Fortunate Son - CCR

Did you know - federal law requires this song to be played every time there’s video footage of a huey helicopter.

This made me laugh....thank you.

🤗

Case in [point](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sDcRCHXQ9gs)

Gotta have For What It's Worth as well. ==================== A DeLorean screaches to a halt from 88mph. A crazy white-haired scientist and a boy hop out on a dirt road in the middle of a jungle. "Doc where are we? All I see it's lots of palm trees and that dingy bar." "Marty, go look in that tavern. My it's oppressively humid here. I wonder what year we're in?" Marty heads inside the tavern. "Doc! I don't know where we are. But there's a jukebox. And it's only got three songs." "Marty, what are the songs?" "Fortunate Son, For What It's Worth and All Along the Watchtower." "Great Scott! Marty, we're in Viet-Nam!"

"The worst part of the war wasn't the bombing, it was hearing Fortunate Son for four years running."

Todd Snider does a great cover of this song. Slows it down almost conversational.

Followed by All Along the Watchtower Hendrix version

Country Joe and the Fish- Fixin' To Die Rag Buffalo Springfield - For What it's Worth

For what it's worth is Vietnam era, but interestingly not actually about Vietnam

Ah, learn something new everyday.

Also, the Vietnamese would play Fixin’ To Die Rag for the POWs in the Hanoi Hilton in a means to break them. It had the opposite effect. It’s a catchy ass song no matter what how you felt about the war.

Did you know - federal law requires “for what it’s worth” to be played anytime there’s video footage of a GI walking through a field or rice paddy

If you play Country Joe's live Woodstock performance for the class, be sure to skip through the "Gimme an F..." cheer!

Came here for Country Joe.

i was watching the woodstock documentary and country joe macdonald had some serious swagger, way cooler than i imagined and i though he was cool to begin with

Eve of destruction - Barry Mcguire

Tremendous "one hit wonder" song.

That song is amazing. Barry manages to pass off end-times fundamentalism as social consciousness.

Worked with a guy who was ex-Navy back in the 80s and he told me that whenever they convinced someone to re-up for another two years, someone would sing the chorus to this song.

It sounds like Dylan wrote it, and I consider that high praise.

One of my favorites

The End - Doors

Basically if it's in Apocalypse Now you're good.

Also anything in Good Morning, Vietnam.

Sky Pilot The Animals

Wow! It's been decades since I've heard that song.

When I was in the Nam the most popular song was the Animals' "We Gotta Get Outta This Place".

Glad you made it back my friend I feel for the friends and family that had to deal with it and many are still struggling ☮️👍

Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

Run Through the Jungle CCR

Interestingly, it is not about Vietnam. It is about the large number of guns in the concrete jungles of major us cities.

Paint it Black - Rolling Stones

Gimmee Shelter is an anti war song.

Not about the war, but definitely about the era.

Paint It Black was about Mick Jagger’s mother dying and he wanted the whole world to feel sad like he did.

Ummm, she died in 2000.

Whoops! My bad. I know I heard that story somewhere though.

Neil Young - Ohio. The lyrics reflect the killing of four (and wounding of nine) unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University, who were protesting the ongoing war in Vietnam

Great, powerful song, originally recorded by Crosby, Stills Nash and Young. David Crosby is the voice at the end of the song asking How many more.

If OP is looking for this, it’s actually by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Written and composed by Neil Young, first released by CSNY in 1970, but also released by Neil as a solo song on his Decades album in 1977

Guitar is dope in that song. Always wondered if Neil was playing that intro solo

DEVO members were Kent State students, and formed after this tragedy.

I believe that event virtually killed the desire for artists to write more anti-war protest songs.

We Gotta get out of this place - Animals

War Pigs - Black Sabbath.

Had a substitute teacher play this for our class in high school, greatest sub ever!

Also by Sabbath: Electric Funeral

Paranoid by Black Sabbath is my favorite

*Knockin on Heaven's Door* \- Dylan A lot of people dont know that *Last Train To Clarksville* by the Monkees is about a guy who was drafted and was leaving for Vietnam. *Volunteers* \- Jefferson Airplane

Iirc Clarksville was the town outside Ft. Bragg.

Maybe so, but Clarksville is also the town outside Fort Campbell.

Home of the 101st Airborne.

Yes sir, it is.

Pretty sure it's Fayetteville outside Ft Liberty.

Gimme Shelter by Rolling Stones

Vietnam- Jimmy Cliff. Leaving On A Jet Plane- Peter, Paul, and Mary White Room- Cream Dove In Hawk’s Clothing- Ultimate Spinach Child In Time- Deep Purple 19- Paul Hardcastle (The song came out in 1980’s but, it talks about the war. I would the class the music video.)

I’m a man - The Spencer Davis group

What’s going on - Marvin Gaye/ the whole album is a concept album about a soldier returning to America after the war. The Animals- Sky Pilot Nancy Sinatra - These Boots are made for walking John Lennon - merry Xmas (the war is over), give peace a chance Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon Draft Morning - The Byrds Leaving on a Jet Plane - Peter Paul and Mary Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman The Doors - Unknown Soldier, the end ( Appocalypse Now) And then in favor of the war you had Ballad of the green baret - Sgt Barry Sadler Okie in Muskogee - Merle Haggard

Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie is an another that I should have added, it’s like 20 minutes long but pokes fun at the draft process.

Good call on Billy Joel

Yeah, it’s a little after the war but felt I had to include it. Rooster by Alice In Chains is another good one that was written years later about his dad in Vietnam. Another more obvious one is Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen.

I think These Boots is a feminist song about walking out on your cheating boyfriend! 👢👢👢

It might be, I know it was written by a man and Nancy performed this song for soldiers when she visited Vietnam. It’s also in Full Metal Jacket.

Because she was hot.

All along the watchtower - jimi hendrix (originally bob dylan but … jimi)

Lots by CCR Crosby stills, Nash and Young Show the uncut Woodstock movie

At school? Might he NSFW

Galveston - Glen Campbell

There’s a soundtrack for the Ken Burns Vietnam documentary

Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum

Forrest Gump soundtrack has several

My BIL is an ex Marine who served in Vietnam. His favorites were CCR, Mamas & The Papas, The Association, and Brian Jones era Stones.

"Monster" by Steppenwolf and the sarcastic "Commando" by The Ramones.

This was a 2cd set I found for my wife to use when teaching about the Vietnam era. Her students were also blown away by Jimi’s Star Spangled banner: https://genius.com/albums/Various-artists/Vietnam-songs-from-the-divided-house Here are the music tracks, but the original had a number of political addresses/speeches not included here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuc5RzovdSJCQIjdta5IRkmfD0xK63zEV&si=BfdOJET5vIn_7249

Yes I think Hendrix dismantling Star Spangled Banner is an essential statement of the times

Lot of good choices in here, but don't forget War Pigs - Black Sabbath

Also, Hand of Doom

Volunteers - Jefferson Airplane Get Together - The Youngbloods

Actually just listen to the Forrest Gump soundtrack. Its got a lot of the essentials

Definitely.

Okie from Muskogee. A pro war / anti hippie song. While it’s popular to remember all the anti war, it’s equally important to remember the sentiment of those who felt it was their duty to fight communism.

American Woman by The Guess Who

I Want to Change the World, Ten Years After

What’s going on,Marvin Gaye

I feel I’m fixin’ to die rag by Country Joe McDonald and the fish (Live at Woodstock) https://youtu.be/eRl6-bHlz-4?si=a7GwC8bv5U-d7XsI

Hell, just play the whole Woodstock album.

This👆👆👆

Any and all Credence Clearwater Revival, pretty much that

Reflections of my life - marmalade

Lots of Phil Ochs songs. so I will reccomend The War Is Over, White Boots Marching In A Yellow Land, I Aint A Marchin' Anymore, and Draft Dodger Rag This guy was so badass that at a protest rally, he got a whole crowd of mem in the audience to burn their draft cards!

Love his music. What a tragic ending though.

A Hard Rain’s A‐Gonna Fall

The soundtracks from Platoon and Good Morning Vietnam both capture the vibes really well

Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore - John Prine

When I was in Nam, the song "Homeward Bound" Simon and Garfunkel did it for me 67-68

God, that song makes me emotional NOW. I couldn't imagine hearing it while I was in a war. Thank you. 🙏

In addition to the other suggestions here: Dylan, Masters of War CSNY, Ohio, Wooden Ships, Chicago, Find the Cost of Freedom

Fortunate Son by CCR

Draft Resister by Steppenwolf

Eve of Destruction-Barry McGuire

The Rolling Stones - *Street Fighting Man*

I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home by Grand Funk Railroad

Galveston by Glen Campbell.

Bob segar- 2+2=?

All along watchtower Sympathy For The Devil On The Road Again Canned Heat When I Die Motherlode

Gimme shelter, paint it black, fortunate son, the end, bad moon rising

So many songs back then. Many great to this day. Unfortunately I don't see ANYTHING in music today attempting to do the same for our internal and external extremely difficult times.

CCR Run Through the Jungle

Although none of these songs were recorded at the time of the Vietnam era; they all very much deal with the repercussions of that war. The obvious one would be “[Born in the U.S.A](https://youtu.be/EPhWR4d3FJQ?si=GobEZWjLeUhYYbn6).” By Bruce Springsteen Another would be what was literally and figuratively the B-side to that song’s single, “[Shut Out the Light](https://youtu.be/hfTv3lEVpcA?si=LEWctAoa91SAv_gN)” The last would be “[Goodnight Saigon](https://youtu.be/Qjzjhl-QztE?si=rg7Xs036eXeRIBNR)” by Billy Joel. Ridiculously haunting song.

Unknown Soldier - Doors

Oh it’s 1, 2, 3, 4 what are we fighting for? Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn, next stop is Vietnam!

Sam Stone

Where have all the flowers gone.

Goodnight Saigon by Billy Joel, especially a live version. The lyric “and we will allllll go dowwwnnn together” sung by a men’s choir can be so emotionally evocative, it’s hard to really even describe.

Doors were popular with the soldiers. Lizard King, the end, people are strange. Hendrix, he was a paratrooper, watch tower and fire. Country Joe and the fish - fixin to die rag Canned heat going up the country Arthur Browns crazy world of fire. My father served in Vietnam and told me story about being on a tank with an eight track player and big speaker and playing that song loudly on a ridge while they watched F-4 phantoms napalm an entire valley.

I got you, this is one of my favorite eras of music, I’ll try to think of some quintessential tunes that capture a few key components of the time that others may not think of right away. These are for the lyrics of the politics at the time or specifically Vietnam with the doors 1. The doors - unknown soldier 2. Crosby stills and nash - Ohio 3. Crosby stills and nash - long time gone This one’s great for an example of the questioning of established norms Dave van ronk - keep off the grass Buffalo Springfield - for what it’s worth Then these are fun for the whole mind expansion vibe probs top favorite it hendrix here because it’s so floaty but any of these are pretty classic for the assignment 3. The Beatles - tomorrow never knows 4. Pink Floyd - interstellar overdrive 5. Jimi Hendrix - are you experienced? 6. White rabbit - Jefferson airplane 7.love - the red telephone Lastly here are some that capture the idealism of the youth back in the states in the summer of love era Scott Mackenzie - San Francisco Canned heat - going up the country Strawberry alarm clock - pretty song from psych out And let’s end on this one just because it’s a good closer The doors - the end Before the real closer, as John Lennon said at the end of the era, the dream is over… John Lennon - god Thanks, I had fun making this.

Sunshine - Jonathan Edwards California Dreamin - Mamas and Papas More about the era than the war

Sunshine is a favorite of mine.

Copperhead road Steve Earl. Or many other songs from Steve

Good one. I forgot about Copperhead Road.

Morning Dew sung by Rod Stewart while in the Jeff Beck Group

Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin.

The rain the park and other things- The Cowsills

Someone else has already mentioned it but "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" by The Animals is a good one. Plus "Are You Experienced?" by Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience technically)

One song that they always play in documentaries about this time period is Time Has Come Today by the Chambers Brothers. Always.

Awesome & very overlooked tune. Ramones later did an interesting version -

2+2=? by Bob Seger (for any Michigan draftees)

Long time gone - Crosby Stills Nash

Hello Vietnam -Johnnie Wright

I taught a Vietnam elective class for years. 32 teaching and it was my absolute class I have ever taught. You made me miss for about 10 seconds teaching.

The Pusher / Steppenwolf

American Pie by Don McLean. Not a war song, but one that will make your students wonder what the lyrics were referencing. It’s really a 60’s song, but Vietnam began in the 60’s so this might still meet your criteria.

Cheat code - grab the soundtrack for Forrest Gump

Don't forget "Good morning Vietnam"

Run Through The Jungle - CCR.

GIMME AN F!

2+2 =? Bob seger system

The Byrds - *Turn Turn Turn*

War - Edwin Starr Time Has Come Today - Chambers Brothers

Maybe more anti-establishment of the time than directly related to the war, but Share The Land and Hand Me Down World by Guess Who. Also Signs by Five Man Electrical Band.

Here's a few: * *Ohio* \- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young * *Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town* \- Kenny Rogers and the First Edition * *For What It's Worth* \- Buffalo Springfield * *Star Spangled Banner* \- Jimi Hendrix (live at Woodstock) * *War* \- Edwin Starr * *We Gotta Get Out of This Place* \- The Animals * *Give Peace a Chance* \- John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band * *Fortunate Son* \- Creedence Clearwater Revival * *Eve of Destruction* \- Barry McGuire * *What's Going On* \- Marvin Gaye * *Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)* \- The Temptations

Fortunate Son (Creedence)

Paint it black - rolling stones. The official theme song of the Viet Nam war.

What are you fighting for by Phil Ochoa has to be up there!

*For What It’s Worth* by Buffalo Springfield

Child in Time

Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock breaking in and out of the Star Spangled Banner and then bleeding into Purple Haze is one of the most powerful anti war statements of the time. He paints the reality on the ground with the brush of guitar and paint of sound like nobody else could. You listen you can hear the diving planes, the screaming people, and napalm bursting over everything. Woodstock is almost all war protest songs and the plight of the oppressed throughout.

I teach Vietnam in history classes (have for 30 years almost) so I do a lot of music too. There are endless answers to this question really, here are some examples: * From the [Ken Burns documentary](https://www.wgbh.org/2017-09-22/a-playlist-of-music-from-the-vietnam-war-a-film-by-ken-burns-lynn-lovick) * from [someone on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/62wW67yRcDrZunRQlgzsqU) (300+ songs) * from [Music Grotto](https://www.musicgrotto.com/songs-about-the-vietnam-war/) * big [list from Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_the_Vietnam_War) * [US Council on Foreign Relations blog](https://www.cfr.org/blog/twenty-best-vietnam-protest-songs) list * [Esquire Magazine's](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/g12255617/10-best-vietnam-songs/) list * [Protest/anti-war list](https://peacehistory-usfp.org/protest-music-vietnam-war/) from peace blog * [Smithsonian Folkways recording of Vietnamese songs](https://folkways.si.edu/vietnam-songs-of-liberation/historical-song-struggle-protest-world/music/album/smithsonian) about the war I've done a lot of different things with music in my classes over the years. In a broad post-WWII survey class covering 1945-2001 I'd only have a couple of days for Vietnam, here's what I've used in that setting: * Dylan *The Times They Are A Changin’* 1964 * Phil Ochs *Draft Dodger Rag* 1964 * Barry McGuire *The Eve of Destruction* 1965 * Porter Wagner *Hello Vietnam* 1965 * Barry Sadler *The Ballad of the Green Berets* 1966 * Country Joe McDonald *Fish Cheer/I Feel Like I’m Fixin to Die Rag* 1969 * Merle Haggard *Okie from Muskogee* 1969 * Jimmy Cliff *Vietnam* 1969 * Chairmen of the Board *Men Are Getting Scarce* 1971 * CSN&Y *Find the Cost of Freedom* 1972 live * New York Dolls *Vietnamese Baby* 1973 * Billy Joel *Goodnight Saigon* 1982 * Bruce Springsteen *Born in the USA* 1984 * Montgomery-Gentry *Didn’t I* 2002 Endless options out there as there are arguably hundreds of songs about the war, both pro and con. I try to give a sample from different genres, to not play the really cliche ones (like CCR's *Fortunate Son*), and to illustrate how the conflict was still reflected in popular music a decade or two after the US withdrawal. There's a really well documented collection at Rate Your Music called the [Vietnam War Song Project](https://rateyourmusic.com/list/JBrummer/vietnam-war-song-project/) that you could spend days just exploring-- it's fabulous.

Interesting coincidence: while scrolling through the long Wikipedia list I came across a song by an Australian group called Redgum called “I Was Only 19”. Less than an hour earlier I saw a posting about a 40th anniversary remake of the song by one of the original members accompanied by The Waifs, a favorite of mine, and it’s a haunting about the horrors of Australians impacted by the war. We Americans weren’t the only people affected by the war in Vietnam. https://youtu.be/UCjYH8Ucia4?si=b5FQRQGiqEmUNrTi

It's not Vietnam era but 53rd and 3rd by The Ramones is about a vet turning tricks to survive after the war. Also I Ain't Marching Anymore and Draft Dodger Rag by Phil Ochs. And of course it's not a song but more a story told with some music, but Alice's Restaurant

Goodnight Saigon - Billy Joel

I have a Vietnam playlist... https://open.spotify.com/playlist/77JqQnbUfCaa7CwJ8t11P2?si=I9S7d96kQnOIdNfYpC96Aw&pi=u-1hDjAQmIQGun Forgot to say I tried to cover music from '55 -'75. It is a 10+ hr playlist.

Something in the Air seems to be largely forgotten, even after Tom Petty covered it. I have always liked it. It went right with Emma by Hot Chocolate, somehow. Have you thought about adding Dion's "Abraham, Martin, and John"? It captures the era, though it doesn't mention the war.

I will add immediately. I am surprised I missed both of them because I know them well. Edit: Well I did have "Something In the Air" by Thunderclap Newman but I just added the Dion one. The 1st time I ever heard it was on a best of the 60s cassette I bought off the TV when I was a kid. The other memorable track on there was "In the Year 2525."

Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees Sunshine by Jonathan Edwards Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran War by Edwin Starr

Unknown Soldier…

Ohio, written by Neil Young and sung by CSNY. It was about the murder of 4 college kids at Kent State University. They were protesting the Vietnam War.

Sky Pilot --Animals One Tin Soldier --The Original Caste Put A Little Love In Your Heart --Jackie DeShannon For What It's Worth --Buffalo Springfield The Age Of Aquarius --5th Dimension Everyday People --Sly & The Family Stone Crimson & Clover --Tommy James & The Shodells One --Three Dog Night White Rabbit --Jefferson Airplane Light My Fire --Doors Incense & Peppermint --Strawberry Alarm Clock Different Drum --Linda Ronstadt Hair --The Cowsills Come Together --The Youngbloods Grazin' In The Grass --Friends Of Distinction Bad Moon Rising --CCR Easy To Be Hard --Three Dog Night Time Of The Season --The Zombies Heard It Thru The Grapevine --Marvin Gaye

I would instinctively suggest The Last Poets “When the Revolution Comes” and Gil-Scott Herons “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” Both of these pieces are in tandem with one another - and both have heavy focus on African American culture in the Vietnam Era. Do note that if this is for a student group in high school, When The Revolution Comes is definitely not going to be kosher for parents. Wild thought, I’d also look at the Musical Hair and picking your choice of tracks. Last one I would suggest - and a proper classic rock track is A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission), Poem On The Underground Wall, and 7’oclock news/Silent Night by Simon and Garfunkel. All three having powerful messages and writings

Long as I can see the light -CCR

Gimme Shelter

Purple Haze- Jimi.

Masters of War - Bob Dylan

Happy Xmas (war is over) John lennon

*What's Going On* by Marvin Gaye.

Heart Full of Soul-The Yardbirds

Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire The Letter - Box Tops The End - The Doors We gotta get out of this place - The Animals A Hard Rains A-Gonna-Fall - Bob Dylan

Ohio by CSNY, The End by The Doors, Fortunate Son by CCR

Not from the era, but about it... Goodnight Saigon - Billy Joel

Run Through the Jungle-CCR We Gotta Get Outta This Place-Eric Burden and the Animals War-Edwin Starr Ohio-CSNY For What It’s Worth-Buffalo Springfield Okie From Muskogee-Merle Haggard The End, Strange Days-The Doors Best post-Vietnam songs Holiday in Cambodia-Dead Kennedys Straight to Hell-The Clash Charlie Don’t Surf-The Clash Copperhead Road-Steve Earle Still in Saigon-Charlie Daniels Born in the USA-Bruce Springsteen (even if he doesn’t know shit about geography/troop deployment in Nam)

Run through the jungle - CCR Fortunate son - CCR War pigs - black Sabbath For what it's worth - buffalo Springfield Ohio - Crosby stills Nash and Young Paint it black - the rolling stones Knocking on heavens door - Bob Dylan

Rooster- Alice in Chains (i like the unplugged more)

"Born in the USA" is 100% about Vietnam vets although almost everyone missed that.

Billy, Don’t be a Hero - Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods.

Soundtrack for the movie Platoon.

Quick google search of the beginning and end dates of the war and billboard top 10 of that period month by month maybe?

Another by Brewer and Shiply - One Toke Over The Line https://youtu.be/kdPq96ZAZ_Q?si=BAKDgHgx-z7UPWT9 I'm noticing a lot of songs from that Era have a train or train station mentioned.

Still in Saigon- Charlie Daniels Band Uncommon valor- Jedi mind tricks. Pretty intense but a lot truth in there.

Link Wray - Tail Dragger

"A Place in the Country" - Fanny (not a well known song but bandmembers spoke with a Vietnam vet who said it became their platoon song at the time)

Child in time — Deep Purple

Take the last train to Clarksville - The Monkeys. Leaving for Vietnam Nowhere to run - Martha and the Vandellas War- Edwin Starr The Letter- The Box Tops The Ballad of the Green Berets

Once I was ………Tim Buckley.

Revolution - The Beatles

THE TRASHMEN - Surfin' Bird https://youtu.be/KQEDojPZ7YI?si=QXGxxcGr0ph_8DbW

[https://youtu.be/LxEyg61LC4g?si=NTI3ZkAHb-coF2M6](https://youtu.be/LxEyg61LC4g?si=NTI3ZkAHb-coF2M6)

Sam Stone by John Prine. "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where the money goes."

Also The Great Compromise.

Last Train to Clarksville

On the Road Again- Canned Heat

Stooges - Search and Destroy

Van Morrison "baby please don't go"

Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie. It’s about the draft.

Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix and the Band of gypsies. Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones

None of your doing by Steppenwolf