Songs with political messages

[Beautiful Loser 48,894]

I know that some of you here don't really like songs with a political message, but I can appreciate them if it's done nicely so I hope I'm not the only one?

I made this thread simply because I'm curious what kind of songs you like. Political lyrics can be hella good and make the whole song. The songs don't have to be in English. But I'd appreciate it if you could translate the lyrics so the rest of us can understand what the message is or if you could maybe give a small summary about what it's about. Please try and keep the discussions friendly, I don't want this thread to become a bomb of different political views...

 

I thought I would start with a few I like...

 

I love U2 so Sunday Bloody Sunday and Bullet the Blue Sky is two that come naturally to my mind. I love how The Edge makes the guitar sound like falling bombs or something, whew.

 

A classic Swedish song about how odd it is that some people are poor and how God isn't doing anything about it becaus he might want to keep it like that and simply ignores the problem.

Translation:

 

 

Some people walk in worn out shoes

Say, why is it like that?

Father God, who lives in Heaven,

might want it that way.

 

Father God, who lives in Heaven,

shuts his eyes and sleeps peacefully

Who cares about a pair of trashed shoes

when you're old and tired?

 

Who cares how the days go by?
They pass however they like.

Fellow citizen, in one hundred years,

you'll no longer exist.

By then, someone else has taken your chair

But of that, you won't be aware of!

You won't feel neither rain or sunlight

down in your dark grave.

 

Who cares how the nights pass?

I don't care at all,

as long as I can leave my face left

hidden in my darling's hair.

 

I am a questionable character

Not good for much.

Death is waiting behind a corner,

he takes me when he wants to.

 

Some people walk in worn out shoes,

until they have stopped walking.

The Devil, who lives in Hell,

will have a good laugh then.

 

 

 

And a new song in Swedish which got out a few weeks ago, with a more feministic message.

Translation:

 

 

I know a woman who's a boss at like the biggest company

She slays with her heels; she's really dangerous

She was shy when we were young, so it's a bit odd

Everyone says she opened up her legs

Another chick in the same class became fucking nothing

She still lives in the same town, got a house, family

You know, she works in health care, complained too much

No one is surprised, and we all think: "Typical"

She sounds pretty lazy, right?

I barely sound feministic

I'm just kidding, can't make people upset, gotta be careful

Sweetie, take it easy, don't act so damn important

I know my watch says "tick, tick"

but I might not want kids for real

Can I say this safely?

Keep yourself to your own business

 

Small girls love my music

Do whatever you want to and the world will never be the same again

Revolutionary, revolutionary...

Small girls love my music

Do whatever you want to and the world will never be the same again

Revolutionary, revolutionary...

 

Small girls always get labeled as something

Label back, normal sequences of events

I'm a seal of quiality of Swedish pop

but if a woman dares to dream, it always comes to a stop

A queen there on top, the others fight at the bottom

You won't get a new chance if you already had one

One has to sharpen one's claws, everyone follow trends, I do too, me too

 

"We don't see genders, we see competence"

Those words sound as if we all have agreed

But the woman stays at work when all the men goes home

No salary between four-five

It will become better for my little sister

But our brother, and his pals, they aren't feminists

They can still afford and seem to be winning about not giving a crap

as long as a woman is bound,

none of us are free.

 

Small girls love my music

Do whatever you want to and the world will never be the same again

Revolutionary, revolutionary...

 

You have to say it again, say it again

Say it over and over

If I say it again, say it again

something will eventually happen

You have to say it again, say it again

Say it over and over

If I say it again, say it again

something will eventually happen

 

Small girls love my music...

 

 

 

 

I also have another one (in Swedish) I really like, but I'll save it for later or so.

[graham4anything 2,859]

COACHELLA

 

the moment where everything one thinks goes topsy turvy

 

the only amazement is that some still either don't get it or the moment is so scary they deny how great and potent is.

[evilentity 13,345]

I really like political songs that are really subtle about it, like these ones:

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9ja3i9u2Og

[Barry 5,935]

Its different from the U2 song

 

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFGgbT_VasI

[kitschesque 9,882]

In Polish, 1997. It's not very political but it's sarcastic towards seemingly good situation of Poland and the contrast between us as post-soviet country and us as a European, modern and nice country. A simple song that says it all, I love it, had to share it.

 

Translated lyrics:

 

Look at those delightsome and magnificent highways,
Roads, where you will never find any potholes,
New buildings are rising and there are no accidents,
In clean hospitals, people are rarely dying
We have wicked government and marvellous president
All those people are real professionals
I trust them, and I know that I've chosen my future,
They will hold my hand and guide me to Europe.

It's super
It's super
So what is your problem

We are very tolerant of beliefs of others
Church is fiercely defending the poorest
Rich people are awesome and moderately honest
Police is severely punishing vicous criminals

It's super
It's super
So what is your problem

 

 

[Serene Queen 4,786]

Sex Yeah by Marina (and the Diamonds) and Hard Out Here by Lily Allen are both feminist songs, not super political, but meant to be empowering to women

 

Dear Mr President by P!nk

 

Tori Amos’ whole Scarlet’s Walk album deals with post 9-11 America

 

Coachella, GBA, And WTWWAWWKD ofc

[Barry 5,935]

There are a lot of good Irish ones, this is possibly the best though

 

 

About https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_McDonnell_(hunger_striker)

[fl0ridakil0s 3,959]

I love Anohni's album, "Hopelessness". Almost all songs are about USA politics, very strong.

 

 

 

[Barry 5,935]

Another good Irish one, a Leonard Cohen version though

 

 

Kevin Barry was 18 years old when he was hanged in Mountjoy Jail on November 1st 1920. His death at such a young age is possibly the most poignant in recent Irish history.

He was born in 1902 in Dublin and grew up both in the capital and in County Carlow. He enrolled in Belvedere College in 1916 and joined the Irish Volunteers, a nationalist organisation. In 1919 he enrolled in Dublin University to study medicine. The Michael Collins led War of Independence was developing and Barry, as Section Commander, played his part in various raids around Dublin city.

On September 20th 1920 he took part in one such raid that went badly wrong. A street gun battle ensued and three British soldiers were killed. This was very significant in that these were the first British soldier deaths in Ireland since the 1916 Easter Rising led by Pearse and Connolly. Barry hid under a truck as the British searched for him but was discovered when a passer-by, concerned for his safety underneath the huge vehicle, inadvertently warned the soldiers of his whereabouts.

Reports of his torture in Mountjoy Jail soon circulated but Barry refused to name his comrades. He was given a death sentence but it was widely believed that this sentence would be commuted, and that the British authorities would not dare to execute an eighteen year-old.

As the deadline approached it became clear that Kevin Barry would be executed. A planned rescue by Michael Collins came to nothing when reinforcements from Dublin Castle were ordered to the prison because of the large crowds that had gathered outside. It was reported that Barry had requested to be shot by firing squad rather than hanged, which he viewed as a death not befitting a soldier. The hangman, Ellis, had to be brought into the country from England, as no-one in Ireland could be found for the job. The calmness and bravery the young Barry showed in the hours leading up to his execution has become the stuff of legends. Despite protestations from clerics and politicians alike he was hanged in Mountjoy Jail on November 1st, 1920.

[Beautiful Loser 48,894]

Let me add my love Hozier's song Nina Cried Power to this thread. Obama has it on his best songs of 2018 list.

 

 

An ex-hip hop group in Sweden made a track out of a speech by Olof Palme, as Swedish politician who got assassinated in the 80's. The track is called "Fördomar" ("Prejudices") and his speech is basically about racism and everyday prejudice towards people you don't know. Might not mean much to you unless I translate it, so here you are:

 

 

Democracy is deeply rooted in this country

We respect the fundamental rights

Hazy theories of race has never gotten a foothold

We prefer to see ourselves as free of prejudice and tolerant.

But it isn't that simple after all

Prejudice doesn't have to have a base in some hideous theory

It has a much simpler origin.

Prejudice have always had a root in everyday life

It grows in the workplace and the neighborhood

It is an outlet for one's own failures and disappointments

It is, above all, an expression of ignorance and fear

Ignorance of other people's specificity, fear of losing a position, a social privilege, a prior right.

A man's skin of color, race, language and origin of birth has, after all, nothing to with human values

To value people with such a ruler/stick stands in bright contrast to the human rights principles

But it is shamefully easy to use for anyone who feels inferior; at work, in social life, in the competition for the boy or the girl.

That is why prejudice is always waiting, even in a enlightened society

It can catch fire in a single word, a not thought-through reply, a small failure in a small moment.

Perhaps, the one who uses it didn't mean something so bad

but for the one who gets hit, it may tear up wounds which may never heal.

 

 

[Barry 5,935]

 

[PARADIXO 32,943]

I love love love political music, especially if they deal with environmental issues.

 

Some of my favorite political albums:

 

Pink Floyd - Animals (capitalism, economics, ignorance)

Roger Waters - Is This The Life We Really Want? (global warming, war, religion, xenophobia)

Anohni - Hopelessness (global warming, US politics)

Lady Gaga - Born This Way (LGBT rights, feminism, religion, US politics)

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly (racism, US politics)

Björk - Utopia (feminism, global warming, peace)

Madonna - American Life (US politics, war)

Very subtle and not intentional but still somewhat political: Madonna - Erotica (feminism, LGBT rights, AIDs)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anohni's "Hopelessness" has one of my favorite lines of all time:

 

"I don’t care about me
I feel the animals and the trees
They got nowhere to go"

 

[Beautiful Loser 48,894]

Mess, the Kendrick Lamar video isn't available in my country. >____>

[Tragic Rabbit 3,355]

Cranberries - Zombie

 

Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

 

Rang de basanti (translation: color me orange)

 

Other Hindi tracks:

 

 

Amitabh Bachchan - Ekla Chalo Re

 

 

[Kurac na Biciklu 2,359]

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