The Ultimate Anti-War song...

Atavachron wrote: It's a Neil song, no two ways about it, he just happened to record it with CSNY 'cause Crosby heard and loved it.

Yeah he wrote it for sure, but it was at the request of Crosby who was enraged about the event. Neil at the head for sure but it was something of a group effort.  Young might not of penned it if not for the rest.

Magnum: Don't Wake The Lion....

The Unknown Soldier by The Doors and Forgotton Sons (("just another coffin, labelled postumous") and Fugazi ('this is no place for children") by Marillion are very emotional and impressive anti-war songs.

Edited by erik neuteboom - February 14 2007 at 12:27

I like Redgum's "I was Only Nineteen" --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHbR_W0eIpA
It tells the story of an infantryman who becomes psychologically scarred and may suffer from the effects of exposure to Agent Orange.  It was very popular with disgruntled Australian veterans of Vietnam.

From http://www.iwvpa.net/schumanj/index.php

John ... was the lead singer of a band called "Redgum" that had a hit in the 80's with the song "I Was Only Nineteen". John collaborated with several Vietnam Veterans to get the "feel" while writing the song and it became a national hit. Vietnam Veterans "adopted" the song as a pseudo anthem for their cause. John, though not a Vietnam Veteran himself, became widely accepted as an ally and spokesperson in the Vietnam Veteran Community in Australia. Of particular significance was the fact (and may be still is) that all royalties and profits from the sale of this record went directly to the fund set up to raise money for the Australian Vietnam Veterans' National War Memorial in Canberra, Australia's National Capital. John performed that song, as well as several others, in front of a large and wildly enthusiastic, though very wet and cold, post memorial-dedication concert crowd on October 1992 which was co-hosted by Australian singer and Vietnam Veteran, Normie Rowe and Adrian "Good Morning Vietnam" Cronauer. John was the only "non-veteran" entertainer to be afforded that privilege.

But as for ultimate song (again in a Vietnam context)... Well when I think of an anti-war song, the first one that spring to my mind is Edwin Starr's "War."  "War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing! Say it again."

Pink Floyd's "Goodbye Blue Sky" is one of my favourite songs about war-time.

Anti-nuclear war tune:

Thank Christ For The Bomb: The Groundhogs
Waterloo 6.02: UK
Hiroshima: Todd Rundgren/Utopia

Dire Straits "Brothers In Arms"

Deep Purple "Child In Time"

Uriah Heep "Pilgrim", "Lady In Black", "Come Away Melinda" (though it's written by Minkoff - Hellerman)

stonebeard wrote: Marillion - Fugazi

I would say Forgotten Sons is more Anti-War... and White Feather is also pretty Anti-War.

Bring The Boy's Back Home expresses so much power though so little is said.


Though of course as a conservative I naturally love war and detest anti-war songs

1800iareyay wrote: Machine Gun- Jimi Hendrix

Forgot-- amazing number, with Jimi's guitar mimicing automatic gunfire... absolutely classic.

Jim Garten wrote: Bryan wrote: Geck0 wrote: Masters of War - Bob DylanWonderful song. Correct answer. Absolutely - especially the version on 'Real Live' I'd also go with Neil Young's version of 'Blowing In The Wind' on "Weld" - sheer power from one man & an overdriven Gibson Les Paul

Is that the version that's on the Martin Scorcese album released last year?  That is a wonderful live version.

I almost forgot: Universal Solider - Donovan (although it's written by Buffy St. Marie)