For eons people have used music to express their emotions and thoughts. Music has a way of conveying information that transcends time and makes the message more potent.Music was a way to inspire and move the people. Music has been used to calm the people along with inciting them to action.

When it comes to protest songs, movements have often used song to express their displeasure with the current system and the values of their worldview. Many of the protest songs have given movements strength and stamina when the times were trying for various groups.Those with staying power have often been those songs concerning the needs of the common man. The many folk like protest songs have tended to last and convey the feelings the common man had toward the systems often employed by government to control and repress their freedom of expression.

The following are what I consider some of the most important protest songs. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just the ones that I believe are most important.

1. Dixie. This song, also known as "Dixie's Land" has been used as an expression of defiance around the world. The song originated in New York City, yet was procured by the South, when Jefferson Davis was inugarated. Throughout the War of Secession, the song served as the National anthem for the Confederate States of America.This type of protest song is one that talks about one's homeland and its freedom. When a government attempts to standardize and homogenize a culture, songs that extol homeland and the culture of that homeland turn into a protest against the standardization of the 'accepted', government approved culture.

2. I'm a Good old Rebel. This song, which came out after the war is a strong statement of resentment toward the Yankees and Union occuaption of the Southern homeland. Although well over 100 years old, the strong protest message still comes through. The song protests the invasion of the South and the destruction of its way of life. The song also speaks out against the political system associated with the Union.

3. La Marseillaise- This song, now the French national anthem, served as the rallying song for the French revolution. Even after its association with the French Revolution, the song was used in various uprisings, such as the 1848 socialist uprisings throughout Europe in an effort to unite workers. The socialists and communists continued using the song to inspire their followers, even bringing it to the United States.The song is a call for the workers to rise up!

The song was used by Socialist/Communist generals serving in the Union army, like Augustus Willich. WIllich used this song and communist speeched to inspire his men with the Marxist ideas that he brought over from Europe. The song was often used on marches and on the battleifeilds to inspire the forces in his command. This same Augustus Willich is credited with being the first socialist to fly the red flag associated with communism. Other socialsts who came to the United States to fight in the war included Franz Siegel, Carl Schurz, Alexander von Schlimfennig, and Max von Weber. These men brought the marching songs used in the 1848 uprisings of Europe.

4. Come on Ye Black and Tans-This is an Irish protest song. It protests the English occupation of Ireland. The Black and Tans are refrences to the English army troops stationed in the nation at that time. Although it has roots in the early 20th century, it is often used to stir up anti-English sentiment even to this day. Paul McCartney's song, Give Ireland Back to the Irish is song protesting the English occupation of the Irish homeland.His former fellow band member John Lennon also entered the political arena with a rendition of Sunday Bloody Sunday.LIke Dixie, they extol the native culture and speak out against the actions of an occupational regime.

5. John Henry-Originally a folk song which tells the story of a man who died on the job. It was used in the labour movements to convey the frustrations fo the working men and protest the working conditions under which they laboured. Labour movements often focused on how the large companies and greedy employers exploited the workers and working conditions. A popular song of the genre in England is the Digger's Song.

6. Jefferson and Liberty-This American song originally came out to protest the Alien and Sedition Acts based under the administration of President John Adams. Many citizens felt that the acts were oppressive and destructive to their freedoms, especially 'freedom of the press'. The catchy tune of this protest song made it popular with the people who rallied against the acts and around Thomas Jefferson. It became a classic of its day, capturing the sentiments of many after John Adams took steps that many conisdered threats to their liberties.It was only a few years before this that the song, Yankee Doodle came into being to mock the American colonists.

7. Maryland, My Maryland-This is another War Between the States era song. It conveys a protest against the strong arm tactics used by the Union forces when they occupied Maryland. ON entering the State, they destroyed the printing presses of some newspapers, confiscated weapons, suspended the State legilsature, and elected officials were thrown in jail to prevent them from meeting and voting. To make matters worse, armed troops opened fire on the citizens of Baltimore without the approval of Congress or State politicians. The people of Maryland considered these actions "over the top". The actions were seen as those of a tyrannical government. The executive branch of the federal government literally shut down the State government of Maryland in order to silence its voice on political matters.

This song is an expression of the protest against those losses of liberty.The words make refrences to the tyrant assaulting the people and freedoms of Maryland. The tyrant in this case is President Abrham Lincoln.

8. I Am Woman.-This song co-writtenby Helen Reddy was used as an anthem by the feminists to protest the oppression of their gender and to celebrate being a woman. It climbed to #1 on the Billboard charts. The song also makes a strong statement in protest of domestic abuse.

9. Give Peace a Chance-This song, written by John Lennon has been used in various protests of the anti-war movement during the era of the fighting in Vietnam. It's catchy tune is easily sung, which added to its power. It was a favorite of many anti-war protests.

10. Ohio-This song by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young was written in response to the National Guard opening fire on students at Kent State. Like Maryland, My Maryland, this song protests the actions of an oppressive government. In the case of Ohio, it focuses on the actions taken at Kent State University. In the shooting incident at that campus, four students were killed, The song protests the shooting and the oppression of the pro-war culture then embodied in the Nixon administration. It is often used as a rallying cry to unite against a government that supports war.

The protests of the late sixites were often violent. Student riots were harshly repressed in Paris. In Mexico City, the government opened fire on students, killing many. When the violence of oppressive regimes came to the American Universities with the loss of life, there was a strong reaction.

Honorable mention-On the Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire captured the sentiment of the anitwar movement of the late sixties and early seventies. In the 80's, the song 99 Luftballons by Nena focuses its attention on the international tensions experienced in Europe. These are both anti-war songs that are powerful and influential. Nena was a German group protesting the regimes that are so quick to want war.The performers Arlo Guthrie, U2, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seegar often produced powerful and memorable protest songs as well.The topics of their protests included working conditions,war, oppressive government policies, and free expression.

Some other counter-culture songs were I am just an Oakie from Muskogee, and Redneck Mother. Such counter-culture songs often protested the way some cultural groups were portrayed. They also extoled the values of their particular group and in the process protested against the mainstream culture.

With each generation, and cause, there are an increasing number of protest songs. Some of the more recent songs are "Ain't Gonna Go Away" by the Free South Band, "Are Cowboys Still Welcome in Heaven" by Hannah Ingram which protest the continued political oppressions in the South. The performers Mazzaiah Mountain and Robert Lloyd are routinely releasing protest tunes harkening back to the folk song protest songs of previous generations.

The Irish independence movement also continues producing protest songs focued on the oppressive policies of the British occupational government. The Irish people have a long history of using songs to protest questionable government policies.

Along with the Irish Independence Movement, the Scottish Independence movement is also one filled with protest songs, like "Can you hear a melody?" and the "Ballad of John McLean" along with a resurgance of tribal war music are used in protest of English occupation of their nation.

One of the more interesting little protest songs rivalries occurred when Neil Young released his song Southern Man as a protest of Southern culture and ways. In repsonse to his protest song, the group Lynard Skynard produced the song Sweet Home Alabama, which became a favorite amoung rock, country and othe music fans. The song embraces southern culture and counter's Neil Young's attack on the South. Sweet Home Alabama received much greater accolades than Neil Young's original protest song.

Along these lines, the genre of Southern Heritage music is experiencing a new popularity. This genre of music consists of songs celebrating Southern values, and cluture while protesting the atrocities commited on the South. Dixiebroadcasting is an internet radio station that carries many of these songs. Each year the songs judged as the best by the Southern Heritage Music Association are given awards. The best songs are compiled on a series of albums entitled Southron Anthology. These albums are available through DixieBroadcasting and represent the most popular current Southern Heritage (Protest) music available.

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