Remember...if it is possible, link us the lyrics of your selection. Always a wise move to have a print copy. Many will process the song better and indeed some of our special needs students may need it help them better grasp the meaning. Look forward to seeing the array of choices...and don't forget your audience (young)...if it is rich with foul language probably not a good move to use.
Mark
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The song that I chose to use for this exercise is also a Bob Dylan song. The song is called "Masters of War" and it was written in 1963, just as the example from class, so, as discussed, there was a great deal of talk of war at the time and fear of previous war. The lyrics can be seen here: http://artists.letssingit.com/bob-dylan-lyrics-masters-of-war-v2js64s .
The essential question that I came up with was "Who do you think is responsible for deciding if war is necessary, and who is responsible for fighting the wars?" In the song, Dylan explains that he believes that "those who build all the bombs...and hide behind desks," which could be interpreted as government or politicians, are responsible for wars. Dylan argues that they should not be the ones that decide if war is necessary because they are not the ones that have to go fight these wars. I think the one set of lyrics "You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
While the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud" is a powerful reality. Understandably, it wouldn't be realistic to have those who decide the politics of war to go fight, but the argument made by Dylan in the song is also arguable.
Harry...I am a fan of this song. Eddie Vedder does a great cover it on the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Dylan's music. This is a timeless work of poetry invoking many empathetic ideas about war and peace. Mark
The song I chose for this exercise is off of Bob Marley's Legend album that was released in 1984. The track is called Buffalo Soldiers. The name Buffalo Soldiers was given to the black men that made up most of the army which were used to displace Native Americans from their reservations. These men were mostly slaves taken directly from Africa and other freed black men who were for the most part illiterate and ignorant as to the motives of the American government.
The Indians called the men Buffalo Soldiers because of their racially distinct features. Therefore,it is ironic that the Buffalo soldiers were being used to fight another racial minority that were deemed to be a threat by white people and then treated with disdain after winning the war for America. The lyrics can be seen at the following site:http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/bob-marley-lyrics/buffalo-soldier-lyrics.html
The essential question that I came up with is....How does the Buffalo Soldier show the on-going struggle of segregation and humiliation in the United States following the Civil War?
This is an essential question because it does not have a simple right answer and it can be argued. It is also an essential question because it raises other questions concerning Buffalo Soldiers. I think it will stimulate debate and challenge unexamined assumptions.
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/dave+matthews+band/dont+drink+the+water_20036490.html
I chose Dave Matthews’ “Don’t Drink the Water” because it is a direct reference to what happened to the Native Americans, more specifically a Native American massacre that took place in the Grand Canyon. Native Americans were pushed off of cliffs by Europeans, turning part of the Colorado River red with American Indian blood. The whole song and video portray the horror that the American Indians went through at the hands of the Europeans. This song could easily be used during a unit on European exploration, Christopher Columbus, and the first colonists. It would be used in an upper level class because it asks students to question and analyze the history they have been taught. This song goes against traditional history. Dave even said during an interview for VH1’s Behind the Music, that this song demonstrates that it is important to remember that our history “has some poison in it.”
Essential Question: Should the early European settlers in America be praised as heroes? The lyrics he uses portray the Europeans as harsh, cold-hearted people because they just took the land right out from under the Native Americans. The Europeans killed off the American Indians for selfish and devilish reasons. Dave writes,
“No room for both, just room for me.
So you will lay your arms down,
Yes, I will call this home.
Away, away, you have been banished.
Your land is gone, and given to me….
What’s this you say, you feel a right to remain?
Then stay and I will bury you.
What’s that you say, your father’s spirit still lives in this place?
Well, I will silence you.”
This is an essential question because it follows right along with the guidelines in UbD. This question does not have a right or a wrong answer because it is opinion based. Their opinion, however, does require historical evidence and analytical thinking about the portrayal of traditional history. Students love to think for themselves and offer opinions, so this question does provoke and sustain student inquiry because it is not just feeding them facts. This question also asks a philosophical question about the good/bad of human nature and property. This question raises other questions about humanity and morality, and debates what we have traditionally seen as heroic and great. Overall, this question involves a lot of thinking and analyzing by students, so it can be used as an Essential Question for Dave’s song.
The song that I chose to use is Ani DiFranco's "Millennium Theater." It's a fantastic song, focusing on current events in US history. It's a little dated now because it came out in 2006, but it's still very useful to prove a point. The lyrics can be viewed here: http://www.metrolyrics.com/millennium-theater-lyrics-ani-difranco.html
I'm going to try not to quote the lyrics, because she covers so much ground in one song that I could probably turn this into a dissertation. Suffice it to say, Ani DiFranco touches on everything from Yucca Mountain to presidential politics to the information age to global warming and back again. This song would be a great tool as an intro to current events, just because you could have the students see how many references they understand. At the risk of sounding very teacher-ish, this would be a prime way to check for understanding and prior knowledge. However, I digress.
My essential question regarding this song is really a two-part question. First: Are we as a country really at the point described in the song? Second: How did we get here, and what can be done about it? If students answer "no" to the first part, the justification of that response will cover their inability to answer the second part. You could also add on: If not, where are we in relation to where Ani DiFranco perceives us to be? So this might be a series of essential questions, but isn't the nature of EQ's to generate more questions and no definitive answers? There certainly are no simple yeses or nos to this sort of question. This sort of debate could go on indefinitely, and it encourages students to think critically about the world that they live in. It also lends itself to analyzing sources, since all music has some sort of bias. Ani DiFranco's take on today's state is satirical, since she compares the turn of the century to a theatrical production. Students on all sides could have a field day with this song.
My song is a very old one. It is called "John Brown's Body" written in the early part of the Civil War. Julia Ward Howe first heard this tune by Union soldiers marching in formation. She used that same tune but created new lyrics to the now classic rendition called "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" which was published in 1862. But the John Brown version became a popular tune for Union soldiers to sing while marching in the Civil War. Here is a link where I found all my information and also a place to hear the song and see the lyrics at PBS's website.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/brown/sfeature/song.html
I think this song has a powerful meaning for the time period because it was paying tribute to a man (and even to some a hero) who created a movement towards abolishing slavery.
My essential question I came up with is "Do you believe that John Brown's actions in Kansas and Harper's Ferry before the Civil War, helped to give hope to the lives of anyone how was fighting to end slavery for African Americans?"
I feel the question is up for interpretation. It is more of a narrow question which relies on students understanding who John Brown was and what he tried to do before the Civil War or some argue that it was the first spark of the Civil War. The argument could go both ways because many people of the time remembered John Brown as a crazy lunatic. But either way, he was a powerful symbol for hope of future change, specifically for slaves in the South.
You could use this in a classroom by having the class split into two groups. One group can be associated with the northern states and the other group can represent the southern states. Tell the group who represents the North to read in their book and analyze through internet sources the things John Brown was trying to do and how it could have been a positive outcome. Have the Southern group read from their book and research internet sources about how John Brown's attempts at a slave rebellion could have caused havoc for the south? Have the class meet back and have an open forum discussion about what was going on involving John Brown.
http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/john_butler_trio_lyrics_4014/grand_national_lyrics_42863/fire_in_the_sky_lyrics_464002.html
I choose "Fire in the Sky" by the John Butler Trio. This is a song that talks about war and the horrible things that come with it. In one line he describes this war struggle as being in quicksand, "the more we fight we sink." This song looks at war as having no good qualities. He then describes himself caught in this world and how he finds that he needs to defend his own family from both sides of misery.
Essential Question: Is there any way to solve these world issues without war and death? What are some possible solutions we could use in these controversial times?
Song Excerpt:
As we make amends by
Getting our revenge
We sort nothing out
Just add to the doubt
And with God on both sides
Death is justified
Whatever the name
Then we're all to blame
-John Butler Trio
The song I chose for a classroom activity is Kenji by Fort Minor. This song is has distinctive Linkin Park like style to it, which kids should be able to relate to. The song is about the Japanese Internment experience. The lyrics are supplemented by dialogue by people talking about the experience. One of the strengths of the song is the way in which Fort Minor describes the government, but never actually attacks it. At the same time, the song is powerful and conveys the message of the injustice that was done to these American citizens.
http://www.metrolyrics.com/kenji-lyrics-fort-minor.html
The essential questions I would pose relate to the actions of the government and dignity of the Japanese citizens. What does the lack of resistance posed by the Japanese and the willingness to join the military tell us about the way they viewed the internment? How did fear effect the actions of our country? How does fear still effect American actions and how far have we come?
I believe these questions are important because there is so much to learn from the way in which the Japanese citizens passively went to camps and then fought in War World II in Italy to prove their faithfulness to our country. Comparing the Japanese Internment to the actions we took after 911 could help students see that although America has made mistakes in the past, we have made efforts to not repeat them. I think this is one way to balance revisionist history with classic traditionalist US history. It is possible to show the negative and still see progress later in history.
The song I chose for this post is "We Didn't Start the Fire" written by Billy Joel.This popular song was written in 1989. The lyrics can be found at http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/joel+billy/we+didnt+start+the+fire_20072985.html
This song explains historical figures and events from 1949 up until when the song was written in 1989. The lyrics are a good summary of the history in that era. It is a good song to bring up the many names and events and begin discussions on them in class. It is already set up in chronological form from 1949 on. Billy Joel is writing this song as a member of the babyboom generation. He is arguing that his generation is not the cause of many of these problems that occured in the world during these times. The chorus is directed that the world was in a troubled state way before his generations time. He explains his generation has spent much of their time trying to fix the problems.
Chorus:
We didnt start the fire
It was always burning
Since the worlds been turning
We didnt start the fire
No we didnt light it
But we tried to fight it
EQ: Who is to blame for many of the world's problems and who are the major figures or groups that have tried to restore order in these circumstances?
I believe this is an essential question that will cause the students to think about different events in the world's history such as "trouble in the suez" and they will be able to disect the cause of the problem and how and who could have prevented it. I believe this song, although filled with many different topics, could be the source of a great debate in the classroom. As pertaining to a class, I believe I could pick a few events out of the song pertaining to my class title and pick to discuss these. Overall, I believe it is a good song to refreshin the minds of all people to the problems and situations that have occured in the worlds past.
I chose U2's song "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/u/u2/sunday+bloody+sunday_20141428.html
It's about Bloody Sunday, a day in 1972 when British troops fired into a crowd during a civil rights protest in Northern Ireland. U2's song describes the incident and other violence associated with British rule of Northern Ireland and looks at the actual effects of the violence. The song also describes how people who did not experience Bloody Sunday (or any other war) can easily ignore and forget about it even while it destroyed so many lives.
My essential question is: It is generally agreed that violence is a poor way to solve a problem. If this is true, why is violence both used and ignored by "good" people?
This question has no one right answer and gets students to think critically about the nature of violence and how it is used. It raises other questions about the "goodness" of people and times when violence may indeed be justified.
I chose the song "99 Red Balloons" by Nena, although this song was originally written and sang in German. It was released in Germany in 1983 and a year later in the United States. The lyrics can be found at this website:
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/nena-99-red-balloons-lyrics.html
This song was written about the tension during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. It talks about how balloons in the sky have caused the tension to escalate into an actual war. The artist describes the steps that the military has taken upon spotting the balloons, and finally leading up to calling the President, as stated in the lyrics below.
"Call the troops out in a hurry.
This is what we've waited for.
This is it boys, this is war.
The president is on the line"
The essential question I chose for this song is "Was the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union similar to that in the song in 1983? In other words, would spotting "99 Red Balloons"(bought from a toy shop and released by 'kids') have caused a scramble to prepare for war and a declaration of war?"
This is an essential question because there is no right answer, it is an opinion based question which requires some knowledge of the Cold War during the early 1980's. This question will provoke the students to question if something as releasing a balloon into the air cause a war or anything similar to that. Hopefully, students will wonder why there wasn't any further investigation and if this was an "over reaction." It will give the students to get a better understanding of the tensions that the United States and the Soviet Union were facing.
Ultimately, it would, hopefully, lead the students to wonder about other events during the Cold War era and wonder about specific events that brought the two countries on the brink of war.
This question also will have students think about other current wars and if there have been any "over reactions" by something similar to releasing a balloon.
Great song choices...songs I have heard and grew up with and songs I need to check out. I am a fan of Ani DeFranco too...I saw her open up for Dylan at Hershey a few years ago and as a dyed in the wool Dylan fan I thought her show was better. She can write well and her muscianship is unreal.
Mark
Crosby, Stills and Nash wrote the song I chose. The song debuted on the album titled "So Far". The name of the song is "Find the Cost of Freedom." It was released in 1970, this song, and many others on the album were war protest songs. For example, the song Ohio relives the controversy and atrocity of the Kent State Shooting. The Lyrics of the song are short and powerful.
Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground
Mother earth will swallow you, lay your body down
The essential question I arrived at from this song is, "Should freedom have to come with the price of life?" This song is critical of the cost of freedom, and states that you will find the price "buried in the ground". We always hear that freedom is not free, and we are fighting for freedom. However, is this really the case? Does freedom require the cost of innocent life? This song asks that question about the Vietnam War, but it can be applied to any war fought to protect or further "freedom". Furthermore, the song alludes to the idea that someone has put a cost on freedom, and this cost is your life. This song is satirical of our understanding that freedom must have a cost. They were trying to illustrate the point that, perhaps, freedom should be our inherent right and should be free, without the cost of life.
http://www.lyricsdomain.com/2/billy_joel/goodnight_saigon.html
For my music selection, I chose Billy Joel’s song Goodnight Saigon. The song discusses the journey of a number of members of the military during the Vietnam War. I chose the song because I think that the song is a good representation of the war, and the song would help students to understand what the soldiers went through during the war. I believe that the song effectively helps the listener to understand that war is not always as glorious as it has been portrayed throughout history. War can often be brutal, depressing, and extremely trying. I would have my students listen to the song as an introduction to our unit on the Vietnam War. I feel this would be a good way to open up student discussion on the war and to get students interested in learning more about the war.
I think the essential question which relates to this song is: What would it have been like to be a soldier during the Vietnam War?
I believe this fits the classifications of an essential question because it doesn’t have a right or a wrong answer. Billy Joel provides one representation of the Vietnam War, but there are certainly other interpretations of the war which can be discussed and analyzed by students. I believe that this question is also an essential question because it is a question which naturally and appropriately recurs. I think after any war takes place, those of us who did not participate in the fighting want to know what the soldiers went through during the war. I think this helps other citizens to have a greater appreciation for the actions of the men and women in the armed forces. I also think that this is an essential question because it raises other important questions. One of the important questions which would be raised following this question would be: how did the war experience of those who fought in Vietnam differ from those who fought in other wars throughout American history? Another important question which students would be led to ask would be: how were the relatives of the soldiers impacted by their departure for the war? Students may also ask: how did the war experience differ for those who we were fighting against during the war?
The song that I chose to do is Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue by Toby Keith. (and no I actually don't like country music for the most part)This song was write shortly after the attacks on 11 Sept 2001, of which we just held a 7 year memorial for. At the time this was written, emotions ran extremely high and our nation was for the first time seemingly since WWII united. This of course as we all know was fleeting as was the average Americans patience.
The Lyrics can be found here:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/toby+keith/courtesy+of+the+red+white+blue_20138071.html
Awesome Youtube video with the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seRPJGcUs8A
The essential question that I drew from this song was "Is patriotism a continuously fleeting value with in our society?" and also "What effects do protracted global struggles have on the patriotism of a society?"
This is certainly an essential question because it is bound to cause some heated debate as well as become the impetus for many other questions. Also, in the end you will only be left with opinions and no true definitively correct answer.
Song: Chalkline
Artist: Strike Anywhere
Link to Lyrics: http://www.strikeanywhere.org/index.php?cid=4&snid=32
EQ: What does Strike Anywhere offer concerning social criticisms for a post 9-11 generation and how do these criticisms differ (if at all) from those offered by youth subcultures of a Vietnam generation?
This is an essential question because the song is open to interpretation, there is not right or wrong answer. The question is controversial and provocative in nature so sustained student inquiry and provocation is satisfied. This question offers students a chance to ask other important questions about the ideals of a past generation in comparison to their own. Finally, the question allows students to rethink ideas from prior lessons, namely, the Vietnam War.
I chose this song because I feel like it is the next generation of protest music. It explores topics such as feminism, capitalism, war, globalization, fear and religion, just to name a few. Teaching students that music is more than just a great beat and catchy lyrics is important. Music can be an incredible window through which to view history. This song has always made me feel that.
"Jena", the new song by John Mellencamp, was the song I chose to investigate a social/political EQ. The song itself tells the story of the Jena 6 in Louisiana - an event that conjured up images of 1960s - style civil rights rallies and brought the political issue of race back into the media's focus.
The essential question that the song implies is something to the effect of "how far have we come in terms of racism in the United States - and how far do we still need to go?" Mellencamp, heavily influenced by the style of Bob Dylan, is obviously taking many of the issues that Dylan sang about when he first emerged onto the music scene in the early 60s and posing similar questions to the people of today.
Here is a link to the lyrics (and a few choice verses are pasted below)
http://www.sweetslyrics.com/619259.JOHN%20MELLENCAMP%20-%20Jena.html
An all white jury hides the executioner's face
See how we are, me and you?
Everyone here needs to know their place
Let's keep this blackbird hidden in the flue
So what becomes of boys that cannot think straight
Particularly those with paper bag skin
Yes sir, no sir, we'll wipe that smile right off your face
We've got our rules here and you must fit in
http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/brighteyes/whenthepresidenttalkstogod.html
My goodness this was a very hard assignment for me since music is such an important part of my life. I narrowed it down to three and they were
Eve of Destruction by Barry MaGuire
The Project for a new American Century by Anti Flag and,
When the President talks to God by Bright Eyes.
I chose when the President talks to god by bright eyes just because he is my absolute favorite singer song writer ever! Considered "the new Bob Dylan" truly a voice for our times.
The essential question I came up with is Do you believe that public officials should be objective when formulating policy? Or should they use their own morals and beliefs to write policy?
This song by Bright Eyes(Coner Oberst) is straight forward as far as lyrics go, a different pace from his normal symbolism and allegory used in songs. I think this song is perfect for my essential question about policy formation. I believe this song also touches on ideas like separation of church and state, and socioeconomic and racial issues as well.
The song I decided to use is "I'm so Bored with the U.S.A," by punk rock and socially conscious legends The Clash. The song provides a wonderfull commentary on U.S. foreign policy throughout the 1970s and 1980s. A link to the lyrics is posted here: http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/clash/imsoboredwiththeusa.html
The Essential Question I think this song is getting at is "How do other major countries in the world see the United States and it's citizens? And what can be done to change these perceptions by looking at the past?" The Clash express the sentiments that many of the nations have in fact become bored with our nation. The song was written shortly after we left Vietnam, and when the Watergate Scandal was being scrutinized. Basically, the whole world has, and still is watching our every move. The line " Yankee Soldier wanna shoot some skag, he met it in Cambodia but he can't afford a bag," Speaks about how our soldier were returning from Vietnam with drug addictions and absolutely no support from the government or the people. Another line stands out is, "Yankee, Dollar Talk to the dictators of the world, in fact it's giving orders and they can't afford to miss a word," Strummer is basically saying that the U.S. economy is supporting dictators, whether through trade or some behind the scenes action, regardless when we flexed some fiscal muscle everyone paid attention. Finally the best line of the song, and the one that has stood out to me since I first heard the song when I was thirteen is, "Yankee dectectives are always on the T.V. cause killers in America work 7-days a week." Strummer is commenting on the brutal behavior of Americans towards their own people, and it is true that there is at least one murder in the U.S. everyday. This raises the question of why we act this way, and how we can change our image in the eyes of the rest of the world. I would proabably use this song in U.S. History II, an 1890-Present class. After we have discussed the effects of Vietnam, Watergate, and the economy during the 1970s. I think it will be useful in showing students that we are not the center of the world and other countries do view our nations actions very negatively. This should encourage critical thought on ways to change this.
The song I chose was CCR's (Creedence Clearwater Revival)"Fortunate Son". The song symbolizes the thoughts of a man who is being drafted.
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/creedence+clearwater+revival/fortunate+son_20034362.html
This spoke out against the war in Vietnam. It is sung from the perspective of one of these men (who is not the son of a Senator, millionaire, or military leader, thus not a "fortunate son"), who ends up fighting in the Vietnam War.
An essential question I thought of was, "How does this song symbolize the idea of a 'rich man's war, poor man's fight'?"
A follow up would be, "Has this concept been true throughout history and is it still true today?"
I believe these are strong essential questions because they do not have one right answer. Also, this is a question that can draw from many different time periods of history, not just the Vietnam war. This can then incite a good discussion among students allowing them to draw on the prior knowledge to back up their claims.
The song that I chose for this assignment was "American Pie" by Don McLean. I'll be honest, I hated this song growing up, because I always thought it was boring, long, and did not make sense. It was not until a few years ago when I looked up the lyrics and interpretted the meaning that I realized how important and historical this song was.
The lyrics can be found at:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/don+mclean/american+pie_20042099.html
The essential question I developed for this song was, "Does this song suggest that art reflects life and how?"
Since this song uses so many cultural metaphors and references to describe the transition of America from the 1950's-1970's, it would be difficult to concentrate on one event described in the song. Instead, I thought a broad theme involving the different forms of art becoming metaphors for American historical events would be a better essential question.
This is an effective essential question because there is no right/wrong answer since the lyrics are already abstract and open for interpretation. Also, the question reflects not only the meaning of the song but a broader historical debate pertaining to the significance of art and its meaning. Does art reflect life or life reflect art?
In continuing the popular theme of songs and war, I chose In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— John McCrae
Set in the WW1 time frame and sung by John McDermott with Ken Burns type of atmosphere to it; the song provides a glimpse at what was going through a soldier's mind. When combined with pictures and other accounts of the Great War, it creates a more complete picture.
The essential question is this:
How do personal accounts of the war (from the front lines) affect the opinon on the outside of those fighting, and of the war itself.
I picked the song Rooster by Alice in Chains, It was written in 1993, it was about one of the band members father who was in Vietnam and his nickname was the Rooster, he was in the airborn division and because the Vietnamese didn't have eagles they called the men with those patches roosters / chicken men. What the song portrays is the experience in Vietnam. My EQ would be "Do you believe this song portrays how a solider would feel in Vietnam, and (if they students didn't know why they were called roosters) why do you think his name is Rooster (knowing he was in the 101st airborn)?
Aint found a way to kill me yet
Eyes burn with stinging sweat
Seems every path leads me to nowhere
Wife and kids household pet
Army green was no safe bet
The bullets scream to me from somewhere
Here they come to snuff the rooster
Yeah here come the rooster, yeah
You know he aint gonna die
No, no, no, ya know he aint gonna die
Walkin tall machine gun man
They spit on me in my home land
Gloria sent me pictures of my boy
Got my pills gainst mosquito death
My buddys breathin his dyin breath
Oh God please wont you help me make it through
Here they come to snuff the rooster
Yeah here come the rooster, yeah
You know he aint gonna die
No, no, no ya know he aint gonna die
The song that I chose was WAR by Edwin Starr (or if you are a movie nerd, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker). Anyway, this song was written in response to the Vietnam War and was the first protest/political song out motown. This song was also recorded by the Temptations and Bruce Springsteen. Lyrics and other information can be found at http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1029
An essential question that could be made from this song is "What are possible alternatives to war? Have any been attempted? In your opinion, were they successful?" One verse inparticular really emphasizes this question:
Peace love and understanding tell me
Is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But lord knows there's got to be a better way
This question would allow students to use thier knowledge of all time periods and places around the world. Primarily, a good starting point would be to have them look at wars such as the American and French Revolutions, WWI and WWII. As the song was written about Vietnam, that would also be a major discussion point. The students would be able to expand from there.
The song that I chose was Fortunate Son by CCR. The song was written by John C. Fogerty in 1969 during the turbulent years of the Vietnam war. The song is from a view point of a man being drafted and protesting the Vietnam war. The lyrics can be viewed at http://www.ccrlyrics.com/ccr_fortunate_son.html
My essential question after reading the song lyrics is "Who do you think bares the burdens for ensuring our democratic society, and are these practices fair?" This question can relate very well to CCR's lyrics.The first stanza reads,
"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"
In my opinion Fogerty was attempting to say that there are people who have a desire to serve in the armed forces and protect our land, and our way of life. Serving in the military is something to be extremely proud of, however the last line of "Ooh they point the cannon at you" illustrates that you too must enlist and serve your country. Fogerty attempted to illustrate the mentality of the era. The next stanza the lyrics state how the man is not a senator's son and not a fortunate son. Clearly this illustrates that people without high connections, and money are not fortunate enough to get out of serving. This depicts the unfair treatment of who actually has to bare the burdens of America.
Fogerty's lyrics illustrate a strong feeling at the time that can still be related to our own era. Many people have the notion that if you do not support the war we are currently in you are unpatriotic, just as those who were considered to be that when they attempted to dodge the draft in the 1960s.
The next few lines illustrate a taxman coming to the door of a rather wealthy house and family. However, the family who already has enough makes it seem as though they do not. In essence this depicts another unfair burden in our democracy. That somehow the people who have the most do not have to pay the most. Rather, the tax burden falls hardest on those who not already afford it.
My song that i chosse for my EQ is We didn't start the fire by Billy Joel.
http://www.songlyrics.com/song-lyrics/Billy_Joel/Miscellaneous/We_Didn_t_Start_The_Fire/235718.html
EQ~ When examining these lyrics is it clear what the larger issues throught the last 30 to 40 years have been and why do you think they have been expressed through music.
I think this is an effective song and question because it dosen't just focus on one subject but runs trhough the major events from our past for then the last 30 years and it also gives a feeling of emotion to how our nation has acted or not acted on those events. The one line that I find some what more releivant then the other is the "JFK blown away what else do i have to say" I think this can effectivley show students some of the emmotion that was felt about an event such as this. When every other part of the song besides the chorus is said some what fast and in rythm this particulr line is alone and he raises his voice to sing it. So when students listen and read the lyrics i believe that they can get a brief view of what the times were like and how the social climate of the time was effecting the music of the time. The other part of why muusic i believe is a very relivant point is that music is enduring and often last much longer than that of a text book or a acedemic book that in ten years will often be hard to find. Songs writen about events can last for decades and still be played. This song is almost twenty years old and is still played on the radio. So teaching by music can often show students what the large issues were at the time the song was writen and produced.
The song that I chose for this exercise was Neil Youngs "Ohio." The song was written as a reaction piece to the incident that occured at Kent State on May 4, 1970. Young wrote the song after reading about the atrocities in Life Magazine. The songs was originally relesed as a protest song to the Vietnam War and a reminder of the tragedy that occurred when students protesting against the War were gunned down. The lyrics are simple, but illustrate the events that occured.
The line, "We're finally on our own" describes the feeling of freedom and independence in college, and the line "Four dead in Ohio" refers to the four slain students at Kent State, and the lyric later became an anthem to the movement. The "Tin soldiers" are the National Guard, and many people, including Young, felt that it was President Richard Nixon's fault. The Song in many areas of the country became banned due to its anti Nixon vibe.
The essential question that I chose to ask was "Did the actions of the Kent State Massacre hinder or fuel the anti-war movement in the United States." This question would open a forum for students to talk about the incident and analyze the incident in greater detail.
lyrics for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Neil Young's "Ohio"
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
The song that I choose for this blog response is "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen. Although the title may confuse you, this is actually an anti-America song. The lyrics in the second versus clearly point this out.
(Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man)
However they are talking about got in a little trouble with the law, and joining up in the military was one of the ways to get out of some penalties. So the government shipped him off to Vietnam to fight in the war.
Now after getting back from the war, he is having trouble getting a real job and fitting back in to American life. Its the land of opportunity yet the veteran just cannot get a break.
The EQ I came up with is...
Bruce Springsteen clearly was against the Vietnam war, and his way of dissent was to use his free speech amendment to talk about it. Why is dissent important to Americans and important to American culture?
Hopefully students will research more about dissent and Jefferson's famous quote about dissent.
This question is an EQ because it fits the standards of of EQ. There is no right or wrong answer to the question. The question forces students to research more into the topic and hopefully find interest in other areas, not just dissent but in Vietnam or American society.
I chose the song "Civil War" by Guns and Roses because I believe it is a great example of how individuals protest the idea of war in our nation, also it is one of my favorites. Musicians are known for their protest to many political ideas, especially war, and G and R is no exception.
http://www.lyrics007.com/Guns%20N'%20Roses%20Lyrics/Civil%20War%20Lyrics.html
The essential Question that I thought of for this song is "Why do you believe America feels the need to act as the world police force?" or "Why do political organizations in any country believe war is the answer for all questions?"....
In this song G and R brings up the issue of our history hiding our civil wars, and how it seems that war is the answer to all problems. Like many musicians of the 1960's G and R is arguing for peace not war. Is peace possible without war?
These are essential questions because they will make the students think about the answer not just say yes or no. It will provoke inquiry into the subject and bring about discussion/debate in the classroom.
The song I chose for my essential question was The Virginia Company written by Stephen Schwartz The song is from the Disney movie Pocahontas. It can be located at :http://www.fpx.de/fp/Disney/Lyrics/Pocahontas.html#The%20Virginia%20Company
While reading the book Lies My Teacher Told Me, arriving on chapter 3 The truth about thanksgiving made me think of taking The Virginia Company as the song I would use for this assignment. The song is interesting because it provides somewhat of a history lesson with in it with lines like "In sixteen hundred seven We sail the open sea For glory, God, and gold And the Virginia Company". The song could be interpreted to supply the English settles in an unfavorable light by implying their greed, their belief in God giving America over to European settlement, and the glory of subjugating Indian lands. The song, although short, seems to focus on wealth more than the others.
My EQ for The Virginia Company, "Is is reasonable to portray the Plymouth Company in an negative way or should their desire for wealth and fame be be looked at more objectively as the settlers being products of their environment?"
This question is created for critical thinking because it does not lead one to argue for a specific answer, but allows the student to take the evidence presented to them and analyze that evidence then coming to a conclusion themselves. Students can look at the events at Plymouth in modern perspective or one that is more forgiving. It also forces students to analyze the environment that these settles came from.
The song that I chose is "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2. Though I'm not a huge U2 fan, I appreciate this song b/c of my interest in Ireland and "the troubles" between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The song was written by Bono and members of the band "The Edge" in Dublin Ireland in 1982. The song itself went through an array of rewrites, but finally became the eerie feeling, dramatic, anti-war protest song it is today when it was released in 1983. The song chronicles an observer of the events of the "Bloody Sunday" in Derry in January 1972. Thirteen unarmed people were killed that day by British soldiers who became angry by small children throwing stones at them. Thirteen more were wounded on that same day, also by British gunfire. The song lyrics can be viewed at this site: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/u/u2/sunday+bloody+sunday_20141428.html
You can also watch the video for the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBit83NpvN0.
The essential question that I came up with is: "What are the main reason's behind Ireland being broken up?", and "Who is responsible for taming the violence between the two republics?"
Bono repeatedly asks "how long" throughout the song. He wants to know how much longer will people fight and how many more people will die before people realize that it's all for nothing?!!!
The song I chose for this assignment is "99 Red Balloons", originally written by Nena, but I enjoy the remake by Goldfinger. This song talks about a scary time in the history of the modern world, being the Cold War. During the Cold War opposing sides or nations were in such a frantic and on-edge state that anything occurring to trigger the start of a war, could have set off a possible World War III. An essential question that I came up with is this:
Does this song demonstrate how quick to the trigger armies/nations were without first finding out the facts to the situation? This idea could also be put into other situations, like the United States entering Iraq after 9/11. Another EQ could be: When countries have great interests in a certain part of the world, do they look for any excuse to go to war there? Are countries totally self interested, so much that they risk their citizens' lives to get what they want, even when deemed unnecessary? When listening to the song, I cannot stop thinking about President Bush and his claims for weapons of mass destruction being in Iraq, when really he was pursuing other interests, like the possibility of finishing his fathers business there, getting his hands on Hussein, and gaining more control over one of the richest oil regions in the world.
The link to the song lyrics is:
http://www.lyrics007.com/Goldfinger
%20Lyrics/99%20Red%20Balloons%20
Lyrics.html
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