Introduction
When artists and musicians write songs and compose music, they often get inspiration from outside events that may be disturbing for small cities, countries, or the world. It is particularly noticeable in the 1960s-1970s or earlier songs when creators did not have the same technical power as the contemporary music industry. Such compositions can be classified as reactionary, a response to an external situation, or proactive, participating in shaping the event. The songs that will be discussed in this paper were selected from various periods of modern American history. The tracks are “Eve of Destruction,” “Ohio,” “Vietnam Song,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” and “The House of the Rising Sun.” The first, second, and fourth songs are reactionary due to their responsive style, while the third and fifth are proactive because they became popular among the U.S. soldiers in Vietnam.
“The Eve of Destruction”
Barry McGuire’s “The Eve of Destruction” immediately captures the audience’s attention with its straightforward message about the creator’s reaction to the war. Specifically, this song was written to protest the American ground war in Vietnam (The Best of – Home of Classic Music). The first verse expresses the collective anger about the fact that young men, who reached the age of 18, were sent to the place of this military conflict. However, they were not allowed to vote: “You’re old enough to kill but not for voting” (The Best of – Home of Classic Music 00:00:21-00:00:25). The lyrics seem to display the reality of that time and are still applicable today. The second verse claims that “if the button is pushed, there’s no running away, there’ll be no one to save with the world in a grave” (The Best of – Home of Classic Music 00:01:02-00:01:10). These two lines refer to the frightening possibilities of nuclear war. The song can be described as reactionary rather than proactive because it conveyed people’s protest against war, but it could not stop the government from sending the U.S. army to Vietnam.
“Ohio”
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young’s “Ohio” was written in response to terrifying events that were happening in this state at that time. Specifically, it was a reaction to the Kent State University shootings in 1970 and the Vietnam war (HardRainProductions). This horrifying incident was widely covered by the press because it was the first time when four unarmed students were murdered, and nine were wounded by the police during the anti-war demonstration (McGreal). This accident became known as the Kent State massacre, which shocked the entire nation (McGreal). The song summarizes this situation: “This summer I hear drumming, four dead in Ohio” (HardRainProductions 00:00:33-00:00:39). In fact, it feels like these verses were composed as an ideological anthem against police and federal government brutality rather than a track written to earn money. Overall, the singer’s passion for their mission and frustration with the country’s leaders’ actions can be felt throughout the entire song.
“Vietnam Song”
Although Country Joe and the Fish’s “Vietnam Song” initially appears as reactionary, it is proactive at its core because many people associate the overall attitude of Americans towards the Vietnam war with this track. The song was played many times at concerts where people, some dressed up like hippies, sang it together with the performers (Lap Mig). The singers’ pacifist intentions were evident and bold since they were not afraid to include sarcastic lines about the federal government. For example, the introduction states: “Well come on all of you big strong men, Uncle Sam needs your help again” (Lap Mig 00:00:22-00:00:27). Furthermore, the chorus sets the entire tone of the song and seems to give permission to every American to ask the question, “what are we fighting for” (Lap Mig 00:00:38-00:00:40). In fact, everybody understands that no one will answer them even though the lives of the young citizens, not old politicians who decided to be involved in the ground war, are lost.
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” unlike others discussed in this paper, is a reactionary song about the fight against slavery. The lyrics narrate a life of a poor white southerner, Virgil Caine, during the period of the Civil War (Midnight Special). Specifically, it is about the period when the Confederate was defeated by the North and slavery was finally eradicated in the United States. The song was written by the Canadian composer Robbie Robertson in 1969, but it became famous through American folk singer Joan Baez, who took it to the top three in the U.S. (Saving Country Music). This track tells the story of a family living in the defeated South, and it does not glorify slavery or racism (Saving Country Music). In fact, the main character of this song states that he wants to do hard labor jobs to maintain his family: “Now I don’t mind chopping wood” (Midnight Special 00:01:17-00:01:20). Since it was written a century after the Civil War and following the Civil Rights Movement’s end, the track anguishes about people who lost their lives during that war.
“The House of the Rising Sun”
Although the Animals’ song “The House of the Rising Sun” was not written in response to the Vietnam War or any other political event, it was a proactive track. The primary reason to categorize it in this group was the fact that it became one of the favorite songs of American troops in Vietnam (Browne). The original idea of “The House of the Rising Sun” was to tell a story of a young man whose father was a gambler, but soldiers attached a different meaning to its words. These men likely associated the chorus with their own destinies, which were giving their lives for an unworthy cause far from home. The last two lines say: “And it’s been the ruin of many poor boys, and God, I know I’m one” (The Animals Tribute Channel 00:00:21-00:00:31). Indeed, the rhythm of the music and the lyrics seemed to be suitable for the long waiting hours in-between battles.
Conclusion
In summary, the five songs discussed in this paper were written and performed in the 1960s and 1970s. Although the technical power of music composition was far behind the one that exists in the modern world, the idea of each song was unique and inspirational. Most of the tracks were created to protest that time’s political events, and some became the anthems of American soldiers fighting in Vietnam. Specifically, “Vietnam Song” and “The House of the Rising Sun” can be considered proactive songs of that era’s spirit because they represent the overall attitude of the U.S. citizens to the war.
Works Cited
“Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction.” YouTube, uploaded by The Best of – Home of Classic Music, 2013, Web.
Browne, Alex. “9 of the Best Songs Associated with the Vietnam War.” History Hit, 2021, Web.
“Country Joe & the Fish – Vietnam Song.” YouTube, uploaded by Lap Mig, 2013, Web.
“Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young Ohio.” YouTube, uploaded by HardRainProductions, 2007, Web.
“Joan Baez – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” YouTube, uploaded by Midnight Special, 2020, Web.
McGreal, Chris. “How the Kent State Massacre Marked the Start of America’s Polarization.” The Guardian, Web.
“The Animals – The House of the Rising Sun (1964).” YouTube, uploaded by The Animals Tribute Channel, Web.
“The Night They Drive Old Dixie Down Needs No Redemption.” Saving Country Music, Web.