Mom’s Selections:
War, by Edwin Starr. Released in 1969.
In the words of my mother, this song was a call to “tell it like it is”. My mom remembers listening to the song on the radio as a kid and thinking how it made perfect sense: the idea of no more war. It was one of the first, very strong, anti-war songs. During its time it was an anthem in the protest against Vietnam. Today, this song lives on as a generic howl for peace.
Imagine, by John Lennon. Released in 1971.
This song was sung almost like a prayer when it came out and epitomizes the counter cultures’ call to rethink things and change the world for the better. It is a song of hope and encourages people to come together. When my mom thinks of this song, she specifically remembers the day that John Lennon died and how she couldn’t believe that a person who could write such peaceful songs could be murdered.
Whenever I hear this song I am reminded of second grade. Every Tuesday we would sing this song during morning meeting. I remember when we discussed the significance of the lyrics with our teacher and how important it was to have an optimistic view of the world. Even as second graders we understood that we must believe in change for change to happen.
My Selections:
Changes, by Tupac Shakur. Released in 1992.
Many of Tupac’s songs are about growing up amid violence, hardship in ghettos, racism, and problems in society. I thought this song was relevant as it touched on many sensitive issues that we have talked about in the classroom such as being stuck in the cycle of poverty and the forced life of crime.
I found that this song is very similar in meaning to John Lennon’s Imagine. Besides the obvious musical differences, the messages behind the lyrics both highlight the need for change. Although Tupac’s song has a more pessimistic view in terms of the future, I think he uses this negative view in hopes of aspiring and motivating change to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Y9-JlSRXw
Waiting on the World to Change, by John Mayer. Released in 2006.
Similar to Changes, this song reflects the need for the world to change. It is also similar to War, as it contains lyrics that touch on ending war and having the power to bring “neighbors home from war”. In general the song has themes of discontent with the current global situation but continued hope. It is a call to today’s generation to take action, as this is the only way that change can occur.
Waiting on the World to Change Lyrics
In general, I think that the messages and themes behind both my songs and my mom’s are very similar. All four songs speak about the need for action and change in society and comment on the negative social situations of the time. The one disheartening feeling I have when looking at all of these songs is was why change had not occurred. Thirty years later, we are still living in a society plagued by war and inequities.
-C. Spatcher