My favorite anti-war song is song by Donovan (sic?) it is called " the Univeral soldier". To me it seems like it takes an unique angle on it.
It's posted above. Donovan did record it- I even own that vinyl album; it was his very first one- but Buffy Sainte-Marie wrote and first recorded it.
I really like the thread. If it's okay, here's a poem (not a song) by William Butler Yeats, in shock and horror at the destruction wrought by WWI (I guess no one had seen anything quite so awful; people were actually fired up to go to WW1, both sides thinking it would be all over in a few months):
The Second Coming
WWI was a really terrible war. I think it was a bit like the American Civil War where technology was far ahead of tactics, leading to unthinkable massacres. Coupled with the influenza outbreak that followed on its heels, it's a wonder the world ever recovered so quickly. The "anarchy...loosed upon the world" that Yeats speaks of was reflected in the Dada movement that coincided with that war. WWI is so sad to even contemplate. Thanks for the poem.
I really like the thread. If it's okay, here's a poem (not a song) by William Butler Yeats, in shock and horror at the destruction wrought by WWI (I guess no one had seen anything quite so awful; people were actually fired up to go to WW1, both sides thinking it would be all over in a few months):
The Second Coming
Lovely to see Yeats quoted on chess.com. Thank you.
I liked the anti-war song country joe and the fish did that was shown in the original woodstock movie. I don't know the name of it but it goes something like "its 1 2 3 what are we fighting for....don't ask me i don't give a damn...next stop is vietnam etc." I know the lyrics are simple but it has alot of energy to it that i like.
I liked the anti-war song country joe and the fish did that was shown in the original woodstock movie. I don't know the name of it but it goes something like "its 1 2 3 what are we fighting for....don't ask me i don't give a damn...next stop is vietnam etc." I know the lyrics are simple but it has alot of energy to it that i like.
WWI was a really terrible war. I think it was a bit like the American Civil War where technology was far ahead of tactics, leading to unthinkable massacres. Coupled with the influenza outbreak that followed on its heels, it's a wonder the world ever recovered so quickly. The "anarchy...loosed upon the world" that Yeats speaks of was reflected in the Dada movement that coincided with that war. WWI is so sad to even contemplate. Thanks for the poem.
OMG - the influenza too!! right at the end of the war; I think I read 20 million died worldwide. what a horrible time; maybe the horrors had something to do with the rise of Lenin and the communists; reaching out for something other than mass produced horror; then they went on and produced much more.
I'm not a Christian and, as such, I have a strange relation with Christmas Carols/songs. But there is one that has always affected me. Originally a poem, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote "I Heard the Bell on Christmas Day" on Christmas day in 1863, the year in which Gettsyburg produced over 50,000 casualties and the whole world must have seemed absurdly tospy-turvy to all Americans . Longfellows' son had joined the Union against his wishes just before Lee began his ill-fated Gettysburg Campaign (which the younger Longfellow missed only because he took sick) but on November 27 of 1863, he was seriously wounded from a bullet that passed through his shoulder, nicked his spine and exited through his back. The poem, implicitly anti-war and anti-slavery both, was written in a state of despair. Such beauty out of such despondancy.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
he words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
Thanks for posting the video of the song i mentioned
No worries. Richard Burton (actor) was born 5 miles away from where I live. Sir Richard Burton the explorer was born in Devon which is about a 3 hr drive.
Must have got there 2 min before you Ron.
Slowing down bud in your old age? 
Considered to be one of the greatest speeches ever.
10 points for the name of the orator & 10 points for the movie.
No this is not a song but a speech!!!
No Mr. Burton was born at Pontrhydyfen, Neath.
And you meant this I pressume WK?
which translates roughly as "St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the Red Cave".
My dog has a longer name than that, but by the time I call her, its always dinner time, no matter what time I start calling her
My favorite anti-war song is song by Donovan (sic?) it is called " the Univeral soldier". To me it seems like it takes an unique angle on it.