Note – This is the first archive of my “song-a-day month” posts from my personal Facebook page. My first ever effort to do such a list of songs was in December of 2011, largely in response to social media discourse I saw regarding the Occupy movement. Although that particular protest movement turned out to be short-lived, it absolutely laid the groundwork for future organization in the decade that followed. Also, I have to mention that my political views – partially in response to increasing fascism – have only drifted further leftward. My comments for this list feel downright mild to my older eyes.

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As the Occupiers face more and more government interference, as popular support for their movement begins to wane, I thought it was important to have a renewal of purpose. I decided that for the month of december I would do another song-a-day project, but this one will be a month of protest songs. We need to remember why protest matters, not only on this issue but on many important issues. Democracy does not begin and end with voting; it is maintained through the constant exercise of our voice and will.

Throughout this month I will be linking one song per day, a few of which you may know but many of which I hope will be new to you. I will begin with a few “classic” songs to show a frame of reference, but then I will move to very modern and current issues. In this way I hope to show that the time of the protest song is not some distant memory – it is now.

Day 1 – Billy Bragg, “World Turned Upside Down”

I begin with a song that I think sums up the Occupy movement very well. It refers to a movement in the 17th century when the Cromwell government was grabbing all of the community-owned farmland and selling it to already-wealthy landowners. The Diggers (also known as the Levelers) were a Christian movement who believed that the landlords were violating Jesus’s core teachings of charity and support for one’s fellow man.

Day 2 – Pete Seeger, “What Did You Learn in School Today?”

Every time I hear someone complaining about how schools are teaching liberal propaganda, it’s only a matter of time before that person gives an example of the propaganda THEY want taught. No one who makes that complaint actually wants schools to be devoid of propaganda, they just want to control the message. In actuality, most teachers these days (myself included) avoid taking sides in the classroom. Instead, we offer a variety of viewpoints and then teach our students how to analyze and think critically. I think that angers the propagandists even more…

Day 3, Utah Phillips, “There is Power in the Union”

Although the focus these days is on Occupy, I have not forgotten that this year of protest began in Madison, Wisconsin. Today’s song is dedicated to those folks, especially as they are in the midst of gathering signatures to recall Governor Scott Walker. Those of us a little farther down the lake wish you well!

Day 4 – Woody Guthrie, “All You Fascists Bound to Lose”

Today’s selection is a “keep the faith” reminder. Guthrie sang about another time when collective action brought justice and change. It can happen again! The video is very short and only contains a couple of the verses, so the full lyrics are listed below. In true folk fashion, I trust that you can sing the rest of it for yourself.

https://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/All_You_Fascists.htm

Day 5 – Mavis Staples, “Eyes on the Prize”

This song and this video are a reminder that the more a movement gains strength, the more it will face condemnation and hostility from those in power and those who benefit from the status quo. The more difficult it is to stand up and speak out, the more necessary it becomes. (Note – Age restricted for violence against protesters and bystanders.)

Day 6 – Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, “Ohio”

When people talk about dates that we should “never forget,” they often refer to times when our country has been attacked from the outside. Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and, farther back, the Lusitania. These were terrible events and worthy of remembrance, but we as citizens are not necessarily required to be vigilant to prevent their repetition. Preventing outside attack is the job of our leaders. What we the people must remember are those times when our government itself has turned on us. For me, an event that must never be forgotten is Kent State. It is for this reason that we are concerned about the police actions in Oakland and UC Davis.

Day 7 – Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changin'”

I end the first week with a pause for reflection. The songs I have shared so far were written before I was born. (The first was written in 1975, but close enough.) Some may believe that the protest song has gone away, that it was merely a remnant of the Vietnam Era. For the rest of this month I intend to show that it has never left. Protest songs continue to be made because (sadly) the reasons for them continue to exist.

Day 8 – Buffy Sainte-Marie, “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”

My first selection for a modern protest song is one that tackles one of the oldest inequities perpetrated on this continent. Since the first voyage of Columbus, Europeans and European descendants have exploited the land and its original inhabitants, and it is still going on. I think everyone should read the book that inspired the title of this song. (The HBO series is also good, but more specific in its focus.) The tribes of North America understand how wealth can be created through theft. We must remember that many American families who believe their ancestors “built up from nothing” in fact stole their starting stake from other rightful owners.

Day 9 – Yothu Yindi, “Treaty”

Of course, North America was not the only continent where the original inhabitants were pushed off of their land by Europeans. Australia’s aborigines have fared only slightly better than our natives. Their people and their culture are also struggling to avoid fading into the mists of history. Fortunately, they have managed to recover some of their heritage, in particular the area around Uluru (aka Ayer’s Rock).

Day 10 – Peter Gabriel, “Biko”

My first political awakening was around the most prominent international social issue of the 80s: apartheid. In those days, Amnesty International was an organization that worked to right injustices around the world. Now it turns its attention much closer to home. We are now one of the few remaining countries that tortures captured enemies, imprisons them without charge, and puts its own citizens to death. We have our own lessons to learn from the story of Stephen Biko. “And the eyes of the world are watching now.”

Day 11 – Bright Blue, “Weeping”

Continuing from yesterday’s entry, this song was originally written as a comment about apartheid and the justifications used by the South African government for maintaining that policy. However, I find that it works very well as a comment about all governments – including our own – who use fear to justify policies of oppression and control.

Day 12 – Sinéad O’Connor, “Black Boys on Mopeds”

Although South Africa received the most international scrutiny during the 80s, some singers did point out at the time that their own more progressive countries were not necessarily immune to the problems of racial injustice. This song refers to the accidental death during an attempted arrest of a young English man named Nicholas Bramble (and may also refer to the police killing and cover-up of Colin Roach). However, it also points out the overall culture of fear and suspicion that enabled those incidents. If this seems familiar, you may be able to predict the American song that will be posted tomorrow…

Day 13 – Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, “American Skin (41 Shots)”

In 1999, four police officers attempted to arrest Amadou Diallo on his own doorstep, thinking that he resembled a rape suspect (who it turns out had already been captured). He pulled out a wallet, which the officers assumed must be a gun. They fired 41 rounds, hitting him with 19. The sad fact in this country is that presumption of innocence does not work the same for people who are not white. Young black men are presumed to be criminals. Hispanics are presumed to be illegal immigrants. Middle-eastern people are presumed to support terrorists. And when the authorities discover after the fact that they were wrong? No consequences. The four police officers who killed Amadou Diallo were acquitted on all charges. The court determined that they acted within accepted policy.

Day 14 – Living Colour, “Which Way to America?”

Some segments of the country’s population have known about income disparity and the lie of the American dream for a long time. The reason we are only hearing about it now is that it’s finally hitting white, middle-class Americans. And that’s how it works. If we ignore the plight of the most fragile elements of our society, eventually that plight works its way up the ladder and hits the rest of us. And those at the top are perfectly willing to throw the rest of us under the bus to make sure it never reaches them.

For a bonus song in the same vein, be sure to look up Living Colour’s “Open Letter to a Landlord.”

Day 15 – Indigo Girls, “Shame On You”

When talking about illegal immigration, I often point out that as the comments become too jingoistic, they offend me too. I am also the son of an immigrant. Of course, everyone likes to say, “well your family came here legally.” But that’s not the point. My grandfather was an immigrant laborer. He hung out with other people of his nationality so that he could keep speaking his native language. He went to a church that was largely populated by people from his country. The difference was that he was European, which made him an “acceptable” immigrant.

How often do you hear about the Polish illegal immigrant population? Did you even know that there are in fact quite a few illegal Polish immigrants in this country – with over 70,000 in the Chicago area? Estimates say that there are about 400,000 illegal European immigrants in the country right now. The focus on Latinos is pure racism. And Alabama is learning a harsh lesson about what happens when you take too hard a line on this problem.

Our country was founded by immigrants. We are all immigrants. Let’s be a little more understanding of the complex issues involved.

Day 16 – Newsies, “The World Will Know”

In honor of Wisconsin reaching half a million signatures, just a few thousand away from their minimum required, I have slightly reordered my upcoming songs to offer this one. Newsies is sort of a child’s primer on union organization and strikes. And of course, the story it tells is of a true strike back in the days of child labor. You might remember child labor as a terrible remnant of the industrial revolution. Newt Gingrich seems to remember it more fondly, and would like us to go back to those halcyon days.

Day 17 – Midnight Oil, “Read About It”

It would be quite easy to do an entire month of protest songs just using Midnight Oil. No band that I listen to is more political than the Oils – the difficulty with them is finding a song that DOESN’T have a pointed message, and that’s through 30 years of output. I chose this song to show off some of their earlier work, and also to follow nicely from yesterday’s selection. Be on the lookout towards the end of this video for an iconic Rob Hirst moment where the drum stick goes flying. So good they have to show it several times.

Day 18 – Redgum, “Raggin'”

A quick one today, but with an important point. Too often in our political discourse, words like “Socialist” and “Communist” are tossed around in situations where they really don’t apply. They are used to incite a feeling of defensiveness, as if the very accusation will make you withdraw your mild consideration of things like union membership, health care for everyone, and progressive taxation. My response has always been that indicated by this song – if you think those things are socialist, then yes I’m a socialist. Now get over the word and let’s talk about why. (Note – “Socialist” is not quite as much a loaded word in Australia, which is why the song refers to being called Communist instead.)

Day 19 – The Clash, “Clampdown”

Obviously need some Clash in the mix. This song serves as a good reminder that fascism becomes stronger the more afraid we are. It doesn’t matter what we fear, external or internal. As long as the populace fears something, it will ultimately favor more control. To win back our personal freedoms, we must overcome that fear.

Day 20 – Chumbawamba, “Always Tell the Voter What the Voter Wants to Hear”

Political rhetoric is so copy and paste that this song could have been written for nearly any country, any election. This is why the important work of a democracy is NOT just voting dutifully at each election. Protest, petition, and constant vigilance are needed to keep politicians in line. If you just show up for the elections, I guarantee you will always be disappointed.

Day 21 – John Prine, “Paradise”

On this, the shortest day of the year, I choose to reflect on environmental issues. John Prine wrote this back in 1971, when politicians (like Gaylord Nelson, who created Earth Day) and country singers still believed in protecting the Earth. But of course the song itself is an excellent illustration of the fact that environmental issues are really not about “saving” the planet. They’re about saving US. The planet will be fine. We’re the ones who are in trouble.

Day 22 – Public Image Ltd, “Don’t Ask Me”

A very straightforward environmental message, delivered by a very straightforward singer. (Note – Several years after I made this list, John Lydon came out in favor of Brexit and Donald Trump. I am leaving this song here for posterity, but unfortunately he ended up being just another disappointing ex-punk who couldn’t see how to clear the way for new voices.)

Day 23 – R.E.M., “Fall On Me”

For me, this was the first environmental-themed song I knew, but of course I later learned that it wasn’t about acid rain but about oppression. Interestingly, it STARTED being about acid rain but changed later. REM has always been a make-your-own-meaning kind of band anyway, so I use it here to wrap up the brief environmental section of the project.

Day 24 – Traditional (played by Carolyn Arends), “They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love”

For me, today is a day of reflection and remembrance, and so I go back to my beginnings. The core of my musical tastes was born in Christian folk songs around the camp fire, and the feeling of that is well captured by this amateur performer. I chose this song to remind everyone on this day that Christ was not selfish, greedy, or judgmental. He was caring, generous, and inclusive. I believe in all these progressive causes BECAUSE I am Christian, not in spite of it. If you’re not sure how that works, go check out The Christian Left Blog, or read about Daniel Berrigan. And to all my non-Christian friends, let me say on this day that I apologize for the warping of Christ’s message that has pervaded our society. I am sorry for the persecution and hatred perpetuated by those who claim to follow His teachings. I tell you now that they do not. The way that you will know a true Christian is by the love that they show to EVERYONE. And that for me is the true spirit of this season. Merry Christmas.

Day 25 – Vienna Teng, “City Hall”

I wanted to include a light and happy song for today, and this song always makes me smile but also tear up a little. It’s probably the most eloquent and human expression of marriage equality that I’ve heard. Having been through both marriage and divorce, I can tell you that there is nothing sacred about the paperwork attached to marriage. Your individual marriage, on the other hand, is exactly as sacred as you make it. The rights of other people to get married does not take that away. And because I am on the side of love, I actually believe that allowing people who love each other to get married strengthens the institution for everyone. Merry Christmas, and remember to love one another!

Day 26 – U2, “Bullet the Blue Sky”

The more attentive folks will have noticed that I have gone this far without hitting any anti-war songs. Well, I’ve been saving them for last. This song is of course a reference to US policies in Central America in the 80s. We spent a lot of time and money on making sure Communism didn’t get a foothold on this continent, yet we have completely abandoned those countries since then. How many Americans even know that Daniel Ortega, the Sandinista leader who Reagan so demonized, is now back in power? We don’t care because he’s no longer the villain of the moment. So much of our foreign policy rhetoric includes phrases like “we must not allow” and “wherever it occurs,” but our view is never as broad as we claim.

Day 27 – Green Day, “Holiday”

Have to respect Green Day as one of the only modern pop groups to go political. Popular music has almost completely lost its social conscience, and while some musicians will make statements about current events to reporters, it is ironically difficult to find pop musicians who are willing to make statements with their music. This is probably the only song in opposition to the Iraq War to actually make the Billboard charts. However, as I will show over the next few days, there is one genre of music that was not at all silent during that time…

Day 28 – Dar Williams, “Empire”

Modern folk musicians do not shy away from political content. Dar wrote this song soon after the 2003 Iraq invasion. As she has said in interviews, she allows enough leeway in the lyrics for people to view it as historical rather than political, but I think most of the images are clearly about the American experience. And I believe that makes the historical references even more thought-provoking, since it asks us to examine how our actions resemble actions of the past. In particular, I was appalled back in 2004 when I actually heard a politician (in reference to the Iraqi people) use the phrase “work will make them free.” I’m not sure many people caught it, but I certainly did.

Day 29 – John Gorka, “Road of Good Intentions”

This is one of several songs John Gorka wrote over the course of the Iraq war. Many of them focus on the distinction between the politicians who talk about sacrifice and the soldiers who actually have to make it. I still remember when we crossed the line of losing more people in Iraq than were killed on 9/11. It took years for the press and the general public to wake up and begin questioning why we were there, and still at the end of 2011 we have politicians with no personal stake who nevertheless think we shouldn’t be leaving. I wish I could say that Iraq has taught us to be more cautious about our reasons for war, but when I hear the hawkish rhetoric about Iran I know that we have not learned anything.

Day 30 – Over the Rhine, “Nothing is Innocent Now”

Most of the modern folk musicians I listen to tend to write very poetic, eloquent lyrics. This song is a powerful reminder of how we have changed ourselves as a country in the last 10 years. In many ways, it is true that 9/11 was a turning point, but it need not have caused the fear and jingoism we have embraced. We were the ones who did that, who allowed fear to be our guiding emotion. As we come to the end of another year, I beg that we turn away from that choice. Let us look into 2012 with hope and cooperation.

Day 31 – Tracy Chapman, “Talking About a Revolution”

We end with a whisper, and an admonition to remember those who do not have the luxuries we have as we sit around and discuss politics and social justice. The front lines of the class war are the unemployment lines and welfare lines, and it is in those lines that many people are lost. When the rich and even the middle class clamor for what’s theirs, they are fighting for a little more luxury, a little more privilege. When the poor struggle for what should be theirs, they are fighting for their lives.