Anyone Know Any Good Activist / Defiance Songs?

[Craig]

I been listening to some of Bob Dylan songs, and while I don't care too much for his anti-government / pro liberal lyrics, the music itself is actually pretty good and has put me in the mood for something similar.

Anyone familiar that brand of music, care to list song artists / songs that might be worthwhile?

[WestRider]

Maybe check out the albums American Beauty and Workingman's Dead by the Grateful Dead. Those two get away from the stoner jam-band vibe and are more just folk-rock.

[yoritomo]

Imagine by John Lennon. Beautiful song, but when I listen to the lyrics it scares the bejesus out of me.

[Yuno]

Yori, it sometimes scares me how alike we are....

Also, while it might not exactly fit what you're looking for, you might try unplugged versions of various famous punk or grunge bands.

[1deadcop]

there is a whole sub-genre of this kind of music. Dive in and enjoy my friend.

one of my favirote band
Choking Victim/Leftover Crack
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZKJwdJRbCo

this is the song that I get my username from.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLX6xNbhios

In my youth I would have many run ins with the police at shows or out on the streets and I can say that I have never had a good time...

but for more of an unplugged sound give this a try

This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb
www.youtube.com/watch?v=da2BxnVD-lc

or this

Defiance, Ohio
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4TV6iW5158

or johnny hobo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTFyX-5EAdk

[Deleted]

Really depends on the musical genre you want to touch into and what you're looking for- based off your post I imagine you mean more on tone and sound. Based strictly off that I'd suggest stuff like Arlo Guthrie, Van Morrison, Richie Havens, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Springsteen, Tom Rush, and Cat Stevens just to name a few.

More on the themes you mentioned though not necessarily only restricted to the anti-government and left leaning I've got suggestions on other genres.

Yori's right about the beatles of course, not their only song that can be interpreted in a protest-like manner.

LOTS of the punk rock genre. I don't care for the newer stuff as much, but the ramones, dead kennedys, and the like are phenomenal.

If you get any inkling of enjoyment from hip-hop or rap(which I acknowledge almost all of what people exposed to is.....unfortunate...) or have any interest in one of the most protest-filled genres around provided you're looking in the right scenes I have an extensive list of artists that I absolutely adore: Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Common, Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Aesop Rock(NOT ASAP ROCKY ), Atmosphere and I could rattle off a hundred more.

There's plenty in the hard rock/metal spectrum of genre's too, but honestly I fell out of love with those genres as I came into my 20's for some reason. Still worth a listen when I'm in the right mood, but nowadays I'm more likely to listen to stuff like Marvin Gaye or John Legend than abiogene, exhumed,  or White zombie.

[inferno]