by Eli Greenbaum, author of Hell, No, We Didn’t Go! Firsthand Accounts of Vietnam War Protest and Resistance.
It’s guns, cannons, bombs, and all sorts of explosions that are usually thought of as the sounds of war. But there’s another component: music. Music was a significant part of the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. Some of the era’s most popular songs were performed by major artists—from folk and blues singers to rock ‘n’ rollers—who didn’t hold back on their opposition to the war and the draft. Some songs were satirical, some were damning, others could break your heart. They all carried an anti–Vietnam War message. As the war dragged on, more and more people listened to them. Here are some notable protest songs of the times. If my book has a soundtrack, this is it.
