Greatest Political Punk Songs of All Time

The Top Ten
1 American Idiot - Green Day

Way out in front as voted by the people. An absolute masterpiece in telling it as it is President Bush. Hopefully many Americans woke up after this song was released.

A loud, fast and attacking 'F you' to the Bush administration, this song regained its relevance now that Trump has been elected.

Either this one or the Dead Kennedys. I didn't know how this worked but I like them both a lot!

2 Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols and The Clash and what "Green Day" only wish they could be today! Those bands were making anti-establishment history even before "Green Day" was known as a grunge sell out! People need to know their history!

Great song but not actually political. The Sex Pistols were not Anarchists, they just used the term for shock value and to show their nihilistic views. The song is not about actual Anarchy.

This is true punk rock, not that watered down Green day or Rise against pop punk stuff. And since when were System of a Down considered punk, they're hard rock!

3 Prayer of the Refugee - Rise Against

Great song, the music is angry and fast with some more melodic parts and is perfect for the lyrics. Rise Against truly believe in what they do, and this is why their political songs are the best

This song is obviously the best, with an awesome energy and screaming by the refugee's rights! with Tim's voice and lyrics deserves to be the one

4 Holiday - Green Day

This song is just a great political song. It has got the right words at the right time, the instruments sound amazing, it has got the right speed and the agression needed for a political song. It made a good single and and it stands out of the crowd. Simply all the things needed.

American idiot addresses bush' idiocy. Holiday represents political mistakes in the USA made by the whole population, like electing such a dumbass.

This songs tells president bush to go to hell! And it's by far my favourite Green Day song!

5 Mama - My Chemical Romance

Mama we all go to hell. Only the best songs start with those terribly tragic, still great words!

Oh baby this song so cool and good lyric, trust me!

I will admit I vote MCR for everything. But they are definitely a punk band that addresses real problems. Gratz.

6 God Save the Queen - The Sex Pistols

Should Be number one! An amazing song with an incredible political meaning. Jonny Rotten is boss.

Should be numer one. No question. More of a protest than Anarchy. This is Chapter 1 in punk politics.

Amazing song and the best political punk song by far... Pistols rule

7 Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys

Dead Kennedys define punk rock. They're probably the most political band I've ever heard. They should be in the top 10, not Chemical Romance. They're pop-punk, if anything near punk.

I thought this list was POLITICAL! Have you ever heard this song?!?! Should be in the top 10, as much as I love the songs in the list, some songs such as Mama is not political.

I don't think most of the voters here know what punk rock is. Hey, kids! THIS is punk rock!

8 Running the World - Jarvis Cocker
9 We're All to Blame - Sum 41

Hear the intro of the song. The chorus gets better every time until the end. Great vocal range by Deryck.
This song should be at least in the top 5. This was inspired after civil war in Congo, where Sum 41 got stuck as fighting erupted outside. They were with a UN member at that time. They got out safely, and named the album after hi,. Chuck.

10 Franco Un-American - NOFX
The Contenders
11 Cocaine Socialism - Pulp
12 State of the Union - Rise Against

Like Anti-Flag... Listen to these lyrics & watch the video. Pretty sick

13 Turncoat - Anti-Flag

Anti-Flag are the ultimate political punk band. Why aren't they number 1?

14 The Saints are Coming - Green Day & U2
15 Wake Up - Rage Against the Machine

Is there anything better than Zach de la Rocha shouting in a mic?

Love RATM...especially Zach and all the political words to the songs. This song is one of my all time favorites...and I'm a 68 yr old grandma!

16 Kill the Poor - Dead Kennedys

This song is amazing political commentary. Those of you who remember the neutron bomb (that killed all the people but left the buildings standing) will remember that it made no sense for any moral standpoint anyone could explain. Yet it was a serious proposal. This song shines a spotlight on the thought processes of the people who are really running things. A political masterpiece of a song.

How there are no Dead Kennedys songs in the top 10 is beyond me. This is a great song from maybe the all time classic political punk album.

Everyone should own Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables!

This should be in the top five, at lease. Never been a huge DK fan, but this is one of the best punk songs of all time.

17 The Decline - NOFX

This is an 18 minute long song about America. It tackles topics about television, war, Christianity, and the ending of morality in the USA. Progressive Political Punk, the Decline gets my vote as the best.

My favorite song of all time. I expected to vote for something more Anarcho-punk, but I couldn't resist because hell it's just unbeatable for me.

Longest punk song ever written, third longest song of any genre. 18 minutes on everything wrong with America.

18 Know Your Enemy - Green Day

Do you know the enemy, oh do you know the enemy, well God I know the Enemy...

19 Hero of War - Rise Against
20 Baby, I'm an Anarchist! - Against Me!
21 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day
22 Roll On - The Living End
23 Let Them Eat War - Bad Religion

Bad religion has better political songs such as I Want to Conquer the World, You are the Government and of course American Jesus.

24 Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
25 Ready to Fall - Rise Against

This song is great, as it can be interpreted two ways. One way is on a more individual level, while the other is more political. The political facet is, according to frontman Tim McIlrath, about animal rights, though I take it to mean something bigger. I take it to be a comment on everything the world is doing. The entire world, politically, socially, economically and environmentally, is "standing on a rooftop, ready to fall. " And in every case, its us who's causing this. We are killing ourselves, in every way possible. That's what this song is trying to say.

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