War song

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A war song is a musical composition that relates to war, or a society's attitudes towards war. They may be pro-war, anti-war, or simply a description of everyday life during war times.

It is possible to classify these songs by historical conflict: "First World War songs", "Second World War songs", "Vietnam War songs", and so on. There is also a miscellaneous category of recruiting songs, anti-pacifist songs, complaints about mess rations, excessive drilling and so on. Many national anthems are either a call to arms, or a celebration of military victories and past glories. There were a handful of anti-war songs before 1939, but this category has grown enormously since the start of the Vietnam War. On the other hand, new songs that are pro-war are becoming less common. Some national anthems have been adapted to be purely instrumental, or less bellicose in sentiment.

Contents 1 Anti-war song 2 Early military campaigns 3 World War I songs 4 World War II songs 5 Songs of the Spanish Civil War 6 List of songs about the Vietnam War 7 Miscellaneous war songs 8 Further reading

[edit] Anti-war song

Main article: Anti-war song

An anti-war song is a musical composition that either states anti-war sentiments directly, or one which is perceived (by the public and/or critics) as having an anti-war theme. Some show the negative aspects of war, while others satirize war. Most promote peace, in some form or another, while others speak out against certain specific armed conflicts. Many of these songs are considered protest songs, and some have been embraced by various peace movements.

[edit] Early military campaigns

The English civil war produced Royalist songs such as "When the King Home in Peace Again" and Roundhead songs, "The Diggers' Song". "Cam' Ye By Atholl" comes from the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. "Marching Through Georgia" and "when Johhny Comes Marching Home" originate in the American Civil war. "Goodbye Dolly Gray" was written for the Boer War, but was sung in the First World War. Other examples are:

• The British Grenadiers
• Scots Wha Hae
• The Battle Hymn of the Republic

[edit] World War I songs

"Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag" (1915) is known only because of the chorus. The verses, concerning "Private Parks" are hardly ever sung. "The Conscientious Objector's Lament" (1917) was intended to ridicule pacifists, but it ended up being sung by soldiers longing to go home (See "When This Bloody War is OVer" by Max Arthur, page 42). "Good-Bye-ee" (1917) pokes fun at the well educated soldiers who cannot stop themselves from using public school language such as "chin-chin!". "Oh It's a Lovely War" (1917) was the inspiration for the film "Oh! What a Lovely War". The singer is overly enthusiastic about mud and soldiers' food rations. It is an anti-war song disguised as a recruiting song. "Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire" concerns the search for a Sergeant (lying on the floor), a quartermaster (behind the line) and the privates (hanging on the old barbed wire). Officers tried to prevent privates from singing the last verse, but were usually unsuccessful.

Other examples are:

• It's a Long Way to Tipperary
• Mademoiselle from Armentières
• Over There
• (from the film This Is the Army)

[edit] World War II songs

Main article: Role of music in World War II

Irving Berlin wrote "This is the Army, Mr. Jones" (1942) for the review "This is the Army". It mocks the attitudes of middle class soldiers, forced to undergo the rigors of life in the barracks. Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major is a British soldier's song, mocking their officers.

[edit] Songs of the Spanish Civil War

Main article: Songs of the Spanish Civil War

[edit] List of songs about the Vietnam War

Main article: List of songs about the Vietnam War

[edit] Miscellaneous war songs

The category "Protest song" occasionally relates to war, but often relates to civil rights or particular miscarriages of justice. Civil wars often have their own songs, as do revolutions (see "Revolutionary song").

[edit] Further reading

Tunebooks

• "Oh! It's a Lovely War: Songs Ballads and Parodies of the Great War", by EMI Music Publishing (1978)
• "Mud, Songs and Blighty: A Scrapbook of the First World War" by Colin Walsh (1975)

Textbooks

• "When This Bloody War is Over: Soldiers' Songs of the First World War" by Max Arthur (2001)
• "Dark Laughter: War in Song and Popular Culture" by Les Cleveland (1994)
• "Goodnight Sweetheart: Songs and Memories of the Second World War" by Frank E Huggett (1979)