel (1989)
- "London Calling" – The Clash (1979)
- "Manhattan Project" - Rush (1985)
- "Minutes to Midnight" - Midnight Oil (1984)
- "New Year's Day" - U2 (1983)
- "Nikita" - Elton John (1985)
- "No Nuclear War" — Peter Tosh (1987)
- "Nuclear Winter" – Funker Vogt (2000)
- "Paint Your Windows White" - Alien Stash Tin (2011)
- "Part IV (The Index Fossil)" - Bad Religion (1988)
- "People are People" - Depeche Mode (1984)
- "Pre-War America" – The Beatnigs (1988)
- "Rival Leaders" - The Exploited (1983)
- "Russians" – Sting (1985)
- "Rust in Peace" – Megadeth (1990)
- "Seconds" - U2 (1983)
- "Set the World Afire" - Megadeth (1988)
- "So Long, Mom (A Song for World War III)" - Tom Lehrer
- "Stop the World" - The Clash (1980)
- "Surfin' USSR" - Ray Stevens (1988)
- "Thank God For the Bomb" - Ozzy Osbourne (1986)
- "The American" - Simple Minds (1991)
- "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" - Timbuk3 (1986)
- "They've Got a Bomb" – Crass (1979)
- "Two Suns in the Sunset" – Pink Floyd (1983)
- "Two Tribes" – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984)
- "US Forces" - Midnight Oil (1982)
- "Who's Next?" - Tom Lehrer
- "Воля и Разум" ("Will and Reason") - Aria / Master (1985)
- "When Two Worlds Collide" - Simple Minds (1981)
- "Wind of Change" – Scorpions (1990)
Philippine–American War
Falklands War
- "Another Man's Cause" – The Levellers (1992)
- "Como Estais Amigos" – Iron Maiden (1998)
- "Get Your Filthy Hands off My Desert" – Pink Floyd (1983)
- "I Love a Man in Uniform" - Gang of Four (1982)
- "Is That What You Fought the War For?" - Stiff Little Fingers (1982)
- "Island of No Return" - Billy Bragg (1984)
- "Let's Start a War - The Exploited (1983)
- "Mentioned In Dispatches" - Television Personalities (1985)
- "The Post War Dream" – Pink Floyd (1983)
- "Sheep Farming in the Falklands" – Crass (1982)
- "Shipbuilding" – Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1983)
- "Spirit of the Falklands" – New Model Army (1982)
- "Tango Atlantico" - Joe Jackson (1986)
- "Where the Rose is Sown/ Come Back to Me" - Big Country (1984)
- "Yes Sir, I Will" – Crass (1983)
- "Wha Dat" - Yellowman (1984)
Contras, Latin America
- "All She Wants to Do Is Dance" - Don Henley (1984)
- "Bleed For Me" – Dead Kennedys (1982)
- "Bullet the Blue Sky" – U2 (1987)
- "El Salvador" – Noel Stookey and Jim Wallis (1983)
- "El Salvador" - White Lion (1985)
- "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" - Bruce Cockburn (1984)
- "Lives in the Balance" – Jackson Browne (1985)
- "Nicaragua" – Bruce Cockburn (1984)
- "No Más!" - John McCutcheon (1984)
- "Untitled Song For Latin America" - The Minutemen (1984)
- "Washington Bullets" – The Clash (1980)
- "Wish I Was in El Salvador" – Jello Biafra with D.O.A.(1989)
- "Young Willie" - Garnet Rogers (1992)
Gulf War(s), Iraq, 9/11, and the War on Terror
- "11th Hour" - Lamb of God (2002)
- "21 Guns" - Green Day (2009)
- "911 For Peace" - Anti-Flag (2002)
- "A Farewell to Arms" - Machine Head 2007
- "Act III Scene 2 (Shakespeare)" - Saul Williams (2004)
- "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" - Iron Maiden (1992)
- "All the Young Fascists" – Shihad (2005)
- "America (Just Say No)" - Alien Stash Tin (2003) - Also covered by Betty Swallaux (2011)
- "America First" - Merle Haggard (2005)
- "American Idiot" – Green Day (2004)
- "American Jesus" - Bad Religion (1993)
- "Another Bag of Bones" - Kevin Devine (2009)
- "Apocalypse Please" - Muse (2004)
- "Audience Of One" – Rise Against (2008)
- "Atomic Garden" - Bad Religion (1992)
- "Baghdad" - The Offspring (1991)
- "Beneath The Remains" - Sepultura (1989)
- "Bin Laden" – Immortal Technique (2005)
- "Black Rain" - Ozzy Osbourne (2007)
- "Blessed are the Landmines" - Brave Saint Saturn (2008)
- "Bloodsports" – New Model Army (2007)
- "B.O.B"-Outkast(2000)
- "Boom!" – System of a Down (2002)
- "Bush" – David Banner (2003)
- "The Bushes and The President" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
- "B.Y.O.B." – System of a Down (2005)
- "Can't Happen Here" - Atreyu (2008)
- "Caped Crusader" – Jello Biafra with the Melvins (2004)
- "Capital G" – Nine Inch Nails (2007)
- "Captain Sterling's Little Problem" - The Coup (2007)
- "Cheney's Toy" - James McMurtry (2008)
- "Cinnamon Girl" - Prince (2004)
- "Civilian Ways" - Rancid (2009)
- "Clenching the Fists of Dissent" - Machine Head (2007)
- "Condi, Condi" - Steve Earle (2004)
- "Confrontation" - OTEP (2008)
- "Dad's Gonna Kill Me" - Richard Thompson (2007)
- "Dark Side of the Sun" - Tori Amos (2007)
- "Day After Tomorrow" - Tom Waits (2004)
- "Dead Man Walking" - Bloodsimple (2007)
- "Dear Mr. President" – Pink (2007)
- "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" -John Fogerty (2004)
- "Desert Angel" - Stevie Nicks (1991)
- "Desert Storm" - Devinshire (2009)
- "Devils & Dust" - Bruce Springsteen (2005)
- "Dirty Bombs" - Body Count (2006)
- "Dirty Harry" – Gorillaz (2005)
- "Don't Make Me a Target" – Spoon (2007)
- "The Drums of War" – Jackson Browne (2008)
- "Everybody's Gone to War" – Nerina Pallot (2006)
- "The Empire Strikes First" - Bad Religion (2004)
- "Empty Walls" - Serj Tankian (2007)
- "Exit Strategy" - Valient Thorr (2006)
- "For the Greater Good of God" – Iron Maiden (2006)
- The Rising (album) - Bruce Springsteen (2002) is largely about 9/11
- "F*ck a War" – Geto Boys (1991)
- "Fallujah" - Terry Sutton Conspiracy (2011)
- "Far from Home" - Five Finger Death Punch (2009)
- "Final Straw" - R.E.M. (2004)
- "Final Transmission" - Street Dogs (2006)
- "Follow The Leader" - Pete Kronowitt (1993)
- "Franco Un-American" - NOFX (2003)
- "Friends in the Armed Forces" - Thursday (2008)
- "George W. Told The Nation" – Tom Paxton (2007)
- "The Getaway" - Voivod (2006)
- "God is not with You !" - Ira dei(2008) Belgium
- "Gulf War Song" -Moxy Früvous (1994)
- "Gunslinger - Avenged Sevenfold (2007)
- "Hammerhead" – The Offspring (2008)
- "The Hand That Feeds" - Nine Inch Nails (2005)
- "Hard-On for War" - Mudhoney (2006)
- "Harrowdown Hill" - Thom Yorke (2006)
- "Hands Held High" – Linkin Park (2007)
- "Heaven is Falling" - Bad Religion (1992)
- "Hero of War" - Rise Against (2008)
- "Warzone" - Pagoda (2012)
- "Hey Ma" – James (2008)
- "Highwire" - Rolling Stones (1991)
- "Holiday" – Green Day (2004)
- Home to Houston - Steve Earle (2004)
- "The Holidays Are Here (And We're Still at War)" – Brett Dennen (2006)
- "How Much Do You Suck?" - The Jeevas (2003)
- "How Much Longer" – Paul Leary (1991)
- "I Can't Take It No More" - John Fogerty (2007)
- "Illegal Attacks" – Ian Brown (2007)
- "I Saw Him Laying There" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
- "Jacob's Ladder" - Chumbawumba (2002)
- Jerusalem - Steve Earle (2002)
- "Jesus Walks" – Kanye West (2004)
- John Walker's Blues - Steve Earle (2002)
- "Job Well Done" - Rob Lincoln (1991)
- "Kimdir O" - Barış Akarsu
- "Letters From Home" - John Michael Montgomery (2004)
- "Letter From Iraq" - Bouncing Souls (2006)
- "Let Them Eat War" – Bad Religion (2004)
- "Let´s Get Free" - Sheryl Crow (2003)
- "Letter From a Soldier" - Andy T. (2012)
- "Lift the Veil, Kiss the Tank" - The Blood Brothers (2006)
- "Light Up Ya Lighter" – Michael Franti (2006)
- "Let's Impeach the President" – Neil Young (2006)
- "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" - Kevin Devine (2008)
- "Mama" - Godsmack (2006)
- "The Man Who Would Be King" - Dio (2004)
- "Midnight Oil" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
- "Mosh" – Eminem (2004)
- "My Girlfriend is a Lefty" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
- "No Human No Fly" – April Hole (2002)
- "No More" - Bob Seger (2006)
- "No Time Flat" - Kevin Devine (2005)
- "No War" – Esham (2003)
- "Not In My Name" - Saul Williams (2003)
- "Now You've Got Something to Die For" - Lamb of God (2004)
- "On The Backs of Angels" - Dream Theater (2011)
- "On With the Song" - Mary Chapin Carpenter (2007)
- "Out Of Time" - Blur (2003)
- "Open Invitation (I Hate You bin Laden)" Jackyl (2001)
- "Osama Yo' Mama" - Ray Stevens (2002)
- "Overburdened" - Disturbed (2005)
- "People Of The Lie" - KMFDM (2009)
- "Planet of the Rice" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
- "Please Freeze Me" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
- "Prophets of War" – Dream Theater (2007)
- "Redemption Day" - Sheryl Crow (1996)
- Rich Man's War - Steve Earle (2004)
- "Sacrificed Sons" – Dream Theater (2005)
- "Sacred Lie" - Disturbed (2005)
- "Saraba" – The Gazette (2004)
- "Shock and Awe" – Neil Young (2006)
- "Skylines and Turnstiles" — My Chemical Romance (2002)
- "Square Dance" - Eminem (2002)
- "Stand Up" – Flobots (2007)
- "Succexy" – Metric (2005)
- "A Taste of Money" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
- "The General" - Dispatch (1998)
- "The Evil Has Landed" - Testament (2005)
- "Tehran" - The Offspring (1989)
- "This Is War" - Thirty Seconds to Mars (2009)
- "This Is War" - Smile Empty Soul (2003)
- "Trot Out the Dead" - Hammers of Misfortune (2006)
- "Turkey Shoot" – Killdozer (1994)
- "Victory Stinks" - Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine (2011)
- "Violet Hill" - Coldplay (2008)
- "Violent & Young" - Iglu & Hartly (2008)
- "Walk on" - Hilltop Hoods (2003)
- "War on War" - Wilco (2002)
- "Wargasm" - L7 (1992)
- "War Is a Wonderful Thing" - Real West (2005)
- "What are we fighthing for" - Live (2003)
- "What Happens Tomorrow" - Duran Duran (2004)
- "What More Can I Give" – Michael Jackson (2001)
- "When the President Talks to God" – Bright Eyes (2005)
- "Where is the Love" - The Black Eyed Peas (Featuring Justin Timberlake) (2004)
- "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson (2001)
- "White People For Peace" - Against Me! (2007)
- "White Flag Warrior" - Flobots ft. Tim McIlrath (2010)
- "Wipe that Smile Off Your Face" - Our Lady Peace (2005)
- "World Wide Suicide" - Pearl Jam (2006)
- "Waiting on the World to Change" - John Mayer (2006)
- "Worker Bees" - Billy Talent (2006)
- "WWIII" - KMFDM (2003)
- "Yellowcake" - Ministry (2006)
- "Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam (1992)
- Yo George" - Tori Amos (2007)
- "You Shoulda Killed Me Last Year" - Ice-T (1991)
- "Your Silence" - Suicide Machines (2003)
- "Two Weeks From Twenty" - Yellowcard (2006)
For more songs protesting the Iraq War, see Neil Young's website.
Traditional music
Apart from the various genres of modern music, some traditional and contemporary folk songs reflect the futile efforts of war and the attitudes of objectors prior to the major wars of the 20th century. Some of these include:
- "Ain't Gonna Study War No More" also known as "Down by the Riverside", and with a similar tune as "Hand Me down My Walking Cane" – African-American traditional anti-war song recorded by The Weavers and many other people.
- "Arthur McBride" While first curated in the 19th century, this song likely came into existence during the 17th century in response to the War of the Grand Alliance, or especially the Williamite War in Ireland, afterwhich the Irish Jacobite army was sent to France as agreed in the Treaty of Limerick on 3 October 1691.
- "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" – Irish traditional anti-war and anti-recruiting song that was the basis for the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", and recorded as "Fighting for Strangers" by Steeleye Span.
- "Kannoneer Jabůrek" – popular Czech song mocking war heroism, referring to the events of the 1866 Austro-Prussian War
- "King Henry" – Pete Seeger
- "Lincoln's Army" – The Irish Rovers
- "Lowlands of Holland" – traditional recorded by Martin Carthy
- "Paddy's Lamentation" – an Irish song dating back to the US Civil War.[4]
- "The Foggy Dew" - an Irish song comparing the loss of Irish soldiers killed during the 1916 Easter Rising and World War 1, made famous by The Dubliners
See also
- Protest songs
- List of peace activists
References
- ↑ Christmas 1914 mikeharding.co.uk
- ↑ Andresen, Lee (May 1, 2003). Battle Notes: Music of the Vietnam War. Savage Press. p. 129.
- ↑ Cusic, Don (July 30, 2008). Discovering Country Music. ABC-CLIO. p. 97.
- ↑ 69th NY songs
External links
- Anti-war Songs a website collecting thousands of antiwar songs from all over the world
- Folk&More: Songbook & Tabs a growing collection of chords, tabs, and lyrics of anti-war songs from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley
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