Song Name ___ Ballad of the Green Beret

Songs of the Vietnam War Era Name______

Instructions: Answer the questions below for all of the songs. They are located on my class website. Take note of the date of the release of the song, for you will need to consider the historical context (i.e. what was happening at that time?). You will need to look back at the HW readings, classwork readings, and the Vietnam War PPT.

1. When was the song written and what events were happening at that time?

2. What is the mood of the song? Is it angry, sad, hopeful, sarcastic, joyful, triumphant, etc.? EXPLAIN – WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LYRICS!!!!!! (Remember that songs are meant to be heard, not read. The music may play an important part in conveying the meaning)

3. What attitude toward the war is being expressed? What attitude toward authority is being expressed? EXPLAIN – WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LYRICS!!!!!!

Ballad of the Green Beret by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler and Robin Moore, 1966

Fighting soldiers from the sky Fearless men who jump and die Men who mean just what they say The brave men of the Green Beret

Silver wings upon their chest These are men, America's best One hundred men will test today But only three win the Green Beret

Trained to live off nature's land Trained in combat, hand-to-hand Men who fight by night and day Courage peak from the Green Berets

Silver wings upon their chest These are men, America's best One hundred men will test today But only three win the Green Beret

Back at home a young wife waits Her Green Beret has met his fate He has died for those oppressed Leaving her his last request

Put silver wings on my son's chest Make him one of America's best He'll be a man they'll test one day Have him win the Green Beret

Song Name ______I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag 1. When was the song written and what events were happening at that time?

3. What attitude toward the war is being expressed? What attitude toward authority is being expressed? EXPLAIN – WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LYRICS!!!!!!

I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag By Country Joe & The Fish, 1967

Well, come on all of you, big strong men, Uncle Sam needs your help again. He's got himself in a terrible jam Way down yonder in Vietnam So put down your books and pick up a gun, We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three, What are we fighting for ? Don't ask me, I don't give a damn, Next stop is Vietnam; And it's five, six, seven, Open up the pearly gates, Well there ain't no time to wonder why, Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Come on Wall Street, don't be slow, Why man, this is war au-go-go There's plenty good money to be made By supplying the Army with the tools of it's trade, But just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb, They drop it on the Viet Cong. [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/country_joe_the_fish/i_feel_like_im_fixin_to_die_rag.html ] And it's one, two, three, What are we fighting for ? Don't ask me, I don't give a damn, Next stop is Vietnam. And it's five, six, seven, Open up the pearly gates, Well there ain't no time to wonder why Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast; Your big chance has come at last. Now you can go out and get those reds 'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead And you know that peace can only be won When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

Come on mothers throughout the land, Pack your boys off to Vietnam. Come on fathers, and don't hesitate To send

Song Name ______Fortunate Son

1. When was the song written and what events were happening at that time?

3. What attitude toward the war is being expressed? What attitude toward authority is being expressed? EXPLAIN – WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LYRICS!!!!!!

Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969

Some folks are born made to wave the flag Ooh, they're red, white and blue And when the band plays "Hail to the chief" Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no

Yeah! Some folks are born silver spoon in hand Lord, don't they help themselves, oh But when the taxman comes to the door Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord And when you ask them, "How much should we give?" Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no

Song Name ______Masters Of War

1. When was the song written and what events were happening at that time?

3. What attitude toward the war is being expressed? What attitude toward authority is being expressed? EXPLAIN – WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LYRICS!!!!!!

Masters Of War by Bob Dylan, 1963

Come you masters of war You've thrown the worst fear You that build the big guns That can ever be hurled You that build the death planes Fear to bring children You that build all the bombs Into the world You that hide behind walls For threatening my baby You that hide behind desks Unborn and unnamed I just want you to know You ain't worth the blood I can see through your masks. That runs in your veins.

You that never done nothin' How much do I know But build to destroy To talk out of turn You play with my world You might say that I'm young Like it's your little toy You might say I'm unlearned You put a gun in my hand But there's one thing I know And you hide from my eyes Though I'm younger than you And you turn and run farther That even Jesus would never When the fast bullets fly. Forgive what you do.

Like Judas of old Let me ask you one question You lie and deceive Is your money that good A world war can be won Will it buy you forgiveness You want me to believe Do you think that it could But I see through your eyes I think you will find And I see through your brain When your death takes its toll Like I see through the water All the money you made That runs down my drain. Will never buy back your soul.

You fasten all the triggers And I hope that you die For the others to fire And your death'll come soon Then you set back and watch I will follow your casket When the death count gets higher In the pale afternoon You hide in your mansion' And I'll watch while you're lowered As young people's blood Down to your deathbed Flows out of their bodies And I'll stand over your grave And is buried in the mud. 'Til I'm sure that you're dead.

Song Name ______Times They Are A Changing

1. When was the song written and what events were happening at that time?

3. What attitude toward the war is being expressed? What attitude toward authority is being expressed? EXPLAIN – WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LYRICS!!!!!!

Times They Are A Changing By Bob Dylan, 1964

Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin' Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen And keep your eyes wide The chance won't come again And don't speak too soon For the wheel's still in spin And there's no tellin' who That it's namin'. For the loser now Will be later to win For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen Please heed the call Don't stand in the doorway Don't block up the hall For he that gets hurt Will be he who has stalled There's a battle outside ragin'. It'll soon shake your windows And rattle your walls For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers Throughout the land And don't criticize What you can't understand Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your command Your old road is Rapidly agin'. Please get out of the new one If you can't lend your hand For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn The curse it is cast The slow one now Will later be fast As the present now Will later be past The order is Rapidly fadin'. And the first one now Will later be last For the times they are a-changin'. Instructions: Answer the questions below for all of the songs. They are located on my class website. Take note of the date of the release of the song, for you will need to consider the historical context (i.e. what was happening at that time?). You will need to look back at the HW readings, classwork readings, and the Vietnam War PPT.

Song Name _____"War" (What is it good for?)

1. When was the song written and what events were happening at that time?

3. What attitude toward the war is being expressed? What attitude toward authority is being expressed? EXPLAIN – WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC LYRICS!!!!!!

"War" (What is it good for?) By Edwin Starr (original lyrics – The Temptations)

War, huh, yeah War, huh, yeah What is it good for What is it good for Absolutely nothing Absolutely nothing Uh-huh Uh-huh War, huh, yeah War, huh, yeah What is it good for What is it good for Absolutely nothing Absolutely nothing Say it again, y'all Say it again y'all War, huh, good God War, huh, good God What is it good for What is it good for Absolutely nothing Absolutely nothing Listen to me Listen to me War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker War, it's got one friend Ohhh, war, I despise That's the undertaker Because it means destruction Ooooh, war, has shattered Of innocent lives Many a young mans dreams Made him disabled, bitter and mean War means tears Life is much to short and precious To thousands of mothers eyes To spend fighting wars these days When their sons go to fight War can't give life And lose their lives It can only take it away

I said, war, huh Ooooh, war, huh Good God, y'all Good God y'all What is it good for What is it good for Absolutely nothing Absolutely nothing Say it again Say it again War, whoa, Lord War, whoa, Lord What is it good for What is it good for Absolutely nothing Absolutely nothing Listen to me Listen to me War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker War, it ain't nothing War, friend only to the undertaker But a heartbreaker Peace, love and understanding War, friend only to the undertaker Tell me, is there no place for them today Ooooh, war They say we must fight to keep our It's an enemy to all mankind freedom The point of war blows my mind But Lord knows there's got to be a better War has caused unrest way Within the younger generation Induction then destruction Ooooooh, war, huh Who wants to die Good God y'all Aaaaah, war-huh What is it good for Good God y'all You tell me What is it good for Say it, say it, say it, say it Absolutely nothing Say it, say it, say it War, huh War, huh Good God y'all What is it good for What is it good for Absolutely nothing Stand up and shout it Listen to me Nothing