Lyrics and poems which promote social awareness
Many song lyrics and poems are written from a biased point of view to carry a social message, or to persuade us to accept the author’s point of view.
Here are three examples of famous songs and the story behind them. Identify the bias or point of view of the lyricist:
From Little Things Big Things Grow written by Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly
This song is based on the story of the Gurindji strike when Vincent Lingiari led other Aboriginal workers off Lord Vesty’s land in 1967. The strike, which originally was a protest on the part of workers who received no pay (only food and board) became a struggle for Indigenous Australians to receive land rights and reconciliation.Read more about the story behind the Gurindji Strike:
http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1147120.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurindji_strike
Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil
“The song was inspired by the experiences of workers at the Wittenoom asbestos mines who contracted various asbestos-related diseases. The ‘blue’ refers to blue asbestos, and the ‘sugar refining company’ refers to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR), the owner of the mines.” Wikipedia
Read more about the disaster here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSR_Limited#Wittenoom_controversy
Dear Mr. President by Pink and Billy Mann
“Pink said that the song was an open letter to the President of the United States, George W. Bush, and that it was one of the most important songs she had written. She stated that it would never be released as a single in the United States, because it was too important to be perceived as a publicity stunt.” Wikipedia
Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let’s pretend we’re just two people and
You’re not better than me
I’d like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly
What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proud
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why…
Other Lyrics with a Social Theme or Positive Message (This is NOT an exhaustive list!):
Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll by Bob Dylan
Birmingham Sunday by Joan Baez
A Walk in the Green Light (better known as I was only Nineteen) by John Schumann; performed by Redgum. There is a picture book of this song in the Library at 782.42 SCH ‘I Was Only Nineteen’
At Seventeen by Janis Ian
And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle
Took the Children Away by Archie Roach. 828 ROA – Took the Children Away – Picture book with paintings set to the worlds of the song.
This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
Treaty by Paul Kelly, Mandawuy Yunupingu, Stuart Kellaway, Cal Williams, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Milkayngu Mununggurr, Witiyana Marika; performed by Yothu Yindi
Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil
Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution by Tracey Chapman (also Fast Car)
Under Pressure by Tim Levinson, Dale Harrison, Simon Fellows, Shannon Kennedy, Byron Williams; performed by The Herd
Lies by The Waifs
Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins
I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne; performed by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Khe Sanh by Don Walker; performed by Cold Chisel
My Island Home by Neil Murray; performed by Christine Anu 828 MUR – My Island Home – picture book of song words.
Black Fella White Fella by Neil Murray; performed by Warumpi Band 828 MUR – Black Fella White Fella – picture book.
Solid Rock by Shane Howard; performed by Goanna Band 828 HOW – Solid Rock – picture book and CD of song.
Universal Soldier by Buffy Sainte-Marie; performed by Donovan
Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2 (and Miss Sarajevo)
True Colours by Cyndi Lauper (also Girls Just Want to Have Fun)
Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
Water by Blue King Brown (also Don’t Let Go)
Black Tears by Powderfinger
Beautiful by Linda Perry; performed by Christina Aguilera
Hands by Jewel
Hold On Be Strong Tupac Shakur
Heal the World by Michael Jackson (and Ben and Black or White)
Imagine by John Lennon
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother by Bob Russell and Bobby Scott; performed by The Hollies
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Oscar Hammerstein II
What a Wonderful World by George David Weiss, George Douglas and Bob Thiele; performed by Louis Armstrong
The Greatest Love of All by Michael Masser and Linda Creed; performed by Whitney Houston
Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure; performed by Band Aid
Spread a Little Happiness by Sting
Respect by Otis Redding; performed by Aretha Franklin
I Hope You Dance by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers; performed by Lee Ann Womack
Sitting on Top of the World by Delta Goodram
Don’t Worry Be Happy by Guy Sebastian
I believe I can fly by R. Kelly
Wind beneath my Wings by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley; performed by Better Midler
Beautiful Day by Bono; performed by U2
Over the Rainbow by E.Y. Harburg; performed by Judy Garland
Count on Me by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine; performed by Bruno Mars
Wings by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Just a Girl by Gwen Stefani & Tom Dumont; performed by No Doubt
Poetry with a social message (includes links to poems):
A Poison Tree by William Blake
Aboriginal Australia by Jack Davis
All One Race by Oodgeroo Noonuccal
The Ballad of the Landlord by Langston Hughes
The Barefoot Boy by John Greenleaf Whittier
Career by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Color, Cast, Denomination by Emily Dickinson
Eliza Harris by Frances E. Watkins
Faces in the Street by Henry Lawson
Enter Without So Much As Knocking by Bruce Dawe
Final Faith by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
The Great City by Walt Whitman
Harriet Beecher Stowe by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Hate he said by Steven Oliver
Homecoming by Bruce Dawe (There are lots of other war poems by other poets.)
Homo Suburbiensis by Bruce Dawe
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Ichabod by John Greenleaf Whittier
If by Rudyard Kipling
Incident by Countee Cullen
Indian Names by Lydia H. Sigourney
Indian Summer by Lydia H. Sigourney
The Indian’s Welcome to the Pilgrim Fathers by Lydia H. Sigourney
Intolerance by Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
Invisible by Steven Oliver
Last of His Tribe by Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Let Go by Jack Davis
Lies by Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Lines Suggested by a Lock of Hair by Lydia Maria Child
The Lovers of the Poor by Gwendolyn Brooks
The Man with the Hoe by Edwin Markham
Me I Am by Steven Oliver
Mother to Son by Langston Hughes
To Mrs. Harriet B. Stowe by Joseph C. Holly
To Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe by Frances E. Watkins
The Present Crisis by James Russell Lowell
Song of Myself by Walt Whitman
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
Tableau by Countee Cullen
Television by Roald Dahl
to the Diaspora by Gwendolyn Brooks
Weapons Training by Bruce Dawe
The Women Who Went to the Fields by Clara Barton
Here is an analysis of South African protest poetry: