NAME: ____________________________ PERIOD: _____

INTERPRETING VIETNAM WAR (1964 – 1975) IN SONG

DIRECTIONS: Many songs have been written about the Vietnam War. In this activity, you’ll be analyzing
several of these songs. Some of the songs are anti-war & some are pro-war. Watch the related video and read
the lyrics before you start answering the questions. Be ready to share your answers in class.

INTRODUCTIONS:
***How does war affect individual people? War affects individual people by raising the chances of developing
mental heath problems like posts stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

SONG #1: Ballard of the Green Berets (1964)

#1. In one word…. How does this Music (Cadence) make you feel? : patriotic

#2. When a Green Beret died in battle, what was his last request? For his son to become a Green Beret
himself.

#3. How does the song portray soldiers? It potrays the soliders as dealing with milatary brutality and known
as milatary legends for their war services.

SONG #2: BAD MOON A RISING (1969)

#4. Is this a pro-war or anti-war song? What elements or phrases in the song prove your viewpoint? It’s a

anti-war song

#5. List THREE words or phrases that are used to describe Physical Forces of Nature:
Gravitational, electromagnetic,strong/weak

#6. What is this song really about? The song is about the Vietnam War.

SONG #3: WAR (1970)

#7. What is the overall message of this song? Think about the tone as well as the lyrics. It was about the
neighborhood wars and the racial wars that were going on inside America.at the time

#8. Choose 1-2 lines in the song that you feel send the strongest message. Record them here:
War, huh, yeah,
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing,

#9: Why did you choose those lines? What message do they send? What is especially powerful about the lines
you chose? Because Edwin Starr believed war was not benifical and only caused fatalities and unessary
deaths
SONG #4: EVE OF DESTRUCTION (1965)
What does Barry McGuire mean when he says:
#10. “You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’”- You can enlist for fighting in wars at the age of 17 but you’re
not old enough to vote.

#11. “If the button is pushed there’s no runnin away”-If there’s an explosion there nowhere to run you’l be killed

SONG #5: OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE

#12. What do you think the purpose of the song was? pride

#13. Why did the artist want this song to be heard? Its a song about people who were not being noticed

SONG #6: FORTUNATE SON

#14. What does the singer mean when he sings, “It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no [Senator’s son/millionaire’s
son/military son/fortunate one]”?anti-Vietnam War
#15.How does the song describe those who go off to war vs. those who don’t? This song amplifies the lives and
experiences of soldiers in the Vietnam war.
SUM IT ALL UP:
#16. Why do you think so much music was written about the Vietnam War? Songs that spoke directly to the
war were proof that people were talking about this cataclysmic event, and a way to safely express the
ambivalence that many in the field felt. Even songs that weren't directly about the war — like “Chain of
Fools” — could take on new meaning in Vietnam.
#17. Why is music such an effective and powerful form of protest? Music
is an effective way of
protest due to it being a peaceful way of giving out your thoughts and opinions in
the form of song and good sounds, not harsh screams and rants.

BALLARD OF THE GREEN BERETS
(1964):
Fighting Soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret
Silver Wings upon their chest
These are men America's best
100 men will test today
But only 3 win the Green Beret
Trained to live of nature's land
Trained in combat hand to hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage take from the Green Beret
Silver Wings upon their chest
These are men America's best
100 men will test today
But only 3 win the Green Beret
Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her his last request
Put Silver Wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man he'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret
LYRICS NEEDED
BAD MOON A RISING (1969)
I see a bad moon a-rising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see bad times today
Don't go 'round tonight
It's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
I hear hurricanes a-blowing
I know the end is coming soon
I fear rivers over flowing
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
Don't go 'round tonight
It's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
I hope you got your things together
I hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye
Oh don't go 'round tonight
It's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
There's a bad moon on the rise
WAR (1970)
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, why'all
Oh, war, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mothers
eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives
I said, war, huh good god, why'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing say it again
it ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
(War) friend only to the undertaker
Oh, war it's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die, ah, war-huh, good god
y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing listen to me it ain't
nothing but a heartbreaker
(War) it's got one friend that's the undertaker
NAME: ____________________________
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, but 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?
And can't you feel the fears I'm feeling
today?
If the button is pushed, there's no
running away,
There'll be no one to save with the
world in a grave,
Take a look around you, boy, it's bound
to scare you, boy,
And 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
PERIOD: _____
Oh, war, has shattered many a young man’s
dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away
Oh, war, huh good god y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing say it again
it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
(War) friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But lord knows there's got to be a better way
Oh, war, huh good god y'all
What is it good for you tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it
huh good god y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it nothing
OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE
FORTUNATE SON (1969)
We don't smoke marijuana in
Some folks are born made to wave
Muskogee
the flag
We don't take our trips on LSD
They're red, white and blue
We don't burn our draft cards down
And when the band plays "Hail to the
on Main Street
Chief"
We like livin' right, and bein' free
They point the cannon at you, Lord
We don't make a party out of lovin'
It ain't me, it ain't me
We like holdin' hands and pitchin' woo
I ain't no senator's son, son
We don't let our hair grow long and
It ain't me, it ain't me
shaggy
I ain't no fortunate one
Like the hippies out in San Francisco
Some folks are born silver spoon in
do
hand
I'm proud to be an Okie from
Lord, don't they help themselves,
Muskogee,
yeah
A place where even squares can have
But when the taxman comes to the
a ball
door
We still wave Old Glory down at the
The house look a like a rummage sale
courthouse,
It ain't me, it ain't me
And white lightnin's still the biggest
I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no
thrill of all
It ain't me, it ain't me
Leather boots are still in style for
I ain't no fortunate one
manly footwear
Yeah, some folks inherit star-spangled
Beads and Roman sandals won't be
eyes
seen
They send you down to war
Football's still the roughest thing on
And when you ask 'em, "How much
campus
should we give?"
And the kids here still respect the
They only answer, "More, more,
college dean
more"
WAnd I'm proud to be an Okie from
It ain't me, it ain't me
Muskogee
I ain't no military son, son
A place where even squares can have
It ain't me, it ain't me
a ball.
I ain't no fortunate one, one
We still wave Old Glory down at the
It ain't me, it ain't me
courthouse
I ain't no fortunate one
And white lightnin's still the biggest
It ain't me, it ain't me
thrill of all
I ain't no fortunate one
And white lightnin's still the biggest
thrill of all
In Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA.
China!
Then take a look around to Selma,
Alabama!
Ah, you may leave here, for four days in
space,
But when your return, it's the same old
place,
The poundin' of the drums, the pride
and disgrace,
You can bury your dead, but don't leave
a trace,
Hate your next door neighbor, but don't
forget to say grace,
And you tell me over and over and over
and over again my friend,
You don't believe we're on the eve of
destruction.
No, no, you don't believe we're on the
eve of destruction.