Songs with historical references

[CatalystAK]

Does anyone know any good songs with historical references? The music I prefer is Rock, some pop and country although I would be tempted to listen to other types as long as the song it good. I find lyrics concerning historical events to be rather intelligent as the song writers had to both know about the event and how to make it sound good as a song.

So does anyone know any?

[Synamon]

Here is something cool, the past 50 years in a slide show set to We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel.

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[acyckowski]

The Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin, about the Scandinavian exploration of North America.

Brothers in Arms, Dire Straits, a somewhat pacifist-leaning commentary on the US-Soviet arms race.

Nineteen-somethin, Mark Wills, a pretty accurate cultural description of those of us on the older side of Gen-X.

[Merle]

Billy Bragg's cover of The World Turned Upside Down... or The Diggers' Song... whatever you want to call it.

[Tragic Hero]

So many Bob Dylan songs.

[Ntwadumela]

The Mariner's Revenge Song - The Decemberists

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This is more of a fable, revenge tale set in the context of history. Pure lyrical genius!

[Shadowgraphs]

The Final Cut by Pink Floyd is a concept album about both the experience of surviving World War II and the Falkland Islands War. Not really their best music, imo, but it's got some great sound editing.

[Solus]

Farm - All Together Now

[INTJoe]

GNR - Civil War
Living Colour - Cult of Personality

[rewhu]

Songs by Johnny Horton:

Battle of New Orleans
North to Alaska
Rock Island Line
Sink the Bismarck
Johnny Reb

[Factoid]

Ruben James by the Kingston Trio (folk)

A stretch is R.E.M. "Man on the Moon"

[Trenchant1]

Lots of folk songs are about real events. Here's one about the Trimdon Grange mining disaster in Durham, England.
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A Scottish singer, Eric Bogle, moved to Australia and wrote several brilliant songs about the First World War.
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is about the battles between Australian and Turkish troops at Gallipoli. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
No Man's Land (aka The Green Fields Of France) is simply about the futility of war. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Cam Ye O'er Frae France is a song about George III. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
This explains what it's about and gives the lyric.
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Parcel of Rogues is about the 'selling out' of Scotland to the English back in 1707, when the two countries became one. Here's some info.To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Here's the song.
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And here are the words with a translation. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[rwyatt365]

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot

[azelismia]

the boomtown rats "I don't like mondays" is about a girl who went on a shooting spree in a mcdonalds in the early 80's.

[CatalystAK]

Thanks for all the great songs. I knew about some of the more famous ones, at least in my opinion of fame. Johnny Horton is one of my fathers favorite singers so I have listened to many of his songs.

Thanks

[Ntwadumela]

I know Bob Dylan has been mentioned but:

Hurricane - Bob Dylan

Though he is reporting selected facts; He makes the trial seem completely baseless. The trial was much more elaborate than racism.

[Gazelle]

They Might Be Giants!

James K. Polk!

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[LionsPride]

It's a bit of a longer shot than some of the items mentioned, but I've always liked American Pie by Don McLean (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.). While the precise meaning of each line of lyrics has never been revealed by Don, there are a number of references that seem to highlight the changing of rock and lifestyle in America following Buddy Holly's death. The number of Americana expressions and references to events makes it not only a good tune, but great to dissect too.

+1 for Trenchant1 and Cam Ye O'er Frae France, which is an awesome song.

[Winterstorm]

Many songs from Sabaton (e.g Primo Victoria, 40:1, Attero Dominatus), Iron Maiden "The Trooper", Grave Digger "Tunes Of War" (all album) and... many others ;)

[Cocoa]

The war of 1812 by Arrogant worms

keep in mind, that the song is from a rather, canadian and humorous perspective! :)
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[Frodis]

Louisiana 1927 by Randy Newman is the first thing that popped into my head.
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About a flood in LA in 1927 (obviously), but it will always make me think of Katrina.

And for a good country song, how about the 8th of November by Big & Rich.
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From the Wiki page: In the album version, Kris Kristofferson provides the introduction. The 173d Airborne Brigade was ambushed by Viet Cong during Operation Hump; one of the wounded, Niles Harris, was among the several soldiers saved by Lawrence Joel, who later became the first living black American to receive the Medal of Honor since the Spanish-American War. Years later, Harris gave Big Kenny (one half of the duo) the top hat he often wears in public appearances.

[Tragic Hero]

I know Bob Dylan has been mentioned but:

Hurricane - Bob Dylan

Though he is reporting selected facts; He makes the trial seem completely baseless. The trial was much more elaborate than racism.

He does the same on "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" and his hero Woody does also on "1913 Massacre". Both are still great songs but I don't really love the 'selective storytelling'.