Cold War Music:
Musicians during the Cold War quickly took to expressing popular opinion. Songs during the time expressed the fears, concerns, and frustrations of the time. Songs during this time period have topics that are highly varied, and they range from giegercounters, to nuclear fallout, to Vietnam War protest, threats towards russians. Remember, music is a form of mass expression, and it serves as a unique marker of popular modds and opinions of the time. In this the music is particulary useful in analyzing the Cold and popular opinions.
Process:
There are eleven different Cold War Era songs below, which are additionally split between three sections. For this portion of the Webquest you are requried to analyze three songs. Two of these songs must come from early popular songs and an additional one must come from mid-Cold War music. The late music is simply for if you have extra time or are interested in further music. Again, you must analyze three songs in total, from the first two sections. Use the formula and process direction below to help you.
1. Choose two songs from the first section to analyze.
2. Write these songs on your packet so that you don't get confused, and use the following questions to compelte an analysis.In answering these questions remember to use quotes from the lyrics (which have all been included).
5. Once you have completed this section, move onto your next topic. If you have finished your two sections completely raise your hand and let me know. I will come around to check your work.
1. Choose two songs from the first section to analyze.
2. Write these songs on your packet so that you don't get confused, and use the following questions to compelte an analysis.In answering these questions remember to use quotes from the lyrics (which have all been included).
- 1. What does the song seem to be about?
- 2. What Cold War terminology do you recognize?
- 3. What elements of the Cold War are represented?
- 4. What portion of Cold War Culture would this fit in with?
- 5. Is the song a successful representation of the Cold War or not?
- 1. What does the song seem to be about?
- 2. What Cold War terminology do you recognize?
- 3. What elements of the Cold War are represented?
- 4. What portion of Cold War Culture would this fit in with?
- 5. Is the song a successful representation of the Cold War or not?
5. Once you have completed this section, move onto your next topic. If you have finished your two sections completely raise your hand and let me know. I will come around to check your work.
Early Popular Music Songs and Lyrics:
Sheldon Allman: Crawl out through the Fallout 1960
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Crawl out through the fallout, baby When they drop that bomb
Crawl out through the fallout With the greatest of aplomb When your white count's getting higher Hurry, don't delay I'll hold you close and kiss those Radiation burns away Crawl out through the fallout, baby To my loving arms Through the rain of Strontium 90 Think about your hero When you're at Ground Zero And crawl out through the fallout back to me Crawl out through the fallout, baby You know what I mean Crawl out through the fallout 'Cause they said this bomb was clean If you cannot find the way Just listen for my song I'll love you all your life Although that may not be too long Crawl out through the fallout, baby To my loving arms While those ICBM's keep us free When you hear me call out Baby, kick the wall out And crawl out through the fallout back to me 'Cause you'll be the only girl in the world Why don't you crawl out through the fallout back to me (Repeat twice) |
Elton Britt: Uranium Fever 1955
Well, I don't know, but I've been told, Uranium ore's worth more than gold
Sold my Cad', I bought me a Jeep, I've got that bug and I can't sleep Uranium fever has done and got me down, Uranium fever is spreadin' all around With a Geiger counter in my hand, I'm a-goin' out to stake me some government land Uranium fever has done and got me down (Refrain) Well I had talk with the AEC*, And they brought out some maps that looked good to me And one showed me a spot that he said he knowed, So I straddled my Jeep and headed down the road I reckon I drove about 100 miles, Down a bumpy road out through the wilds When all of sudden I bounced to a stop At the foot of a mountain, didn't have no top (Refrain) Well I took my Geiger and I started to climb, Right up to the top where I thought I'd find A hunk of rock that would make it click, Just like I'd read about Vernon Pick On the second day, I made the top, And I'm tellin' you, Steve, I was ready to stop The only clickin' that I heard that day, Was the bones in my back that had gone astray (Refrain) Well, you pack up your things, You head out again Into some unknown spot where nobody's been, You reach the spot where your fortune lies You find it's been staked by 17 other guys Well, I ain't kiddin', I ain't gonna quit, That bug's done caught me and I've been bit So with a Geiger counter and a pick in my hand, I'll keep right on stakin' that government land (Refrain). |
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Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith and his Crackerjacks: Mr. Stalin, You're Eating Too High on the Hog 1950
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When Word War II was over, Uncle Sam said, "Boy's go home!"
No one had to twist my arm,I came back 'cross the foam Now things are in a mess again, The world is all agog Old Joe Stalin in Moscow , Is eating too high on the hog (Mr. Stalin, you're eatin' too high on the hog, Mr. Stalin, quit feedin' those lies to your mob, Now, Joe, you better change your way, Or like Hitler you will pay, For eating too high on the hog (refrain)) Now old Joe's getting' up in age, But they say he ain't so dumb He knows all about ships and tanks, And maybe atom bombs If he keeps eatin' like he is, At his own discretion One of these days he's going to wake up, With American indigestion (Refrain) Now Molotov and Malik, Are only office boys, They came to the UN, And made a lot of noise They're only takin' orders, That come across from you But your hammer and sickle just won't fit , Our red, white and blue Mr. Stalin, you're eatin' too high on the hog, Mr. Stalin, quit feedin' those lies to your mob, Now, listen Joe, you know that you aren't Used eating meat, Act your age, be yourself,Stick to Kremlin wheat Mr. Stalin, you're eatin' too high on the hog, Mr. Stalin, quit feedin' those lies to your mob Now, we aren't huntin' trouble, But we ain't never run Let's all live and let live, Joe, Remember the rising sun Quit eating too high on the hog |
Louisiana Red: Red's Dream 1962
It was a dream, dream I had last night, I dreamed I went to the UN
And set the whole nation right, I dreamed of callin' old Castro To the morning flo', Looked him right in the eye and said, "Boy, You got to go!, I'm tired of your foolishness And if you don't behave, I'm goin' grab you by your beard, Give you a Georgia shave!" It was a dream, a dream I had last night, I dreamed I went to the UN And set the whole nation right (refrain) Then I told old Khrushchev, Sittin' there looking bad, "Get that junk outta Cuba, 'Fore you make me mad., Dig up them missile bases, Take them planes and all, Or I'll grab me a bat, With your head for the ball!" (Refrain) Then into Washington they call me, An' I went, Hadda be the guest Of the President, He said, "Red, I'm glad to see you, So glad you come down here, To help me run the Russians From the western hemisphere!" I said, "You can run the country, I'm goin' to run the Senate Oughtta make a few changes, With a few soul brothers in it. Ray Charles and Lightnin' Hopkins, And a guy like Jimmy Reed Bo Diddley and Big Mabel, Be all I need!" (Refrain) |
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Teresa Brewer: Satellite 1958
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I'm spinning around like a satellite, And I can see the sun for the stars
Everyday is as gay as a Saturday night, Or a ride on a rocket to Mars My love takes the path of a satellite, In an orbit around your heart Your attraction is something I never could fight, And it's starting to pull me apart I'm sailing above the clouds so high Like a rocket on the 4th of July The world looks as small as a polka dot When compared to the love I've got I'm spinning around like a satellite But I'll slow myself down to explain If you promise to kiss me once more I'll be glad To get down to earth once again I'm sailing above the clouds so high Like a rocket on the 4th of July The world looks as small as a polka dot When compared to the love I've got I'll always behave like a satellite And the reason's not hard to explain When I try to recover you kiss me and then I start spinning all over, spinning all over, just spinning all over again |
Ray Anderson: Stalin Kicked the Bucket 1953
Old Joe kicked the bucket, he's long gone, He won't worry us from now on
He lived in a place they call Moscow, His number came up and he had to go (Yes, old Joe's dead and gone, He stayed around too long And nobody now can save his hide, 'Cause old Joe laid right down and died (refrain)) Old Joe won't worry us no more, He killed the helpless by the score Now I hope he's satisfied, Since old Joe's taken his last ride Yes, old Joe's dead and gone, He stayed around too long And nobody now can save his hide, 'Cause old Joe laid right down and died While near the end, he couldn't talk, He's paralyzed and he couldn't walk He died with a hemorrhage in the brain, They have a new fireman on the devil's train (refrain) Although he was a man of power , He was scared of Eisenhower So now the devil can retire, 'Cause old Joe Stalin will keep the fire (refrain) |
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Middle Cold War Music:
Barry McgGuire: Eve of Destruction 1965
The eastern world it is explodin',
violence flarin', bullets loadin', you're old enough to kill but not for votin', you don't believe in war, what's that gun you're totin', and even the Jordan river has bodies floatin', but you tell me over and over and over again my friend, ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction. Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say? Can't you see the fear that I'm feeling today? If the button is pushed, there's no running away, There'll be noone to save with the world in a grave, take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy, but you tell me over and over and over again my friend, ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction. Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin', I'm sittin' here, just contemplatin', I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation, handful of Senators don't pass legislation, and marches alone can't bring integration, when human respect is disintegratin', this whole crazy world is just too frustratin', and you tell me over and over and over again my friend, ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction. Think of all the hate there is in Red China! Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama! Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space, but when your eturn, it's the same old place, the poundin' of the drums, th pride and disgrace, you can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace, hate your next-door-neighbour, but don't forget to say grace, and you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend, ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction. |
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Creedence Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son 1969
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Some folks are born made to wave the flag
Ooh, they're red, white and blue And when the band plays "Hail to the chief" Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord 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 fortunate one, no Yeah! Some folks are born silver spoon in hand Lord, don't they help themselves, oh But when the taxman comes to the door Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no Some folks inherit star spangled eyes Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord And when you ask them, "How much should we give?" Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no |
Country Joe and the Fish: I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag 1969
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Well, come on all of you, big strong men, Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam, Way down yonder in Vietnam So put down your books and pick up a gun, We're gonna have a whole lotta fun. (And it's one, two, three, What are we fighting for? Don't ask me, I don't give a damn, Next stop is Vietnam; And it's five, six, seven, Open up the pearly gates, Well there ain't no time to wonder why, Whoopee! we're all gonna die. (refrain)) Well, come on generals, let's move fast; Your big chance has come at last. Now you can go out and get those reds 'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead And you know that peace can only be won When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come. (Refrain) Come on Wall Street, don't be slow, Why man, this is war au-go-go There's plenty good money to be made By supplying the Army with the tools of its trade, But just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb, They drop it on the Viet Cong. (Refrain) Come on mothers throughout the land, Pack your boys off to Vietnam. Come on fathers, and don't hesitate To send your sons off before it's too late. And you can be the first ones in your block To have your boy come home in a box. (Refrain) |
Later Cold War Music: Not Required
Sting: Russians 1985
In Europe and America, there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats, In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets, Mr. Krushchev said we will bury you I don't subscribe to this point of view, It would be such an ignorant thing to do, If the Russians love their children too How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy There is no monopoly in common sense On either side of the political fence, We share the same biology Regardless of ideology, Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too There is no historical precedent To put the words in the mouth of the President There's no such thing as a winnable war, It's a lie we don't believe anymore Mr. Reagan says we will protect you, I don't subscribe to this point of view Believe me when I say to you, I hope the Russians love their children too We share the same biology, Regardless of ideology What might save us, me, and you, Is if the Russians love their children too |
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Edwin Starr: War 1970
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[Chorus:] War
What is it good for? Absolutely nothing War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker Friend only to the undertaker War means tears To thousands of mothers' eyes When their sons go out to fight And their daughters lose their lives in [Chorus] War, it's an enemy of all mankind The news of war, it breaks my heart and closes my mind War has laid waste to a whole generation Induction then destructionAnd who wants to die in a War , What is it good for, Absolutely nothing Tell me War What is it good for, Ask yourself this question Peace Love and Understanding; Tell me, is there no place for them today They say we must fight to keep our freedom But lord, lord there's got to be a better way War, What is it good for Tell me, tell me, tell me War , What is it good for. Can you tell me now There's got to be a better way |