Why anti-war anthems remain relevant longer than wars that inspire them - The Times of India
In the summer of 1969, as the Vietnam War raged, Jimi Hendrix stepped onto the Woodstock stage and bent the US national anthem into a wail of anguish. His electric guitar screeched bombs and machine guns; “The Star-Spangled Banner” became a wordless anti-war anthem heard around the world.
That visceral performance captured a generation’s disillusionment. It was a generation that would make music its messenger – a chorus of dissent against the drumbeat of war.
From the 1960s to today, artists have raised their voices in song to protest conflict and plead for peace. These anti-war songs, across decades and genres, carry a lyrical resonance that transcends their eras. Whether strummed in a folk coffeehouse or blasted through arena amplifiers, the songs share common refrains:
They blend cultural commentary with poetry, turning personal pain and political outrage into melodies we remember. Each era’s struggles –
Vietnam
, the Cold War, Iraq, and beyond – have inspired musicians to respond in harmony, from gentle folk ballads to furious punk and heavy metal protests. Together, these songs form an enduring soundtrack of resistance and healing in times of conflict.
