In terms of history, Dylan’s “With God on Our Side”, happens to mention several historical events from Native American wars to the Cold War.Dylan runs through the history of the United States and goes with a manifest destiny approach, in which he shows how America grew to be such a powerful country.He looks at religions influence on the mindset of a country that is being taught who to hate and who to accept as friend.Almost as if Dylan is challenging God to end war, but in the end, is it possible that God is our only hope to end war, because man can’t stop war.
2 Youngstown, by Bruce Springsteen
Youngstown is a song that highlights the industrial juggernaut and the massive military complex of America.Springsteen reveals that the backbone of the American military during the major wars that America has fought in, were the people in these steel factories and coal mines.Now these factories are all but disappearing and the people are all but forgotten.Something that you can see happening all over America is factory towns are left barren wastelands and therefore a living Hell for people that once thrived and survived off building bombs and tanks.
3 Cortez the Killer, by Neil Young
The way this extraordinary clash of civilization is portrayed in Cortez the Killer, it is almost as if you are taken back hundreds of years and you are standing on the coast and watching the giant ships coming toward land.Young expresses the magnificent culture of the Aztecs and their extravagant clothing and rituals and how in one swift moment that can all be taken away.The build up of the song, reaches a climatic moment when we realize that an entire culture is wiped out by a few conquistadors that are left with no choice but to conquer and wipe out the entire Aztec Civilization.
4 Washington Bullets, by the Clash
“Washington Bullets” is a song that attacks America’s world police policy and at the same time attacks communism’s and capitalism’s hypocritical approaches.Who is benefiting from all these bullets that are spread throughout the world?Someone is making lots of money off of old tanks, planes and guns.The song lets you know that even though the words have changed, America is still involved in building up an Empire and in order to maintain the Empire, the Washington Bullets have to carve the way.The Clash had an effective way of exposing deep problems around the world and the Cold War Era had its share of deceptive intentions.
5 The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordan Lightfoot
Ever since I was able to board the Niagara in Erie, PA, I have been fascinated with ship wrecks.It’s obvious that the sea is a powerful force and Lightfoot takes you on the perilous journey of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in Lake Superior back in Nov, 1975.He shows the comradery of the ships crew as the cook says, “It’s been good to know ya”.This song opens your eyes to how unforgiving the sea can be and how difficult and dangerous of a journey it had to of been for the first ships crossing the Oceans around the world, let along the Great Lakes.
Others that deserve mention: "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down", by the Band and "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", by the Pogues. Sorry to anyone that felt that Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" should be in the top five list, but just repeating random historical names does not consist in a great historical song.
1. Impressment/Boston Tea Party/Boston Massacre You can lump these causes into one big category, because they are all connected in some way to the people finally saying, "I have had enough". Forced into war or labor, taxed on every product and war fought, and told when you can and can't assemble together will eventually lead to revolution. History has all kinds of examples of the people standing up and taking control from the oppressor. (See French and Russian Revolution)
2. Attack on Pearl Harbor For a World War that started in 1939, the United States stood back and made all kinds of money selling and loaning arms and supplies to all the European countries at war. Attacks on American trading vessels by German U-boats was not enough to get the US to enter into war. However, on December 7th 1941, when the Japanese attacked the US navy base Pearl Harbor in a supposedly surprise attack and over 1,000 American soldiers were killed. The United States declared war on Japan and later Germany and Italy.
3. Manifest Destiny What has a better sound to it? We are taking this land from you and sending you where ever you are out of the way, because I said so or because this is what God wants. Well I guess it would make the conquerors feel a lot better if its all for the sake of God. Which is why most of the cities in California are Spanish and Native American names are spread throughout our rivers and lakes like ghosts from the past.
4. Sinking (explosion) of the Maine A battleship that sank in very mysterious ways was the incendiary to the powder keg that was the Spanish-American War, in 1898. Over 200 soldiers lost their lives in this explosion that was never really investigated thoroughly, but was declared a naval mine and that it was definitely Spain, because it was off the coast of Havana, Cuba. This led to the famous rally cries of, "Remember the Maine! To Hell with Spain!" Many researchers however believe that the Maine sank because of an internal explosion in the hull.
5. Gulf of Tonkin Incident Even though the US had been involved in Vietnam for several years prior to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964, this event led to a great surge in troops, supplies and money into a war that was just beginning to escalate. The claim of the US military was that the destroyer USS Maddox was attacked by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats and that these attacks were unprovoked because it was international waters. This event gave the President and future Presidents the power to declare war without actually declaring it.
Others that deserve mention: South Carolina Secession and 911/Weapons of Mass Destruction
One incited a revolution. One sparked a civil war. One exposed the American meatpacking industry. One used muck racking photojournalism to expose New York City slums. One launched the environmental movement. All these books served as a catalyst to something major in our history, and their repercussions are still felt today. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Has anyone read these books and can testify on their worthiness or unworthiness? Let's hear it.
Posts
