Songwriting has long been used for a variety of purposes. Songs can tell stories of the past, help us think about fictional events, or, in this case, help us understand the hardships of conflict in the world. These types of anti-war songs are intended to move audiences to be against these conflicts.

These protest songs are often either direct and confrontational or more abstract in their depictions. The aim of them all, however, is the same. Many prominent artists have touched on the subject of conflict to depict the horrors of it, attempting to engage their audience to rally with them against the ideas of war.

The most iconic anthems

Many protest songs are dependent on the time they were released, with many of the most well-known being released either during the height of the Vietnam War or the War on Terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Due to the political turmoil surrounding these events at the time, they were widely covered by a multitude of artists.

Tracks like “American Idiot” and “Holiday” by Green Day stand out as iconic anti-war anthems, using satire and political anger to criticize U.S. foreign policy during the War on Terror. “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival is another iconic anti-war track, depicting how the influence of a family could help one avoid fighting in a war.

One of the most prominent protest-oriented bands is Rage Against the Machine. Formed in 1991, many of the group’s best-known tracks are anti-war anthems highlighting the difficulties and tragedies of military action. Songs like “Bulls On Parade” depict how governments would rather invest in war than in their people, and “Know Your Enemy” criticizes the United States government’s elitism, proclaiming that “violence is an energy against the enemy.” 

One of the biggest anti-war anthems came from the track “War,” originally recorded by The Temptations in 1969. Many will instantly recognize the track for posing the question, “What is it good for?” The answer they give during the song is “Absolutely nothing,” and those lyrics helped cement it as one of the most recognizable anti-war anthems of all time. The cover version by Edwin Starr released in 1970 is the most popular and well-known version of the track, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the height of the Vietnam War.

Another massive anti-war song is “Ohio” by American folk group Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. The song was written by singer Neil Young in response to the Kent State shootings that occurred on May 4, 1970. Written and recorded just weeks after the shootings, the song received significant radio airplay in both the U.S. and Canada.

Age and meaning

Many protest songs are closely tied to the periods in which they were released, and over time the context surrounding them becomes lost. One such case of this is the Black Sabbath track “War Pigs.” Many listeners initially interpreted the song as pro-war, a sentiment some still associate with it today. However, the track’s vocals depict war as something fueled by the wealthy, stating that “Politicians hide themselves away. They only started the war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave that all to the poor.”

Another song that many often do not associate with its anti-war sentiment is Bruce Springsteen’s hit “Born in the U.S.A.” Many view it as a song about American patriotism, with the song being played at numerous Republican events. Springsteen himself has said it has been misinterpreted and has criticized its use at political rallies. His song actually tells the story of a Vietnam War veteran who struggles with his life after he finds that he was alienated by society. However, likely because of the title, the song’s meaning as a protest song has been lost, even though it depicts a bleak picture of postwar life.

Anti-war anthems are meant to send a message to the public: that people should stand against conflict due to the horrors it brings not just for the opposition but also for their home country. While they also stand on their own as iconic tracks from their respective artists, the context in which they are presented matters in discussions about them. That context can reveal some of the most powerful songwriting of its time.