One of the most interesting ways to get a feel for "what was really going on" during a specific era of American history is to examine the popular culture of that time. What were books, movies, television and music saying about the events of that time?
For this week's blog, use this website to read about a selection of pro- and anti- Vietnam War songs. Choose one from each list (so, one pro- and one anti-) and listed to it. You might even want to do some extra reading about the songs you choose.
For the comments section, write 100 words on each selection. What is the feel of the song? The message? How can you tell it is pro- or anti- the war?
One anti-war song about Vietnam was “War” by Edwin Starr. This song gives a feeling of resentment and hatred towards the war in Vietnam. It is evident that Edwin Starr, the writer of this song, did not want to have war, which is the reason why he wrote this song. You can tell that the song is anti-war because the most repeated lyric in it was, “War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” Starr obviously sees no good reason or purpose to have war. You can also tell this song is anti-war when it says, “Oh, war, I despise ‘cause it means destruction of innocent lives.” (107)
ReplyDelete“Hello Vietnam” was a pro-war song about Vietnam by Johnnie Wright. This song has a feeling of patriotism. The song is about how the war is necessary to stop Communism and to not lose our freedom. Wright thinks that if they did not fight in the war and try to end communism, the communism would just spread like a fire. You can tell this song is pro-war because it says, “We must save freedom now, at any cost or someday, our own freedom will be lost.” Wright is saying that they should save their freedom even if it means going to war. (102)
The first song I listened to is called “War” by Edwin Starr. This song has a very jazzy feel to it and has some interesting lyrics. Repeatedly throughout the song the phrase “war, what is it good for?” Is sung followed by “absolutely nothing”. The whole song describes all the horrible outcomes of war and why it is a terrible thing. At one point in the song it says “who wants to die?”, and another it says “the point of war blows my mind”. The song makes it very clear that war is awful and does not make any sense. (100)
ReplyDeleteThe second song I listened to is called “The Ballad of the Green Berets” by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler. It was written to honor the green beret, James Gabriel. This song is very patriotic, and encourages war. In the song it honors soldiers and especially those in the green beret. In the song green berets are described as brave, having silver wings, and “America’s best”. Part of the lyrics tell a story about how a husband with a green beret dies, and his wife’s request is that their son have silver wings of the green berets and also be one of Americas best like his father. (106)
In the song War by Edwin Starr he is very strongly expressing his opposition for war. In the song it says“War what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. In the song he explains why he despises war so much, it says “because it means destruction of innocent lives.” It talks about how life is too short to spend fighting and how it only takes always people's lives, it doesn't give any life. He expresses how he think that there must be another way than fighting to preserve our freedom. I think this song overlooks how we only have our freedom because of war and because men were willing to give their lives for the sake of having freedom. Sure war has its downsides but if we refused to fight when an enemy nation is posing a threat against us we would not have the freedom we do now.
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In the song Hello Vietnam he is encouraging people to join the war. He says “we must stop communism in that land or freedom will start slipping through our hands.” He seems to have acknowledged that war is s necessary means of preserving our freedom in America. He says that the fires we don't put out will bigger burn, like how if we didn't stop the spread of communism it could possibly jeopardize our freedom in America. This song explains that freedom comes at a cost and we will lose it if we just sit back and refuse to fight for it.
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1. The anti-war song that I chose was called "War." The feel of the song is basically a mood of a little bit of anger because the war is happening. The message of this song is that war means absolutely nothing and it doesn't solve anything either. It also is saying that all War does is cause heart break and kills innocent lives. I can tell that this song is anti-war because it says that the war solves nothing and that it kills innocent lives. I can also tell that this song is anti-war because of how they sing the song saying that it means absolutely nothing. (103 words)
ReplyDelete2. The pro-war song that I chose was called "The Ballad of The Green Berets." The feeling of this song to me was like a mood of glory and a little bit of sadness. The message of this song to me was that they want men to be trained to fight for their country and want these men to help fight for their country. They also talk about in the song of the brace men that gave their lives to fight for not only their freedom but for our freedom as well and for our country to be together as a nation. (100 words)
For the anti-war song I choose the song called War which it starts off saying war what is it good for and the chorus or whatever they are call say absolutely nothing what main singer is asking what good does war actual bring to the world and the second singers answer is saying that war does nothing to help the world and later in the song it explains why because people die more war. The song was sung by Edwin Starr in 1970 the song was a major hit with incredible catchy beats with sound purpose to end the Vietnam War.words101
ReplyDeleteHello Vietnam is pro war song written by Tom T. Hall and was recorded by Johnnie Wright and the song is pro war because it is getting people to support Vietnam war by talking about dutifulness, patriotism , anti-communism, separation and also like the song called War it too became a big hit it has a sad feel to it and how it was sung makes it sound more like antiwar song than pro war song the was also use in a movie as the opening theme of Full Metal Jacket and straight off it is really depressing the most.words100
ReplyDeletePro- The. Allan of the Green Berets
ReplyDeleteThe song The ballad of the Green Berets is sung by, Barry Sadler. Barry was a man and a solider of the Green Berets. This song talked about how great of a solider you had to be to even become a Green beret, and out of 100 who “try out” only 3 get to be called a green beret. It also was says that dads who see or hear of their songs being a green berets the father’s are all instantly proud, but however it also talks of the breath of a green beret. It is sung that the wife of a green beret that hears of her husband that will make it home. The song is sung that the wives will grief, but they also know that their husbands fought and died for the oppressed, fought of their families, and they fought for freedom. The wives will tell of the great men their dads were. This songs message is that war is fought by the elite of people, and that war isnt taken lightly. They know the risks and are glad to take them. The is necessary to protect our homes, families, and freedoms. (190)
Anti- War
The song War, sung by a man named Edwin Starr. The mood of this song is mad and a sense of outrage. This song is sung by a man yelling and a choir singing in the back ground. A line that keeps being sung is, “ war, what is it good for?” Then the man will yell after that phrase, “ NOTHIN.” The man also sings about war taking family’s sons away, and economic breakdown. Also it is sung that war never produces life it only produced death and destruction. The man cries out about how war only solves little things, and when big things come around war will come back and again to devastate. The message of this song is obviously that wars shouldn’t be fought for encouraged, and nothing good comes from war besides another one in later years to come. (143)
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After listening to Bob Dylan’s song titled “Masters of War”, it is clear that the song was written to be very anti-Vietnam war. The song is condemning those responsible for war and the death that it brings. He says, “You play with my world, like it’s your own little toy.” In reference to those who instigate war and bloodshed. Bob Dylan shows no mercy in this song. He says, “I hope that you die, and your death will come soon.” This shows how much hatred the people had towards the war America was involved in during the Vietnam War era.
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“Okie From Muskogee”, by Merle Haggard, was a song written about patriotism and support for the war in the Vietnam era. The song talks a lot about the stupidity of the young people, particularly getting high and burning their draft cards. The song speaks about the pride of being from Moskogee, Oklahoma, and showing respect. This song, which is much more conservative than the other, is mostly about pride and patriotism. The song is much happier than the other. The song talks about the value of freedom, and how it should be fought for. This debate between people groups still happens to this day.
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In the Peace songs they talked about how war has no purpose and it is just us sending our sons and husbands to die and there is no need for it. In the song "I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag" it talks about how they are just getting sent to their deaths and there is no real reason for them to go besides to die. It says that they are getting sent off to just die. And in the song "Masters of War" it says that the ones sending the men to war are cowards and they are hiding doing nothing to help. That the ones dying shouldn't be the soldiers but the lawmakers. All these songs one way or another are begging for peace and crying out to end violence (133)
ReplyDeleteThe pro-war songs talks the about honor of being a Green Barrera, how being a hippy isn't cool, and how need to stop communism, and how that its okay to have your own beliefs but there are limits to things you should do. In the song “The Ballad Of The Green Berets” it talks about how the man in the story dies with honor and wants to pass it down to his son. In this time it wasn't view as honorable to serve your country, but it is show as very honorable. These songs also showed how its not cool to be a hippy. Saying its not cool to smoke weed, or to grow your hair out, or burn your draft cards, or promote violent acts. (126)
1. Maters of War is an anti-war song sung by Bob Dylan. This song is not discrete at all, but rather obvious that it is against the war. The mod and message of this song is very unique. It was sung as if Bob Dylan was singing a present day diss track against the government and those organ sizing our war efforts. Dylan believed that those in favor of the war, were just going to "runaway when the bullets flew by." He suggested that the government was deceiving the people into believing the war wa a good thing. And so the government are the "Masters of War", which means they do not actually participate in the was themselves. (116)
ReplyDelete2. In the next song, Okie from Muskogee by Merle Haggard it sings of the glorys of fighting in the war. Haggard sings for the pro-war side. He represent them openly and with real pride. HAggard believes that being Oklahoma in Muskogee is wat better than being anywhere else in the world. And he still believes in flying a=the flag high and proud outside the courthouse. He sings as thoug the whole state of Oklahoma is pro-war. And maybe this is just a stereotype, but it's interesting that Merle HAggard is a country musician who supports the war. So it makes me wonder if ALL country artists supported this war. (110)
"War", by Edwin Starr was a anti-war song during the 70's. This song is one of the few anti-war songs to hit No. 1 on the top records list. As soon as the song starts it is obvious that it is against war. The first lyrics of the song are, "war what is it good for?" This shows how the artist is asking a rhetorical possibly obvious question of "why is there war?" The song is quite repetitive but catchy. It repeats many times the idea of war is good for nothing. It also says war only causes death and sadness among countries. (103)
ReplyDeleteBesides anti-war songs their were also many pro war songs. One song includes, "Okie from Muskogee". This song wasn't a no. 1 hit, but it was a no. 1 song for the country music artist Merle Haggard. This song again was written and produced in the 1970's and is about the Vietnam war. The song mostly tells how stupid the younger generation can be. This includes, individuals burning draft cards and getting high all the time. This is a very conservative centered song, and is fairly upbeat and happy. This song also has a lot of thoughts of pride and respect for our country and troops overseas. (107)
The first song that I listened to that was written about anti war was “War” by Edwin Starr. This song gives off very strong hatred towards the war that was happening in Vietnam. He expresses his feelings of hatred as well as his low tolerance for the war. The most repetitive lyric that really stuck with people was “War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. “ Through this lyric we see Edwin Starr’s low tolerance and also his hatred for war, and in this specific case the Vietnam War. (100)
ReplyDeleteOne other song that I listened to was called “The Ballad of the Green Berets.” This song was written by Staff Sargent Barry Sadler. The song was written especially to honor James Gabriel, who was a green beret. This song depicts the green berets as “America’s best”, brave, and also patriotic. This song supports the Vietnam War. 57 The most favorite part of the song depicts a father who was a green beret that dies, and the mother requests their son to have the silver wings from the green beret that his father wore. (103)
1. The anti-war song that I chose to write about is “War”. The feel of the song is very upbeat and very negative. The song only gives the negative sides of war, in-fact, the chorus is “war, what is it good for, absolutely nothing!” The main message that the song is trying to get across is how war only brings about bad things and nothing good. The song appeals to all Americans. The song talks about how the war doesn’t give life but instead war takes life away, which is almost always the case. I agree with the message of this song, but war is necessary in the world because there are corrupt people.
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2. The pro-war song that I chose to write about is “The Ballad of the Green Berets.” The feel of this song is very sad and uplifting because of the background of the song. The song was written for a fallen Green Beret soldier, which makes it a serious song and sort of sad. You can tell that this song is pro-war because whenever the song metiones the soldiers it describes them as “America’s best” and honorable. The man that is singing the song is on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was one of the most popular tv shows of the time, and he is dressed in what seems to be a Green Beret uniform. I think this song is slower than the anti-war song because it is more serious.
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Master of war by bob Dylan was an anti war song because it was telling the description of the war about how the blood come the body and how the men sit at there desk telling people what to do but they’re not out there fighting the war where people are dying feeling pain having friends and family die getting the latter. The video was also very strong as you saw people trying to keep peace and protest but you had tons of security guys watching over and tanks rolling through the streets and a man staying in front so they can’t move (103)
ReplyDeleteCountry joe McDonald I feel like I’m fixin to die rag was an anti war song. Say everyone is going to of who goes to war will die and saying what are we fighting for is we go. And the government doesn’t care we want you to go to war. And how the generals time are finally here to lead an army and get the reds. And what they are fighting for and the mothers need to start packing there children’s bags to go to Vietnam and fathers need to send their sons off before it’s too late and your boy be the first in the box to come home. (111)
Johnny wright hello Vietnam is a pro war song. The song is saying tell you girl bye and say hello to Vietnam and the Americans have heard the call that it needs help. And if the war never ends and war will break people up and counties. And to have a battle so we can United again with another country. And the ship is waiting to transport the men across. And were stopping communism in Vietnam. If we don’t our freedom will slip. And the fires we don’t put out and keep going will get bigger and spread and we need do t stop communism now out freedom will be lost forever (113)
War is a song by Edwin Starr. It was released in the 1970s in the album “War and Peace”. It is one of the few protest songs to reach the top number one spot on the charts. Edwin said “War, what is it good for- absolutely nothing! This pretty much summed up the a lot of what people thought of about he war. It was good for absolutely nothing. The song says “Oh war, I despise it cause it means the destruction of innocent lives. Edwin Starr obviously protested the war, and with good reason because it seemed like it was death without reason.(104)
ReplyDeleteA song that was pro war is “The Ballad of the Green Berets”. It was written by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler. It was written to honor a man named James Gabriel, who was a Hawaiian Green Beret who was executed by the Viet Cong. It was debuted on the Ed Sullivan show on January 30, 1966. It sold more than two million copies in the first five weeks. Then is spent five weeks at number one in 1966. This was in a time where the beatles and the Rolling Stones were very dominant. This song encouraged patriotism in the American people and was sort of like a call to arms.(110)
Master of War
ReplyDeleteMaster of War is a song written by Bob Dylan where he describes a protest with an angry voice. Using a powerful voice he describes Vietnam war but also war in general. He analyzes the nature of war in how young men go out in fear to fight for their lives and if wars can really be won. In the lyrics, “ You that never done nothing But build to destroy, you play with my world, like it’s a little toy, you put a gun in my hand, and you hide from my eyes, and you turn and run farther, when the fast bullets fly.” This also talks about how the men in the war were thrown in with no choice. This song isn’t directly towards anti-war but against what Eisenhower called a military industrial complex. (139)
Hello Vietnam
In my opinion, when I listen to this song I hear more of a warm welcoming like the Vietnam war is a joy to recruited into. This song makes it sound like warming welcome. Johnny Wright speaks of hoping the world will one day learn that freedom has a cost and that through the Vietnam they were going to save that freedom. Since these soldiers had to leave their families this song is to see the soldiers point of view and to learn what they are fighting for. In the end, this song is a pro-war song because it kinda campaigns the war in a way where the war will earn the freedom for your family which makes men want to join to help win the American freedom. (129)
the song war was written by Edwin starr, a musician during the 1970s. his song released on an album called "war and peace" which was one of the only songs that reached a number 1 spot on the charts and was protesting. that made a huge debut and was a real eye opener to the public's view on the war. it says," oh war i despice it cause it means the destriction of innocent lives. " obviously Starr didnt want war at all, but he definitly didnt want people to die and felt that people dying didnt die for anything at all. 101 words
ReplyDeletethere were also many pro war songs in this era, one being Okie From muskogee that was written by Merle Haggard, a country artist who came to fame via this song. the song wasnt insanely popular like many others, but was still well known.it was written for the Vietnam war and was fully supportive of the war. it goes on about how the young generation were idiots for doing drugs and not wanting to be drafted so they burned their cards. the song was very openly supportive of the war, which makes me wonder if more country artists supported the war than other genres. also, the song's upbeat feel made it catchy and fun. 114 words
The anti-war song that I chose is “War” by Eldwin Starr. In this song he shows that war doesn’t mean anything there will still be more conflict war will not bring peace to America but the opposite. The message it is trying to send is that war isn’t necessary. This is how you can tell this is an Amit war song it’s not supporting the war in any way. It’s like a rock song with manly war tones but it is the exact opposite of what it seems. It is creative song with crating lyrics with a good voice to sing it.(102)
ReplyDeleteThe pro-war song that I chose is the “Ballad of the Green Berets”. This song talks about how war makes the man. That the Ballad of the Green Berets were honorable men. The message is to help encourage the war efforts of getting more men to join in there efforts. It is a way to encourage the war. This shows that this is supporting the pro-war efforts that this will help us need the war by encouraging it. It shows the integrity and the audacity of the men in the war. Making other men want to join and help the entire nation.(102)
The song that I chose is called War. War is an antibiotic war song about the Vietnam war. The message that war states is that war solves nothing and that many lives are taken from it. The song can stir emotion about war... Because war is emotional. The song is biased towards anti war political views and it is obvious. Because it only says that war is pointless and not necessary. That goes along with the times because there was a lot of political tension about the war in vietnam. This opinion is wrong because maybe the U.S. may not have needed to be at war, the idea of war itself is definitely not pointless.
ReplyDeleteThe pro war song that I decided to write about was the Ballad of the green berets. This song is a way to make soldiers like green berets into heroes for our nation. I would have to say that I agree more with this side because these men are risking their lives for our nation and some people decide to bash them about it and that is so very wrong to do. This song talks about death and pride and is for sure a pro war song
anti- If you want to understand a certain time period better the best way is by listening to the song lyrics of the popular songs from that era. An example of this would be Eldwin Starr's song "war."In this song we see how he hated war, just like many other people during this time. The lyrics say "War, what is it good for?" "Absolutly nothing!" Another example would be when he sings, “Oh, war, I despise ‘cause it means destruction of innocent lives.” "This just shows how people have different opinions of the war and it is shown through the music."(100)
ReplyDeletepro-The other song I listened too that shows how the other people who did want war felt. The song is by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, “The Ballad of the Green Berets.” It was written to honor the green beret, James Gabriel. The song seems to encourage war, and It is very patriotic. So Basically in the song it honors soldiers and specifically those in the green beret. In the song they describe green berets as brave, having silver wings, and one other thing the lyrics state “America’s best”. tell a story about how a husband with a green beret dies, and his wife’s request is that their son have silver wings of the green berets and also be one of Americas best like his father.so to sum it all up, we can learn a lot from music. Even today it is one of the biggest influencers. and it is cool we get to go see the times reflected throughoutt the music.(161)
The song “war”song by Edwin Starr was a anti war song. In the 70’s this song become a number one hit and is still a very popular song today. The listener can listen at tell it is anti war song by the way it keeps using the line “ war what is good for absolutely nothing”. There where many young adults that did not support this time of war the nation was in. The feeling of this song is anger towards that of war. Starr wrote this song to reach that of people so they sing at rallies they are at. (101)
ReplyDeleteThe song “ The Ballad of Green Berets”written by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler. It is pro war song it was use to get people to support war and help put a end to the war. The mood of the song is very up lifting it gets the people to think of what the brave men do for their country and children. They were to get people to join and put a end to this bloody war. trying to Sadler wrote to honor James Gabriel, a Hawaiian Green Beret. That was killed in Vietnam. The song “ T he Ballad of Green Berets” was at Number one for five weeks in 1966. (110)