Greatest Protest Songs from the 60s and 70s

The Top Ten
1 Imagine - John Lennon

That song said it all

2 Have You Ever Seen the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
4 For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
5 Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

The definition of a protest song

6 Another Brick In the Wall (Part 2) - Pink Floyd
7 Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire

At the time how true it was

8 Hurricane - Bob Dylan
9 Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan
10 1984 - Spirit

Would have been a monster hit, but right during its fast climb up the charts, it was banned from airplay.
RIP Randy California, who died a hero saving his son from dangerous surf in Hawaii.

The Contenders
11 A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan
12 Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

When ever I hear this song, it reminds of the photo of the girl with a WHY look on your face leaning over the body of student who had been shot. I also think about how the people do not have the freedoms we assume we have in America.

13 A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
14 Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
15 Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

The "Bad Moon" is a nuclear mushroom cloud.

16 Blackbird - The Beatles

How is this even a protest song? Taxman is but not blackbird. Blackbird is poetry.

This is McCartney's gentle and oh so subtle civil rights anthem.

17 7 and 7 Is - Love
18 1977 - The Clash

Another item from 1977 British youth.

19 Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
20 Inner City Blues - Marvin Gaye
21 Less Than Zero - Elvis Costello

Really nails it to British National Front leader Oswald. Mosley!

22 God Save the Queen - The Sex Pistols

The sound of disaffected youth in 1977 Britain.

23 Baba O'Riley - The Who
24 Give Peace a Chance - John Lennon
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