It is of the utmost absurd to see selections here such as James Brown’s “I don’t want nobody” and Merle’s “Okie” when so many more Dylan ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECES that up to today remain relevant (and totally dominate any protest song catalog) are ignored. 

HOW ON EARTH can you (DARE you) omit from such a list songs like Masters of War, Times, Hard Rain, Blowin’ in the Wind, George Jackson, Hurricane, and many more remarkable songs that shaped the protest movements of the past half century ... even recent stunners like Working man’s Blues or Ain’t Talkin’?????

What kind of a joke is that list?

It’s just another sell-out to bolster CDs sales and spread the money around.  SHAMEFUL.

Comment by Raph Cohen from Canada — July 17, 2007 @ 9:17 am

I enjoyed this list, especially the inclusion of the Mothers of Invention and the Creedence songs.  And I’m glad to see the list wasn’t filled with works by Dylan—who protested his works being called “protest” anyway (most of them are too open-ended for such a characterization).

But I would like to mention that The Animals’ “Sky Pilot” popped up on my MP3 list the other day and I was struck by how its anti-war sentiment was perhaps even more relevant today. Eric Burdon isn’t exactly John Fogerty when it comes to crafting songs, but “Sky Pilot” is both tuneful and thoughtful. It might have warranted an “honorable mention” on this list because of the way it graphically—and powerfully—humanizes an inhumane situation.

Comment by Tony S — July 20, 2007 @ 1:14 am

Have to agree- the absence of Dylan and the inclusion of Haggard’s reactionary “Okie” are inexcusable...and, um, “We Can Be Together” and “Volunteers”, by Jefferson Airplane??? They may obscure now, but they were WILDLY popular then and these two songs were anthems…

Comment by pussy galore — July 20, 2007 @ 4:59 am

How can you compile a list of protest songs and manage to ignore the most political rock band in history? I’m speaking of the famed “only band that mattered,” the Clash. You overlooked “White Man in Hammersmith Palais,” “Career Opportunities,” “Safe European Home,” “London Calling,” “Clampdown,” “Washington Bullets,” “Up in Heaven,” “Know Your Rights,” “Straight to Hell” and a host of other razor-sharp, knock-out punches in favor of feelgood, lightweight jabs such as “Ohio” and “At Seventeen.”

Comment by struggle from Phoenix, AZ — July 24, 2007 @ 11:44 am