what's a good protest song for anti-war, anti-ice, and anti-oligarchy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PatKspGy9BQ

the link I posted is metal gear solid song that i wanted to play at a protest. It's not necessarily a protest song its about turning away the torment's of your heart and turning towards eternal joy, but the Gaelic lyrics does make me thing of the songs that were written by all the conquered people throughout history and how those would make great anti war songs.

I do want songs about working class solidarity that are modern. I've picked up Iran ai lego songs, they're actually pretty good and the lyrics are pretty good, I haven't found any quite on the level, the Iranians go hard on trump.

seems like all the anti war songs are not from this decade and anti ice is lacking.

here are some songs I've picked out for protest for protest:

MACKLEMORE - HIND'S HALL 2 (feat. Anees, MC Abdul, Amer Zahr)

The Genocide That Is Not Over | Iranian LEGO War-Themed Video By Akhbarenfejari

Les Misérables | Do You Hear the People Sing?

IT AINT GONNA GO AWAY - ODE TO THE EPSTEIN FILES

Billionaire Buffet (feat. Kasane Teto)

68 points · 70 comments · view on lemmy.world

70 Comments

DFX4509B@lemmy.wtf · 17 pts · 124d (1 reply)

RATM - Killing in the Name, and this one is particularly prescient right now with ICE roaming the streets given it was originally written to protest police brutality in response to the Rodney King riots.

RATM - Wake Up is also a good one as well.

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 124d

okay i see that first chorus could be interpreted as ice being white supremacist. its definitely fun add the genra to the mix

minz@lemmy.wtf · 10 pts · 124d (1 reply)

Bella Ciao :)

MathiasTCK@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d

Spicy

PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 124d

Internationale

unmagical@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 124d (1 reply)
  • Waterparks - Ice
  • Badflower - Machine Gun
  • Seb Lowe - Don't say no to Hitler
  • Moon Walker - You're next
  • Grandson - Little White Lies
  • Grandson - Brainrot
  • Against me! - Baby, I'm an anarchist!
  • Harris J - Hourriya
  • Flanger Moose - Fascists don't have friends
  • Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis
  • Gus the Bardic troubador - GTFO
  • Devil Said Jump - Make me buy a gun
  • Palaceburn - And you wonder why they kneel

The discographies of Grandson, Moon Walker, and Dropkick Murphys have a lot of good, recent, messages. Pussy Riot has a couple of generic and America themed songs as well. Otep has several, though they are more fueled by reaction than actual artistic talent.

I wouldn't rule out older titles from the Vietnam or Coal Wars/Battle of Blaire Mountain Era.

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 124d

waterparks song is high energy but cursing i like the moon walker youre next. i do wish is was more explicit in class solidarity hourriya is fun i get the teto version of facists dont have friends

theywilleatthestars@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 124d

Nazi Punks Fuck Off - Dead Kennedys

Freedom is a Verb - Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird

Color in Your Cheeks - The Mountain Goats

Snailpick42@lemmus.org · 7 pts · 124d

Anti-Flag - Die for the government, NOFX - Idiots are taking over, NOFX - 72 Hookers, Jesse Welles - Join Ice

5in1k@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 124d (2 replies)

Which Side Are You In? By Pete Seger. Not modern but it’s moving.

Song

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 124d (1 reply)

It's fine just interesting like past generations were really about protest songs. Artist now don't seem to do protest or social commentary

tomenzgg@midwest.social · 2 pts · 124d

Doesn't necessarily work in an actual protest but https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZWslqjfPE&pp=ygUgd2hpY2ggc2lkZSBhcmUgeW91IG9uIHJlYmVsIGRpYXo%3D is pretty good and uses Which Side in the chorus.

backalleycoyote@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 124d

Bad Religion, Propaghandi, Dropkick Murphys, Good Riddance, Thought Riot, Regan Youth, Crass, T.S.O.L., MDC, The Nerve Agents, Earth Crisis, Dead Kennedys, NOFX, Body Count, Pussy Riot, Death By Stereo, and Cattle Decapitation are all social-politically outspoken punk/hXc/metal bands that have plenty of songs that would fit your list.

Dropkick, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Eyes of Salt, and the Boss all have anti-ICE specific songs out recently.

electric_nan@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 124d (5 replies)

Look up no$hu. "Fuck ICE ICE baby", "Against Occupation" and a bunch of his other songs. Check out Jesse Welles "Join ICE".

Edit to add: "The Guillotine" by The Coup. Goes so hard.

themoken@startrek.website · 3 pts · 124d (2 replies)

Upvote for Jesse Welles. I appreciate his music can be topical, but also humorous and chill. Maybe not the sort of protest songs you play to fire people up, but definitely ones that will get their message stuck in your head.

electric_nan@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 124d (1 reply)

If you haven't heard of Carsie Blanton, give her a listen too!

themoken@startrek.website · 2 pts · 124d

Thanks for the rec!

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 124d (1 reply)

always get irked by join ice by jesse welles because it kinda makes joining ice look good to the point were it kinda sounds like recruitment song.

the noshu is interesting

electric_nan@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 124d

I mean, irony is kind of dead haha. No$hu slaps.

sanguinepar@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 124d (2 replies)

A few suggestions:

  • Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
  • RATM - Bulls on Parade
  • Dead Kennedys - Kill the Poor

And for a more optimistic, but still defiant take, R.E.M.'s Living Well is the Best Revenge.

prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 124d (1 reply)

I think Masters of War is Dylan's best protest song. The lyrics go hard

sanguinepar@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d

Ah yeah, that would have been a better choice actually, good shout.

HubertManne@piefed.social · 4 pts · 124d

I like to think anything by jesse wells is appropriate but then there are some songs I just feel that much more in the modern age but are not necessarily good protest songs. rat in a cage, head like a hole, down with the sickness. Also many jethro tull songs.

AfterlifeAdventures@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 124d

'Peace frogs' by: The Doors

maya_the_good_apple@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 124d

Peace Sells by Megadeth. War Pigs by Black Sabbath.

Zahille7@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 124d

It's Okay (To Punch Nazis in The Face) - Cheap Perfume is a great one I heard the other night.

I'm Scum - IDLES

Fight The Power - Public Enemy

Pretty much anything by Rage Against The Machine

daannii@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 124d (2 replies)

Burn the house down by AJR https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UnyLfqpyi94

Used to keep it cool.
Used to be a fool.
All about the bounce in my step.
Watch it on the news.
Whatcha gonna do?
I could hit refresh and forget.
Used to keep it cool.
Should I keep it light?
Stay out of the fight?
No one's gonna listen to me.
If I write a song.
Preaching what is wrong.
Will they let me sing on TV?
Should I keep it light?
Is that right?

Way up way up we go.
Been up and down that road.
Way up way up, oh no.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
Watch me stand in the line.
You're only serving lies.
You've got something to hide.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
Yeah, used to let it go.

Walk into the show.
Gawking at the tricks up your sleeve.
Too good to be true.
But I'm in a room.
Full of entertainers and thieves.
Used to let it go.
Woah, oh no.
(Woah, oh no).

Way up way up we go.
Been up and down that road.
Way up way up, oh no.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
Watch me stand in the line.
You're only serving lies.
You've got something to hide.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
We gon' burn the whole house down.

Should I hang my head low?
Should I bite my tongue?
Or should I march with every stranger.
From Twitter to get shit done?
Used to hang my head low.
Now I hear it loud.
Every stranger from Twitter is gonna burn this down.

Way up way up we go.
Been up and down that road.
Way up way up, oh no.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
Watch me stand in the line (whoa oh).
You're only serving lies (yeah).
You've got something to hide.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
Woah oh, yeah.
We gon' burn the whole house down.
We burn it down, we burn it down.
We gon' burn the whole house down

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 124d (1 reply)

that is a good song

daannii@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d

Even though the use of "Twitter" is outdated. It also kind of Still works.

Because the original users of Twitter have mostly left.

It's definitely very catchy and has relevant lyrics.

jwiggler@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 124d (1 reply)

Two very different protest songs I heard this year

Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals - The Iron Wall Hen Ogledd - Scales will fall

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 124d

these songs are very free form, might need to grow on me

JTode@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 124d

If it's punk yer wantin, you'll want Dead Kennedys and MDC - both old bands (MDC is still kicking as I understand it, tho) but lots and lots of highly relevant stuff.

Notable: on their first LP, Millions Of Dead Cops, which came out in 1984 if I recall correctly, there is a trans-positive tune called America's So Straight. You wanna talk ahead of the curve...

Anivia@feddit.org · 3 pts · 124d

Satronica, Unexist - Fuck The System

Party Animals - Die Nazi Scum

MathiasTCK@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 124d
Moonguide@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 124d (2 replies)

"I HATE RICH CUNTS" and "YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT POOR PEOPLE" by Mudrat

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 124d (1 reply)

nice Australian band. tooks me a second to understand the lyrics

Moonguide@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 124d

Think it's just the one guy actually. I really like his take on punk.

prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 124d

Bob Dylan - Masters of War

Teh@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 124d

About half of Jesse Welles songs fit here.

-God Abraham and Xanax -Red -Join ICE -Walmart -Don’t blow the whistle -War isn’t murder -Great Caucasian god -The poor -No Kings

techwooded@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 124d (2 replies)
solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 124d (1 reply)

I added both of them. i like how solidarity forever is very clear

londos@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d

Tom Morello has a good cover of it too

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=czQh1vj1jF8

agent_nycto@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 123d

You should look up some old labor movement songs

thatradomguy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d

Why can't we be friends? by WAR

barooboodoo@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 124d

If you like hip hop at all, What's Peace? off the new Statik Selektah album had some great lines. Some gems for me:

What's peace? Is it locking up people like me For selling weed, but then you go and let a pedophile free? Is it Capitalism or privatizing the prisons Or giving corporations freedom to poison food that we eat?

...

That's why I get the skeevies knowing Stevie's pulling strings Take a look inside the cabinet, see it's clearly Miller time You got a lion in your pocket, you lying You got a long line of far-right conservative actors going on Grindr

...

How insecure you gotta be to pretend Christ was White? And hate those that look like what Christ really looked like? They call you Marxist, Socialist and Commie They hate you if you Haitian or Somali They blaming 9/11 on Mamdani

daannii@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d (4 replies)

So I bought a rechargeable karaoke machine. One with large wattage and a wireless microphone.

It has a strap so you can wear it like a messenger bag. Thing is great for protests.
I use an old iPod with it.

And I let people use the mic to lead chants.

I bought it used on the eBay. Important thing is make sure it's at or near 30W. Otherwise it's not going to be very loud. I'll post a pic of mine but it's not made anymore and the newer models are 15W. Also it fits in a backpack. Barely but it does.

I got some of these songs from similar posts as yours. I try to keep variety on the playlist so everyone can enjoy the music.

Here you go

Burn the house down -ajr (I already made a separate comment for it)

Stop business as usual -kimmortal (hip hop) https://youtu.be/wHggKbN7on0

Guillotine- the coup (hip hop) https://youtu.be/ad2ldO-JG-E

Uprising -muse (indie) https://youtu.be/Y4R6k8_iIkE

Another day in America- kali uchis (pop. part is in Spanish, about immigrants) https://youtu.be/SNNKFZRGoyM

Revolution -the beatles https://youtu.be/BGLGzRXY5Bw

Eat the rich -aerosmith (rock) https://youtu.be/ZK__9UIN5gk

FDT -Yg (hiphop) https://youtu.be/BlIREcAu0PI

America -logic (hip hop) https://youtu.be/j3Pe0oUqFkw

Die -badflower (metal/punk?)-newish song about donny https://youtu.be/fqBzuioSFac

Fucked up- Macklemore https://youtu.be/sn9EKC9nqU4

Ugly nasty commie bitch -carsie Blanton (indie?) https://youtu.be/-tfH1nty62U

Burn the damn thing down -The black keys (indie?) https://youtu.be/ZF5VPD6-_Q0

Hostile government takeover (pop) https://youtu.be/PuWVgVkMiHE

We're not going to take it -twisted sisters (80s metal) https://youtu.be/PqQdbevaB-Q

Capitalism gonna kill us all - rathbone (indie) https://youtu.be/8GBmoXv8G8I

At peace -propoghandi (rock?) https://youtu.be/CDhTf3eaeoM

Small dick energy -mat ward (electronica) https://youtu.be/ahv63jUKVx0

Arrest the president -ice cube (hip hop) https://youtu.be/y9oUnC8JtXY

Thoughts and prayers -grandson (?) https://youtu.be/rWO_TW9AlBg

Fortunate son- credence clear water (70s rock?) https://youtu.be/ec0XKhAHR5I

War pigs-black Sabbath

Here are some punk ones

Hate to say I told you so -the hives https://youtu.be/Uz1Jwyxd4tE

Sabotage -beastie boys https://youtu.be/z5rRZdiu1UE

Gurilla radio -rage against the machine https://youtu.be/Rm1nCYOZB-s

Make America great again- pussy riot https://youtu.be/Y6JRhiVnrPg

Take the power back -Rage against the machine https://youtu.be/rMXlAJOQsss

American idiot -greenday https://youtu.be/Ee_uujKuJMI

Killing in the name of -rage against the machine https://youtu.be/T4XuU2loLi4

One nation-pinkshift https://youtu.be/6Vx5fex-OJI

daannii@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d (3 replies)

Oh I forgot. Here is the speaker I take to protests.

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 124d (2 replies)

yeah i really should buy a portable speaker because anti drag show protest had them and they were really loud

daannii@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 124d (1 reply)

I checked and someone has this one on eBay. $45 with shipping..

This thing is hella loud.
I never can run it at full volume at protests.

Have yet to run out of battery either.

It does have a big rainbow led light on the front but you can turn it off to save power.

There are other brands too of course and there might be better options.

I do have a 15w anker speaker that's nice to pack to the beach or park or something but it can't get even half as loud as this green one does.

Plus the microphone sounds way better than those muddy megaphones. I Used it a lot more than I thought I would.

I felt like a news anchor. Every time I'd see someone trying to lead a chant or a speech id run over. Hand them the mic and hold up the speaker.

(Fyi The gray things on the mic are added. Protect it if it's dropped. They don't come with it)

solidheron@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 124d

lol i have trouble explaining that i was counter protesting a drag show protest

how's the sound quality? my megaphone is low quality so im more curious if its better than that

ober@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 124d

Grandson's most recent album (INERTIA) is really good. Violence by Kid Kapichi is a banger too. WHO'S THE ENEMY from Grandson is very very good and has Bob Vylan on it.

JayJay@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d

I can't reccomend moon walker enough.

"Youre next" is their new song. I think its very topical

Some of my favorites in no particular order: Monopoly money, Ban this song, Apocalypticism.

wolfeh@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 123d

The whole "American Idiot" album applies here, I think.

deifyed@lemmy.wtf · 2 pts · 124d (3 replies)

Rise Against - Hero of war

Not a "play at protests"-song, but powerful nevertheless

InterestingUsername@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 123d

A lot of Rise Against song could fit this

silentjohn@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 124d (1 reply)

man that rise against song is depressing af...

deifyed@lemmy.wtf · 2 pts · 122d

Yeah. Powerful message though

nycvin@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d

About half the songs on the new Sturgill Simpson/Johnny Blue Skies album (the other half are about sex)

The closer Ain't That A Bitch is pretty unambiguous.

JTode@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 124d

This is the guy who wrote "867-5309" and "Perfect World" by Huey Lewis. He's also a friend of sorts, I got my dog from him and his wife. It's not famous but it's a decent tune, and anti-ICE as shit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evwhdPn8ONk

hamburgers@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 123d
CouncilOfFriends@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 123d

Cobra Skulls - Cobracoustic

https://youtu.be/SVwzXCDelaQ

Digit@lemmy.wtf · 1 pts · 123d

I don't know if this quite fits all the remit, but, it's what came to mind:

Pacific's Break Your Social System:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KssYJpKxmyA

sanguinepar@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 122d

Already commented on this, but thought of some more:

Isley Brothers: Ohio/Machine Gun - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6qOvfgDJI (this is a cover of 2 tunes, the first by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, the second by Jimi Hendrix)

And just released today (like, 2 hours ago) - Massive Attack, Tom Waits - Boots on the Ground: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-57FrioeuE

muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 123d

Honestly I like hear my hope from hazbin hotel as a protest song. The citizens of hell standing up together and finally saying “no, we’ve had enough“ seems especially fitting.

Martin@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 124d

Maybe check out Fragile (by Sting) and it's background story

PaulSkinback@lemmus.org · 1 pts · 121d

Edwin star- war. Literally a song protesting war

sakuraba@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 123d

this is my favorite one by stereolab, it is called 'ping pong' and it's really sarcastic when it comes to war and capitalism

https://soundcloud.com/stereolab/ping-pong?si=0262657a62a74b1facbbe0293b6d05eb

There's only millions that lose their jobs And homes and sometimes accents There's only millions that die In their bloody wars, it's alright

GoodNews@europe.pub · 1 pts · 123d (1 reply)

Mass destruction - Faithless

GoodNews@europe.pub · 2 pts · 123d

Whether long range weapon or suicide bomber Wicked mind is a weapon of mass destruction Whether you're soar away sun or BBC 1 Misinformation is a weapon of mass destruction You could a Caucasian or a poor Asian Racism is a weapon of mass destruction Whether inflation or globalization Fear is a weapon of mass destruction

Whether Halliburton or Enron or anyone Greed is a weapon of mass destruction We need to find courage, overcome Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction

AoxoMoxoA@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 123d

https://youtu.be/k_uMKTvhBb0

Bigg Jus aka Lune T.N.S . "Poor Peoples Day"