War: A Playlist

As it was about many things, the 1960s was a transitional time for songs about war. Until then, they were mainly battle songs, songs glorifying war, or songs praising participants in war. But as the Vietnam War raged, anti-war songs took center stage.

Here are a few from both genres, offered for their historical and musical significance, not to champion or disparage their content or what they stand for.

• “ The Ballad of the Green Berets,” Barry Sadler, 1966—A pro-military top 40 hit from the 1960s. Truly counter to the counterculture.
• “ The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Julia Ward Howe, 1861—The North’s battle song in the U.S. Civil War
• “ The Battle of New Orleans,” Bobby Horton, 1959
• “ Dixie,” Daniel Decatur Emmett, 1859—The South’s battle song in the U.S. Civil War.
• “ Over There,” George M. Cohan (composer), 1917
• “ Snoopy vs. The Red Baron,” The Royal Guardsmen, 1967—Peanuts in WWI, and a special Christmas without Charlie Brown
• “ The Star-Spangled Banner,” 1814—The U.S. national anthem, a song recorded by thousands; here, it’s performed by the U.S. Marine Band
• “ Cruel War,” Peter, Paul and Mary, 1962
• “ Eve of Destruction,” Barry McGuire, 1965—Sounding progressively angrier as he sings the song, McGuire’s song crystalizes the turbulent ’60s.
• “ Masters of War,” Bob Dylan, 1963—Classic Dylan in his protest period. The lyrics are more prose than poetry.
• “ The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” The Band, 1969—(no, Joan Baez was not first)
• “ With God on Our Side,” Bob Dylan, 1964

Join the conversation. Email us ([email protected]) and ([email protected]) by May 30 to tell us the songs about war that you’d add to our playlist and why they’re fitting contributions. Then watch for the next issue of Voice of Experience for an updated list.