OT: Songs that reference historical events

[Littlemin]

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll

As to be expected, a fair amount of Dylan in this thread. This is one that never fails to move me; one that very directly puts to rest the fallacy of “and justice for all”.……”Bury the rag deep in your face for now’s the time for your tears”

 

[UHF]

The Alaska Gold Rush

Fun fight scene from the movie North To Alaska.


Fight scene from North to Alaska


Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.

 

[Bama fan]

So timely now, and so strange then:

 

[UHF]

In The Arms Of An Angel.
Sara McLachlan.
1997.
Surfacing album.


Lyrics are about the death of Smashing Pumpkins traveling keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who died of a heroin overdose.

Popular song at funerals.

 

[UHF]

Brighter Than A Thousand Suns.
Iron Maiden.
2006.
A Matter Of Life And Death album.


Another song about the Manhattan Project.


Whatever would Robert have said to his God
'Bout how he made war with the Sun?
E equals MC squared, you can't relate.
How we made God with our hands.

 

[UHF]

Nantucket Sleighride.
Mountain.
1971.

Nantucket whaler Essex was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale in 1820.

 

[UHF]

Public Enemy No. 1
Megadeth.
2011.


Dave Mustaine said the song was about Al Capone.
For all you headbangers on the Boneyard.

 

[UHF]

Red Sector A.
Rush.
1984.
Grace Under Pressure album.


Geddy Lee's mother Manya Rubenstein was a survivor of the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen.
Geddy Lee’s father Morris Weinrib was a survivor of the Nazi concentration camp Dachau.


Live version.

 

[UHF]

Ruby's Shoes.
Lori McKenna.
1999.
Paper Wings & Halo album.


In 1960, six year old Ruby Bridges walked past hateful protesters to become the first Black child at a Louisiana school. Ruby was then taught alone for a year.


Ruby's shoes would take her.
A mile or so to school every day.
Where the white people hated her.
They'd scream and hold signs and tell her to go away.

 

[UHF]

Sunshine.
Jonathan Edwards.
1971.


"Tribute" to President Richard Nixon.

How much does it cost, I'll buy it.
The time is all we've lost, I'll try it.
But he can't even run his own life.
I'll be damned if he'll run mine, Sunshine.

 

[UHF]

Fotheringay by Fairport Convention
You get some history with this one. Fotheringay was the final place of imprisonment for Mary Queen of Scots who was executed there in 1587. As a bonus you get the beautiful voice of Sandy Denny.

Sandy Denny left Fairport Convention and formed the short lived band Fotheringay in 1970.

Fotheringay,Way I feel

 

[Ozimoto]

Another song referencing the bombing of Hiroshima.

 

[Ozimoto]

Here is another from the same album about the relocation of Native Americans from the south eastern United States, known as the Trail of Tears.

 

[UHF]

Fortunate Son.
Creedence Clearwater Revival.
1969.
Willy and the Poor Boys album.


Inspired by the wedding of David Eisenhower’s grandson and then President Richard Nixon’s daughter in 1968. John Fogerty explained “Julie Nixon was hanging around with David Eisenhower, and you just had the feeling that none of these people were going to be involved with the war.


It ain't me, it ain't me.
I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me.
I ain't no furtunate one, no.

 

[UHF]

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.
The Animals.
1965.
Animal Tracks album.

Vietnam War anthem.

 

[UHF]

Sky Pilot.
Eric Burdon & The Animals.
1967 (released in 1968).
The Twain Shall Meet album.


He smiles at the young soldiers tells them it's all right.
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight.
Soon there'll be blood and many will die.
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry.


Does this qualify for the thread?

 

[UHF]

What's Going On.
Marvin Gaye.
1971.


Inspiration came from police brutality and violence in People’s Park, Berkeley, during an anti-war protest.


Picket lines and picket signs.
Don't punish me with brutality.
Talk to me.
So you can see.
Oh, what's going on (What's going on).

 

[Bigboote]

Ayreon on the Moon landing.

 

[UHF]

For What It's Worth.
Buffalo Springfield.
1967.


Inspired by the Sunset Strip Riots of the late 1960s. Embraced as a Vietnam War protest song.

 

[UHF]

A Change Is Gonna Come.
Sam Cooke.
1964.


Inspired by various events in Sam Cooke's life, most prominently when he and his entourage were turned away from a whites only motel in Louisiana.

 

[Bigboote]

Steppenwolf was the first concert I saw, and they played this song, which references the Summer of Love and Woodstock. Bobby Cochran, Eddie's nephew, only played with them for three albums, but was a whale of a lead guitarist.

 

[Bigboote]

This was kind of Emmy's lament at the death of Gram Parsons. The historical reference is the line "the canyon was on fire." That's a reference to a wildfire in LA that burned shortly before she wrote the song.

 

[UHF]

Eve Of Destruction.
Barry McGuire
1965.


PF Sloan wrote the song in 1964. Lyrics include references to the Vietnam War, the draft, the threat of nuclear war, Civil Rights movement, turmoil in the Middle East, the US space program.


Scrolled thru the 5 pages twice, but did not see it. Hope that I did not miss it.

 

[UHF]

Hurricane.
Bob Dylan.
1976.

Song about professional boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.

 

[UHF]

Goodbye.
Night Ranger.
1985.


Remixed as a tribute to the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger crew for FM 100.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

1812 Overture……….

 

[UHF]

Ballad Of The Green Berets.
SSGT Barry Sadler.
January 1966.

 

[UHF]

Fanfare For The Common Man.
Aaron Copland.
1942.

Written in response to the US entry into World War II. Partly inspired by Vice President Henry Wallace, who announced the dawning of the Century of the Common Man.

 

[UHF]

"Leningrad" Symphony #7.
Dmitri Shostakovich.


Dedicated his symphony to the city of Leningrad in 1941, after Nazi Germany attacked Russia. First 3 movements were completed in Leningrad, while it was under siege.

Full symphony at the link.

 

[Replicant]