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Instructional Strategies: Annotated Song List
Sequential Annotated List of Songs Related
to History... Songs relating to multiple time periods: "With God On
Our Side" (Bob Dylan:The Times They Are A Changin') - Historical
look at American military success including
Songs relating to the 1800s: "The Last Resort" (The Eagles: Hotel California) - Powerful examination of America's historical westward expansion.
"James K. Polk" (They Might Be Giants) - A humorous and light look at the infamous President.
"A Month of
Sundays" (Don Henley: Building the Perfect Beast) -I use
this thoughtful story to compare the plight
"Southern Man" (Neil
Young) & "Sweet Home Alabama" (Lynard Skynard) - One
of rock and roll's most famous examples of a
Songs relating to 1900-1929 "Joe Hill"
(Phil Ochs) - Lengthy, detailed account of the immigrant musician
who became a leader of the I.W.W. and ultimately "Anything Goes"
(Cole Porter) - As the title suggests, the wild spirit of the Jazz
Age rages in the song. Lyrics include numerous
Songs relating to the 1930s "The Ghost of
Tom Joad" (Bruce Springsteen: The Ghost of Tom Joad) -Poetic
use of Steinbeck's character and themes
"This Old Town"
(Nancy Griffith: Other Voices / Other Rooms) - Cross decade examination
of how a small town is impacted by
"Dust Bowl Days" (10,000 Maniacs: Blind Man's Zoo) -Natalie
Merchant writes about a young mother who compares her
"Pretty Boy Floyd"
(Woody Guthrie) -Historically important (due to Guthrie) and interesting
depiction of an anti-hero from the Great Depression era.
"Brother Can You Spare A Dime" - Perhaps the most famous of all the musical accounts of the Great Depression.
Songs relating to the 1940s "Everywhere"
(performed by Billy Bragg) -My favorite song to use with students
in class. A powerful narrative about the impact
"Red Army Blues"
(The Waterboys: A Pagan Place) -Another strong narrative that comes
complete with a surprise ending.
"Dark and Light
in New Mexico" (House of Freaks) - This sympathetic account
of Robert Oppenheimers role in the Manhattan Project
Songs relating to the 1950s/60s/70s "American Pie" (Don McClean: American Pie) - Metaphorical look at American popular culture in the 1950s and 60s.
"Russians" (Sting:
The Dream of the Blue Turtles) -A fantastic portrayal of atomic anxiety
during the cold war era. I use this
"Sister Rosa" (Neville Brothers: Yellow Moon) - Rosa Parks is the focus of the straight forward retelling of Civil Rights Events from the 1950s.
"Ohio" (Neil Young: Decade) - Kent State is the topic of this popular song from the counterculture era.
"I saw it on T.V."
(John Fogerty: Centerfield) - This likable song examines American
history and pop culture from the
"We didn't start
the Fire" (Billy Joel: Greatest Hits vol III) - This number one
single is a simple list of dozens of important Songs related to recent years "The Racist" (Boogie Down Productions: ) -Amazing hip-hop discussion on the various elements of racism. Outstanding discussion hook!
"The Tower" (Ice-T:
Original Gangster) - Dramatic, realistic, and disturbing narrative
about life inside the walls of a
Other suggestions... Bosnia (Cranberries) : Bosnian Civil War Zombie (Cranberries) : Ireland Civil War The Dead Heart/The Beds are Burning (Midnight Oil) : Native American issues The Spirit of '76 (The Alarm): Revolutionary war spirit Eye of the Beholder (Metallica): Free speech/the Constitution Buffalo Soldier (Bob Marley): African slave & Native American issues Hadda been playing on the jukebox (Allen Ginsburg lyric
& performed by Rage Against the Machine) : Abraham Martin and
John (Dion): Three great American leaders (Lincoln, MLK, and JFK)
who were assassinated The Times They
Are A Changin'... Blowin
in the Wind .... Masters
of War .... (Bob Dylan): Across the Lines (Tracy Chapman): de facto segregation Sub City (Tracy Chapman): Inner city poverty/despair
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