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Annotated Playlist:

20th Century Social Movements through Music

During the 20th century there were multiple social movements that changed the fabric of

American society. There are three main social movements during this time period. The battle for

Women’s Suffrage, the Civil Rights movement, and the Anti-War movement. Though the goal of

each social movement were different, the means that they used were similar. Music was the main

similarity in each movement and played a major role in eachsocial movement and especially with

these. All three groups dealt with oppression and voiced their opposition through music, which

allowed them to persevere and fight for what was right. When analyzing these social movements

with historical context and activism methods, music is shown to be an effective way for outreach

and protest.

Full Playlist Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4rlaaYmm3Px4IeQqcuHC39?si=TaL-

sZE9TnGNm8zRvurpKg

Women’s’ Suffrage

Song: “Give The Ballot To The Mothers”

Genre: Folk

The Women’s Suffrage movement started well before the 20th century, but their success was

found in the early 20th century. Rebecca N. Hazzard created the lyrics to “Give The Ballot To

The Mothers”, and then merged the lyrics to the song of “Marching through George”, originally

a Civil War tune by Henry Clay Work. The new song emphasized the goal of the Women’s

suffrage movement, with lyrics like “Equal Rights our motto is” and enforcing the main theme of

“Giving the ballot to the mothers”. At this point in history American women did not have the

right to vote and for many years had been holding events of activism for change.
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Song: She’s Good Enough To Be Your Baby’s Mother And She’s Good Enough To Vote With

You

Artist: Anna Chandler

Lyrics: Alfred Bryan

Composer: Herman Paley

As one of the more famous pieces of music during the time as the piece had many different

designs for the sheet music cover and title was often shortened to “She’s Good Enough”. This

piece was a response to the critics of the movement who believed that women lacked the ability

to be able to vote responsibly. The piece responded to this claim by enforcing the idea that if

women were incapable of voting, then men should have never put them in charge of raising kids.

This theme within the song not only tackles the critics of the movement, but validates the

capabilities of women and pushes the societal norm of women solely being a housewife.

Civil Rights

Song: “We Shall Overcome”

Genre: Folk

Considered to be one of the most powerful songs of the century, this song moved from being a

hymn of African-Americas to becoming the unofficial song of the Civil Rights movement. This

is song proved vital in the activism towards Civil Rights, as it was sung during protest marches,

sit-ins, and even when protests became filled with tear gas from police. As a song of

perseverance it reflects with the activism that the Civil Rights movement was involved in,

especially with the history of the movement and all the challenges it faced. Historically the song

faced many changes throughout the social movement. During the Civil Rights movement many
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events caused for the song to have additions to the lyrics, which pushed the song even closer to

activism.

Song: “Mississippi Goddam”

Artist: Nina Simone

Genre: Jazz

Nina Simone wrote and performed this song due to the many years of racial injustice, the slow

pace of change, and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Simone wrote the song in roughly

an hour and unlike many songs of Civil Rights activism, it was active in being sharp and honest

toward inequality and has a sense of rage. This song was essentially a product of the events that

surrounded her and was a form of activism that was pure situational response. Simone was faced

with grueling events of inequality and race based murder, which would shape her aggression

towards racism in society. Unlike the song “We Shall Overcome”, which focuses on the

perseverance of the movement, “Mississippi Goddam” intends to create action among African-

Americans while also challenge white Americans. Simone’s main point of activism within her

song, is a push for quick changes to an oppressive society and system.

Song: “How I Got Over”

Artist: Mahalia Jackson

Genre: Gospel

During the most famous event of the Civil Rights movement, the March on Washington, Mahalia

Jackson sung “How I Got Over” before Dr. King’s speech. This song focuses on the

marginalized experiences of African-Americans and how the Civil Rights movement has been

resilient in facing all the challenges that have been thrown their way. “How I Got Over”
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encompasses the historical context of the Jim Crow South and reflects on and pushes for the

continued activism of the Civil Rights movement.

Anti-War Movement

Song: “Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation”

Artist: Tom Paxton

Genre: Folk

Tom Paxton’s “Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation” was one of the first songs to actively protest

against Lyndon Johnson for his deceit about Vietnam. The historical context of this song is very

important as Lyndon Johnson ran for presidency on the basis of peace and that no troops will be

sent to Vietnam. After getting elected President Johnson sent more troops to Vietnam and thus

sparked Tom Paxton’s song. Tom Paxton’s activism was against the Vietnam War and the draft

that forces many young men to fight in a war they don’t believe in. Paxton

Song: “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die-Rag”

Artist: Country Joe and the Fish

Genre: Psychedelic Rock

As their greatest hit it takes an upbeat rag form to create satirical anti-war feelings. The song

focuses on the folly of the Vietnam War and essentially blames the United States government,

the Military, and Capitalists for the war. Much like “Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation” the main

point of activism is against the Vietnam War and the systems that gave way to such a war. When

you mix the song title with historical context, it can understood that anti-war sentiment believed

that the Vietnam War was guaranteed to get you killed if you were drafted.

Song: “Fortunate Son”

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Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival

Genre: Rock

Creedence Clearwater Revival created one of the most iconic songs to protest against war and

the draft. The song “Fortunate Son” was released in 1969 during the height of the Vietnam War

when many Americans were on edge about the war. The main point of activism was against the

military draft, which many felt brought injustice, especially to poor Americans. Many thought

the Vietnam war wasn’t fair, because it seemed like rich Americans were able to avoid the draft

and have poor people take their place and throughout “Fortune Son” this sentiment is repeated.
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Citations

Give The Ballot To The Mothers, song lyrics. Accessed December 1, 2019.

http://www.protestsonglyrics.net/Women_Feminism_Songs/Give-The-Ballot-To-The-

Mothers.phtml.

Todd, Nathan. “Songs of the Civil Rights Movement.” AXS, January 18, 2016.

https://www.axs.com/songs-of-the-civil-rights-movement-74297.

Tome, Vanessa P. “‘Marching through Georgia.’” New Georgia Encyclopedia. Accessed

December 1, 2019. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-

archaeology/marching-through-georgia.

Meisenzahl, Anne, and Roger Peace. “Protest Music of the Vietnam War.” Peace History.

Accessed December 4, 2019. http://peacehistory-usfp.org/protest-music-vietnam-war/.

“We Shall Overcome Historical Period: Postwar United States, 1945-1968.” Library of

Congress. Accessed December 4, 2019.

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/lyrical/songs/overcome.html.

Woman Suffrage Memorabilia. Accessed December 1, 2019.

http://womansuffragememorabilia.com/woman-suffrage-memorabilia/sheet-music/.