given three chords and they’ll give you the truth welcome to watchmojo.com and
the truth welcome to watchmojo.com and
the truth welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for
today we’re counting down our picks for
today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten protest songs this list we
the top ten protest songs this list we
the top ten protest songs this list we chosen songs that argue against the
chosen songs that argue against the
chosen songs that argue against the status quo ask for change in social
status quo ask for change in social
status quo ask for change in social political or other spheres and/or are
political or other spheres and/or are
political or other spheres and/or are associated with particular events
associated with particular events
associated with particular events periods movements etc
although the song had been kicking
although the song had been kicking around in some form since while no one
around in some form since while no one
around in some form since while no one really knows we shall overcome has
really knows we shall overcome has
really knows we shall overcome has become synonymous with Pete Seeger a
become synonymous with Pete Seeger a
become synonymous with Pete Seeger a whole wide world around
the banjo slinging folk legend certainly
the banjo slinging folk legend certainly had a hand in shaping the song as we
had a hand in shaping the song as we
had a hand in shaping the song as we know it used as a musical form of
know it used as a musical form of
know it used as a musical form of protest during the civil rights movement
protest during the civil rights movement
protest during the civil rights movement the anthem features simple but honest
the anthem features simple but honest
the anthem features simple but honest lyrics that made it a ready battle cry
lyrics that made it a ready battle cry
lyrics that made it a ready battle cry for any group facing adversity
plus it continues to be recorded in
plus it continues to be recorded in support of a number of causes today
come burn on Sunday Bloody Sunday
come burn on Sunday Bloody Sunday YouTube
despite being drenched in u2’s signature
despite being drenched in u2’s signature echo pop sound Sunday Bloody Sunday is
echo pop sound Sunday Bloody Sunday is
echo pop sound Sunday Bloody Sunday is actually the band’s response to the
actually the band’s response to the
actually the band’s response to the British Army’s armed attack of Northern
British Army’s armed attack of Northern
British Army’s armed attack of Northern Irish civil rights protesters in 1972
also known as the Bogside massacre the
also known as the Bogside massacre the incident resulted in over a dozen deaths
thanks to its clanging guitars and
thanks to its clanging guitars and military-inspired beat it’s become one
military-inspired beat it’s become one
military-inspired beat it’s become one of the group’s signature songs
but it’s the respect and authority with
but it’s the respect and authority with which you to tackles the subject matter
which you to tackles the subject matter
which you to tackles the subject matter that really makes it stand out
number eight the police NWA Holies
number eight the police NWA Holies coming straight from the underground
coming straight from the underground
coming straight from the underground young with this gangster rap track NWA
young with this gangster rap track NWA
young with this gangster rap track NWA went straight out of Compton and
went straight out of Compton and
went straight out of Compton and straight into controversy that’s sick
straight into controversy that’s sick
straight into controversy that’s sick aside the one for the win a badge and a
aside the one for the win a badge and a
aside the one for the win a badge and a gun defeat by presenting a clear street
gun defeat by presenting a clear street
gun defeat by presenting a clear street view look at racially motivated police
view look at racially motivated police
view look at racially motivated police brutality the police got the rapper’s
brutality the police got the rapper’s
brutality the police got the rapper’s noticed by the FBI yo dragon assay the
noticed by the FBI yo dragon assay the
noticed by the FBI yo dragon assay the government agencies attention to lyrics
government agencies attention to lyrics
government agencies attention to lyrics that appear to support violence towards
that appear to support violence towards
that appear to support violence towards cops actually helped fuel the bands cred
cops actually helped fuel the bands cred
cops actually helped fuel the bands cred and popularity police the red said it
and popularity police the red said it
and popularity police the red said it with authority because on the street is
with authority because on the street is
with authority because on the street is a majority a gang meanwhile the song has
a majority a gang meanwhile the song has
a majority a gang meanwhile the song has become a classic protest song and the
become a classic protest song and the
become a classic protest song and the weight behind a title phrase has become
weight behind a title phrase has become
weight behind a title phrase has become a recurring theme into pop music go with
a recurring theme into pop music go with
a recurring theme into pop music go with the gun and if I’m rolling up the egg
the gun and if I’m rolling up the egg
the gun and if I’m rolling up the egg get me the ones that I take out and then
get me the ones that I take out and then
get me the ones that I take out and then get away while I’m driving off laughing
get away while I’m driving off laughing
get away while I’m driving off laughing this is what I’ll say
number seven Ohio Crosby Stills Nash and
number seven Ohio Crosby Stills Nash and young
on May 4th 1970 the Ohio National Guard
on May 4th 1970 the Ohio National Guard fired on several peacefully protesting
fired on several peacefully protesting
fired on several peacefully protesting Kent State University students
after we saw photos of the shootings
after we saw photos of the shootings that left 4 dead in Ohio Neil Young
that left 4 dead in Ohio Neil Young
that left 4 dead in Ohio Neil Young wrote the lyrics to this protest song
David Crosby Stephen Stills and Graham
David Crosby Stephen Stills and Graham Nash then joined him in the studio to
Nash then joined him in the studio to
Nash then joined him in the studio to record the rocker
there’s some AM radio stations banned
there’s some AM radio stations banned the single for its unflattering name
the single for its unflattering name
the single for its unflattering name dropping of President Nixon Ohio still
dropping of President Nixon Ohio still
dropping of President Nixon Ohio still reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20
reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20
reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 following its release
number six killing in the name Rage
number six killing in the name Rage Against the Machine
never approved to shy away from tough
never approved to shy away from tough issues rage quickly established
issues rage quickly established
issues rage quickly established themselves as a politically minded act
themselves as a politically minded act
themselves as a politically minded act with their debut singles those that work
with their debut singles those that work
with their debut singles those that work forces are the same that burn crosses
forces are the same that burn crosses
forces are the same that burn crosses the rap metal band turned killing in the
the rap metal band turned killing in the
the rap metal band turned killing in the name into a musical attack on police
name into a musical attack on police
name into a musical attack on police brutality institutional racism and the
brutality institutional racism and the
brutality institutional racism and the Ku Klux Klan through its snorting
Ku Klux Klan through its snorting
Ku Klux Klan through its snorting bassline Tom Morello’s unorthodox guitar
bassline Tom Morello’s unorthodox guitar
bassline Tom Morello’s unorthodox guitar parts
despite its explicit lyrics the track
despite its explicit lyrics the track has become their signature tune and has
has become their signature tune and has
has become their signature tune and has been covered by multiple artists number
been covered by multiple artists number
been covered by multiple artists number fog fight the power
fog fight the power
fog fight the power public while the Beastie Boys were
public while the Beastie Boys were
public while the Beastie Boys were fighting for their right to party Chuck
fighting for their right to party Chuck
fighting for their right to party Chuck D Flavor Flav and the rest of the Public
D Flavor Flav and the rest of the Public
D Flavor Flav and the rest of the Public Enemy crew were fighting for their right
Enemy crew were fighting for their right
Enemy crew were fighting for their right to do pretty much everything else used
to do pretty much everything else used
to do pretty much everything else used with aggression defiance and rebellion
with aggression defiance and rebellion
with aggression defiance and rebellion the lyrics of fight the power are
the lyrics of fight the power are
the lyrics of fight the power are steeped with samples of african-american
steeped with samples of african-american
steeped with samples of african-american culture and shots at the American
culture and shots at the American
culture and shots at the American establishment
along with playing and Spike Lee’s do
along with playing and Spike Lee’s do the right thing the song has since
the right thing the song has since
the right thing the song has since become an anthem for urban
become an anthem for urban
become an anthem for urban underprivileged
underprivileged
underprivileged young adults for get up stand up the
young adults for get up stand up the
young adults for get up stand up the Wailers struck by the devastating
Wailers struck by the devastating
Wailers struck by the devastating poverty found in Haiti Bob Marley teamed
poverty found in Haiti Bob Marley teamed
poverty found in Haiti Bob Marley teamed up with Peter Tosh to write this
up with Peter Tosh to write this
up with Peter Tosh to write this three-minute number was sick and tired
three-minute number was sick and tired
three-minute number was sick and tired of the history schism history in the
of the history schism history in the
of the history schism history in the early 70s many Haitians fled the country
early 70s many Haitians fled the country
early 70s many Haitians fled the country in the hopes of freeing themselves from
in the hopes of freeing themselves from
in the hopes of freeing themselves from these conditions some people some time
these conditions some people some time
these conditions some people some time but you can fool all the people all the
but you can fool all the people all the
but you can fool all the people all the time and now you see the light what you
time and now you see the light what you
time and now you see the light what you gonna do stand up for your right with
gonna do stand up for your right with
gonna do stand up for your right with its solid reggae groove and powerful
its solid reggae groove and powerful
its solid reggae groove and powerful lyrics get up stand up urge those who
lyrics get up stand up urge those who
lyrics get up stand up urge those who remained to fight for their rights
remained to fight for their rights
remained to fight for their rights thanks to its powerful message it
thanks to its powerful message it
thanks to its powerful message it quickly became a concert staple for
quickly became a concert staple for
quickly became a concert staple for Marley and the Wailers
and was the last song the Rastafarian
and was the last song the Rastafarian performed live before his death in 1981
number three the times they are
number three the times they are a-changin Bob Dylan gather people we’re
a-changin Bob Dylan gather people we’re
a-changin Bob Dylan gather people we’re a year old and admit that the waters
a year old and admit that the waters
a year old and admit that the waters around your head groans written when
around your head groans written when
around your head groans written when America was on the cusp of great social
America was on the cusp of great social
America was on the cusp of great social change and just prior to JFK’s
change and just prior to JFK’s
change and just prior to JFK’s assassination this is Bob Dylan’s call
assassination this is Bob Dylan’s call
assassination this is Bob Dylan’s call for open mindedness and a warning to the
for open mindedness and a warning to the
for open mindedness and a warning to the old guard from Senators Congressmen
old guard from Senators Congressmen
old guard from Senators Congressmen please heed the call don’t stand in the
please heed the call don’t stand in the
please heed the call don’t stand in the way don’t block up the ha the coming
way don’t block up the ha the coming
way don’t block up the ha the coming generations quickly adopted it as an
generations quickly adopted it as an
generations quickly adopted it as an anthem of change due to its timeless
anthem of change due to its timeless
anthem of change due to its timeless lyrics the battle left side region will
lyrics the battle left side region will
lyrics the battle left side region will sing check your windows and rattle your
sing check your windows and rattle your
sing check your windows and rattle your holes for the time
holes for the time
holes for the time the changing times they are a-changin
the changing times they are a-changin
the changing times they are a-changin also reached the UK top ten and cemented
also reached the UK top ten and cemented
also reached the UK top ten and cemented Dylan’s place in folk music and as a
Dylan’s place in folk music and as a
Dylan’s place in folk music and as a protest singer and the first one now
protest singer and the first one now
protest singer and the first one now will later be last for the times they
will later be last for the times they
will later be last for the times they are a-changin
in the first track and single from
in the first track and single from what’s going on Marvin Gaye questions
what’s going on Marvin Gaye questions
what’s going on Marvin Gaye questions the world and times around her
the initial spark for the psalm was an
the initial spark for the psalm was an act of police brutality witnessed by
act of police brutality witnessed by
act of police brutality witnessed by co-writer Obie Benson during an anti-war
co-writer Obie Benson during an anti-war
co-writer Obie Benson during an anti-war protest
after de added his own touches the track
after de added his own touches the track was released without Motown boss Berry
was released without Motown boss Berry
was released without Motown boss Berry Gordy’s consent as he hated the track
lucky for us all what’s going on
lucky for us all what’s going on taught the Soul charts and became
taught the Soul charts and became
taught the Soul charts and became Motown’s fastest selling single to that
Motown’s fastest selling single to that
Motown’s fastest selling single to that point
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions
stop children what’s that sound about it
stop children what’s that sound about it looks good down why are we fighting for
looks good down why are we fighting for
looks good down why are we fighting for don’t ask me I don’t give a damn my next
don’t ask me I don’t give a damn my next
don’t ask me I don’t give a damn my next stop is
number one give peace a chance a plastic
number one give peace a chance a plastic ono band paving the way for imagine
ono band paving the way for imagine
ono band paving the way for imagine imagine this John Lennon Penn track
imagine this John Lennon Penn track
imagine this John Lennon Penn track provides the sentiment that Lennon is
provides the sentiment that Lennon is
provides the sentiment that Lennon is best remembered for
simply adopted as the anti-vietnam war
simply adopted as the anti-vietnam war song give peace a chance was conceived
song give peace a chance was conceived
song give peace a chance was conceived and recorded during the X Beatles
and recorded during the X Beatles
and recorded during the X Beatles Montreal beddin with wife Yoko Ono and
Montreal beddin with wife Yoko Ono and
Montreal beddin with wife Yoko Ono and later sung by 500,000 people at the
later sung by 500,000 people at the
later sung by 500,000 people at the moratorium march on Washington while it
moratorium march on Washington while it
moratorium march on Washington while it reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 and
reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 and
reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 and the UK charts top 5 it’s a songs hopeful
the UK charts top 5 it’s a songs hopeful
the UK charts top 5 it’s a songs hopeful tune that has given it its enduring
tune that has given it its enduring
tune that has given it its enduring legacy and rock and roll you agree with
legacy and rock and roll you agree with
legacy and rock and roll you agree with our list what’s your favorite protest
our list what’s your favorite protest
our list what’s your favorite protest song for more rebellious top 10s
song for more rebellious top 10s
song for more rebellious top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe
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