When free speech addressing the government and the country’s political landscape comes under attack, how do we continue to speak out? Is the answer through song? For generations, music has been an avenue for people to express themselves when they feel voiceless. During the Vietnam War, a particularly turbulent time in American history, many artists used songwriting as a form of protest. Performed at Woodstock in 1969, Jimi Hendrix’s famously distorted rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been widely interpreted as a response to the violence of the war. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” not only addressed Vietnam but also encapsulated what it felt like to be a member of a minority group in America in 1971.
In the 21st century, politics and music have remained deeply intertwined. After the 9/11 attacks, the American musical landscape changed dramatically across the political spectrum. As the U.S. deployed troops to Afghanistan and, by 2003, launched the Iraq War, there was a shift in how artists expressed themselves and reacted to the world around them. This was a uniquely divided time in America; many feared that terrorism had encroached on U.S. soil, while others were frustrated that the government had turned to violence and war abroad. Artists and citizens who called for an end to conflict risked accusations of being unpatriotic.
The overall response from right-leaning musicians was to create patriotic ballads in the country music style that voiced support for the U.S. and its government. Toby Keith’s “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue” is essentially a fight song for Americans that portrays the country as resilient and ready to retaliate. Keith references iconic American symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, an eagle, Uncle Sam and the Liberty Bell, animating them as fighters protecting the country. The song’s message is clear: “You can’t mess with America and get away with it.” He sings, “Justice will be served and the battle will rage / This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage / And you’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A.”
Darryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten” was written in response to Americans who opposed the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq. In the song, Worley asks listeners if they have forgotten the tragedy of Sept. 11, arguing that Americans should still be angry and support efforts to “right this wrong” through war. He sings, “Some say this country’s just out lookin’ for a fight / Well, after 9/11, man, I’d have to say that’s right.” This song has a similar tone to Keith’s “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue,” encouraging Americans to back the U.S. government’s military operations because it is the right thing to do.
Not every country artist was making music in support of the Bush administration. The Chicks, an all-female country band, famously said onstage before the invasion of Iraq, “We’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.” This statement sparked a tremendous amount of backlash and controversy. As a Texas-based country band that had avoided political commentary up until that point, The Chicks were among the very few country artists willing to go against the grain at the time. Many radio stations stopped playing their music, and some fans even protested by destroying their CDs.
In 2004, a year after the Iraq War began, Green Day released “American Idiot,” an album rife with political commentary on the changing landscape of the U.S. following 2001. The title track addresses post-9/11 paranoia, arguing that fear led many Americans to support laws and policies they might not have otherwise. It also criticizes the government for feeding into this mania to continue military operations. In the song, the band sings, “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda / Now everybody, do the propaganda / And sing along to the age of paranoia,” calling out those in power for using American fear and anxiety to gain support for continued military action. On the same album, Green Day also included the song “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” which is not lyrically about 9/11, but its music video depicts the war’s impact. The video follows a young couple, with the man sent off to fight in what is portrayed as the Iraq War. This video reflected the reality many Americans were living in at the time and presented the war through a lens that was largely absent in country music.
In the 2010s and 2020s, artists have continued to comment on the government and social injustices through song. In 2015, Kendrick Lamar’s album “To Pimp a Butterfly” highlights the persistent mistreatment of Black Americans. The title of the album is a metaphor for how Black culture is commodified and capitalized on by white Americans, but the social circumstances of Black Americans remain largely unchanged.
Politically charged music surged during and after the first Trump administration. In 2018, Childish Gambino released “This Is America,” a commentary on rising gun violence across the country and its disproportionate impact on Black Americans through police brutality and socioeconomic inequality. That same year, The 1975 dropped “Love It If We Made It,” a track reflecting on the social, cultural and political state of the world. The song’s repeated refrain, “modernity has failed us,” suggests that our societal advancements have not improved enduring social ills. Directly referencing the Trump administration, the band cites President Trump himself, quoting a video where he makes derogatory remarks about women: “I moved on her like a b*tch.” The 1975 uses this line to draw attention to how our world leaders are often not held accountable for their words or actions.
Politics will always shape music and the messages musicians choose to convey through song. As the Trump administration continues to attack free speech, it will be interesting to see how music is used as a tool for inciting social change and speaking out against those in power. If we cannot talk, then we can always sing.