Introduction
Music has always surrounded and influenced people’s lives. It is present in other art forms to complement their plot or characters and add an emotional background. Outside of the media, songs also have power – they can move people to act, participate, protest, support, or withdraw. Here, the form of a piece and its message may be vague, eliciting a general emotion.
However, some singers focus on writing specific protest songs, which, while still using many metaphors and storytelling, are more direct in delivering their ideas. One such example is a work by Phil Ochs, “I Ain’t Marching Any More,” released in 1965 during the middle of the Vietnam War (Schreiber 22). This protest song and the audience’s reaction to it demonstrate music’s value in bringing awareness to social causes.
Essence of the Emotional Power of Music
Sensuous, Expressive, and Musical Planes of Engagement
The reason music is compelling and inspiring may lie in people’s emotional response to this medium. Copland describes three main planes people engage with music – sensuous, expressive, and sheerly musical (Copland 440). While using them simultaneously, people may be moved by the songs’ emotional statement, lyrical complexity, melodic tunes, and more.
How Protest Songs Convey Messages and Raise Awareness
In the case of protest songs, the appreciation of these views comes from the expressive plane. Copland argues that music can express feelings and describe certain concepts (Copland 441). The lyrics and composition can deliver such a message, creating a story for the listener and inviting them to this experience.
In protest songs, the text is often the most critical part of the music, as it explains the situation or problem and has a message for the audience. Anti-war songs, in particular, are present in most cultures, in which artists demonstrate their peaceful stance and ask others to participate. These pieces often appear as a reaction to particularly devastating events, which supports the idea that music acts as a medium for raising awareness (Schreiber 22).
By sharing these songs, the public becomes informed on the topic even without mass media engagement. It starts developing an opinion influenced by the narrative told through the music. It is vital to emphasize that protest songs are often not featured on the radio or television and are shared within communities. This fact plays a crucial role in how much music affects people and what it may sound like, being uninfluenced by popular trends in the media.
Phil Ochs’ “I Ain’t Marching Any More”: A Case Study of Anti-War Music
Lyrics and Structure
One of the most influential pieces produced during the United States’ participation in the Vietnam War was “I Ain’t Marching Any More“ by Phil Ochs. A folk singer, Ochs often wrote lyrics addressing social issues (Sanchez). In 1965, Ochs took a stand against the country’s actions in Vietnam, presenting a story of a war-weary soldier who had fought in many conflicts before this one.
The man says, “I marched to the battles of the German trench“ and “I flew the final mission in the Japanese skies“ to link the Vietnam War to the two World Wars (Ochs). The key phrase of the song is the titular “but I ain’t marching anymore,“ and it expresses the narrator’s refusal to participate in this or future wars (Ochs). As the first five verses recall different battles, they end with this statement, highlighting how many conflicts there were and their effect on the country.
The bridge is the only part of the song that is different in structure, and the piece does not have a chorus. In his segment, the narrator asks, “Tell me, is it worth it all?“ while also lamenting that old people encourage the young to “fall,“ implying that young soldiers are the ones to die each time (Ochs). The anti-war stance is transparent – the lyricist does not hide his opposition and view of military conflicts and the devastation they bring. However, Ochs does not call others not to march but becomes the first one to refuse participation. Thus, when sung in a group, this song becomes an anthem of resistance, where each person can relate its lyrics to their personal decision.
Audience Response and Cultural Impact
The song resonated with the public during the Vietnam War and continues to be popular in the anti-war music scene. During one of the performances in 1968, Ochs witnessed its effect firsthand – men in the audience began burning their draft cards (Sanchez). This act was a direct response to the singer’s message, and it is a stark example of how one song can influence many people to support an idea. Clearly, the listeners experienced the emotions in this piece by Ochs and understood the anti-war sentiment behind the lyrics.
Conclusion
Music strongly impacts people – it can cause one to change their mind, support new ideas, or be inspired to act boldly. Ochs’s song “I Ain’t Marching Any More“ exemplifies one voice changing many people’s lives who refused to participate in the Vietnam War. The audience listened to the song’s expressive plane and was moved by the transparent anti-war message. Based on the analysis of this piece, it can be concluded that music can raise awareness, encourage resistance, and support change in people’s minds and hearts.
Works Cited
Copland, Aaron. “How We Listen to Music.” The Conscious Reader, 7th ed., edited by Caroline Shrodes and Michael Shugrue, Pearson, 2006, pp. 440-445.
Ochs, Phil. “I Ain’t Marching Anymore.” Genius. Web.
Sanchez, Joshua. “Phil Ochs: The Doomed Folk Singer Who Woke Up from the American Dream.” The Guardian. 2020. Web.
Schreiber, Brad. Music is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change. Rutgers University Press, 2019.