Unit 8: Post-WWII United States, 1946-1973
United/Divided | War & Peace | Work | Home | Moving Along | Faith & Ideals
UNITED/DIVIDED
"Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round"
1962
A civil rights Freedom Song based on a spiritual.
Lyric source | Recording
"A Change is Gonna Come"
Sam Cooke, 1963
A song about the struggles of African Americans, inspired by being turned away from a
whites-only hotel.
Lyric source | Recording
"People Get Ready"
Curtis Mayfield, 1965
A song of faith that transcends barriers and encourages everyone to board the trian to.
salvation.
Lyric source | Recording
"Now That the Buffalo's Gone"
Buffy Saint Marie, 1964
A lament about mistreatment of Native Americans by white colonizers and the US
government.
Lyric source | Recording
"Japanese Rumba"
Jerry Miller, 1955 A song composed for G.I.’s in post-war Japan that pokes fun at the linguistic struggles of
Americans in Japan.
Recording
"The Sukiyaki Song"
Ue o Muite Aruko, 1961
A protest song about the ratification of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
Lyric source | Recording
“We Shall Overcome”
Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan, Pete Seeger
1960 Gospel hymn turned Civil Rights anthem.
Lyric source | Recording
“The Times They Are A-Changin”
Bob Dylan, 1963
A folk song about the inevitability of change.
Lyric source | Recording
“Respect”
Otis Redding, 1965
A soul song which became the cry of women and ethnic minorities
Lyric source | Recording
“Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”
James Brown, 1968
The master of soul’s call for black pride
Lyric Source | Recording online
“Okie from Muskogee”
Merle Haggard, 1970
A country singer’s “Silent Majority” response to hippies.
Lyric source | Recording
“I Am Woman”
Helen Reddy, 1972
The song that became the Feminist movement’s anthem.
Lyric source | Recording
"Yo soy chicano"
Juanita Dominguez, 1968
A song that draws parallels between the Mexican Revolution and the struggles
Mexican-Americans in 1960.
Lyric source | Recording
WAR AND PEACE
“Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag”
Country Joe and the Fish, 1965
A satirical “recruiting” song for a less than popular war.
Lyric source | Recording
“Imagine”
John Lennon, 1971
Written at the height of the Vietnam War, this song has remained a popular peace anthem.
Lyric source | Recording
"Ohio"
Neil Young, 1970
A commemoration of the deaths of four students at Kent State University.
Lyric source | Recording
WORK
"Los pachucos"
A criticism of youth zoot suit culture.
R. Rodriguez and A. Carranza, 1950
Recording
“Sixteen Tons”
Merle Travis, 1947
A country complaint about owing your soul to the company store.
Lyric source | Recording
“Get A Job”
The Silhouettes, 1957
Doo-wop song about being unemployed.
Lyric source | Recording
“Deportee”
Woody Guthrie, Martin Hoffman, c. 1947
Folk song about the forgotten farm workers killed in the plane crash at Los Gatos.
Lyric source | Recording
“El corrido de Cesar Chavez”
Felipe Cantu, 1966
A protest song about the unfair treatment of farm workers.
Lyric source | Recording
“El Picket Sign”
El Teatro Campesino, 1965
A song intended to maintain morale among striking farm workers and to recruit scab
workers into the movement.
Lyric source | Recording
HOME
“Little Boxes”
Malvina Reynolds, 1962
A lament against the sameness of suburbia. Lyric source | Recording
“Wives and Lovers”
Hal David and Burt Bacharach, 1963
An encapsulation of what was expected of women in the 1960s.
Lyric source | Recording
“Los chucos suaves”
Lalo Guerrero and Sus Cinco Lobos, 1949
A celebration of the zoot suit craze of the 1940s. Lyric source | Recording
“Big Yellow Taxi”
Joni Mitchell, 1970
A lament about development’s impact on the environment.
Lyric source| Recording
“Living for the City”
Stevie Wonder, 1973
The struggles of a young black male in New York City.
Lyric source| Recording
MOVING ALONG
"(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66"
Bobby Troup, 1946
A celebration of driving along “America’s Main Street."
Lyric source | Recording
"Special Delivery Blues"
Odetta, 1963
A blues song about a woman who has been abandoned by her man.
Lyric source | Recording
"Call It Stormy Monday Blues"
T. Bone Walker
A blues song about experiencing sadness daily after experiencing a loss.
Lyric source | Recording
“America” from West Side Story
Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, 1957
Musical theatre hit about the Puerto Rican immigrant’s experience in America.
Lyric source | Recording
“I Get Around”
Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys), 1964
California rock song about the joy of cruising.
Lyric source | Recording
“Traffic Jam”
James Taylor, 1973
Too many cars in this expression of frustration.
Lyric source | Recording
FAITH AND IDEALS
"Take My Hand, Precious Lord"
Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932
A gospel song about taking comfort in the lord during a time of loss.
Lyric source | Recording
"Keep On Pushing"
The Impressions, 1964
A civil rights song encouraging perseverence, strength, and pride.
Lyric source | Recording
What a Wonderful World
Bob Thiele and George David Weiss, 1967
A lyrical ballad that reminds listeners of the beauty in the world.
Lyric source | Recording
“This Land is Your Land”
Woody Guthrie, 1944, 1956
Folk answer to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”
Lyric source | Recording
“The Hammer Song (If I Had a Hammer)”
Lee Hays and Pete Seeger, 1958
Radical song about using the tools one has to succeed.
Lyric source | Recording
“Get Together”
Dino Valenti (aka Chet Powers), 1963
Song imploring peace and brotherhood.
Lyric source | Recording
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