Music means different things to different people. One has to admire Robert Hunter- lyricist for the Grateful Dead, who would often speak to his lyrics meaning what they do to the listener, somewhat implying that his intentions were esoteric or moot. This leaves much room for interpretation, creativity, and reflection.
The truth is music is a vehicle, especially in a live setting. It is a diverse, powerful gift that intersects as well as transcends cultures, borders, and the many highs and lows of life for people across the planet. The question is, have you ever actually read the lyrics to your favorite song(s)? Or thought about what your favorite artist was saying in a song you hold dear? Do you know what’s going on with Pink Floyd’s epic concept album, Animals? Have you ever read the lyrics and thought about what Bob Marley is signing in “War”? Have you ever heard of the incredible Allison Warden? Did you know the Grateful Dead played a benefit for the Black Panther Party on March 5, 1971? Music is a vehicle for many things- but during this election year it’s also a primary launchpad for “action.”
Brennan Lagasse, Sustainability Program Chair and Assistant Professor at Sierra Nevada University (who is also a Glide staff writer) leads a valuable class titled Music, Globalization, and Social Change: The Social Commentary of Music
After an eight-day intensive session with university students the past couple of weeks, looking into music from Rage Against the Machine, to the inspiration behind Beyonces’ Lemonade, here’s what the students have to share for their take on one crucial song of social commentary…
Cameron Brod, Sustainability, Senior
“Patience”, Damian Marley and Nas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qecCRDuWNZw&feature=youtu.be
This song comes from a collaboration album done by Damian Marley and Nas called: “Distant Relatives”. The songs on the album are influenced by both of the artists styles of hip hop and reggae. The album speaks to many problems in the world including poverty, hunger, oppression, and the silencing of cultures. In this song in particular Damian and Nas speak about the fact that humans have accomplished so much, but still haven’t been able to solve many of the issues that have been around for so long. Damian says “An’ a fly go a moon and can’t find food for the starving tummies”, which is such a powerful statement that we can do the seemingly impossible like go to the moon, but still can’t feed the people of the world. The song emphasizes that today’s world is profit over people and we as humans have not stopped destroying the world for material gain.
I started to listen to this album right when I heard about it because these are two artists that I frequently listen to and it’s a collaboration album. The way I see this album is, two people who come from the same or similar cultures that have been ripped from each other, are now coming back together to continue spreading that culture and fight for justice. “Patience” has definitely been my favorite song off of the album lyrically and just by the way it flows. I think that Damian and Nas did a great job of showing how much humans have accomplished, but have still avoided fixing extreme poverty.
Honorable Mentions
“Take a Minute” – K’naan
“One Day” – Matisyahu
“Fight the Power” – Public Enemy
“A Better Tomorrow” – Wu-Tang Clan
“New World Water” – Mos Def
“Why Why Why” – RZA
Kayla Heidenreich, Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Journalism, Senior
“I’m Not Racist”, Joyner Lucas
“I’m Not Racist”, by Joyner Lucas is a very powerful song. The music video adds another element to it. A controversial conversation between a white man wearing a “MAGA” hat and a man of color. The first verse of the song is Joyner Lucas rapping the “white man’s side” while the white man lip sings it. The verse starts with, “All the Black guys rather be deadbeats than pay your bills – Yellin’ “nigga this” and “nigga that” – Call everybody “nigga” and get a nigga mad – As soon as I say “nigga” then everyone react – And wanna swing at me and call me racist ’cause I ain’t Black”. The next verse is Joyner Lucas “rebutting” the white man’s argument. The power in the word “nigga” is a different sin – We shouldn’t say it but we do, and that just what it is- But that don’t mean that you can say it just ’cause you got nigga friends – Nigga, that word was originated for you to keep us under – And when we use it, we know that’s just how we greet each other – And when you use it, we know there’s a double meaning under – And even if I wasn’t picking cotton physically – That doesn’t mean I’m not affected by the history – My grandmama was a slave, that shit gets to me”. This song is a deep and important song with the intention to promote these “hard” conversations. We need to sit down and listen to each other rather than listening to all the stereotypes.
I chose this song because I think it is extremely important. I think Joyner covers so many different, important, and controversial issues as well as showcasing having that “uneasy” conversation. I like the meaning behind the song and the video. I think that it portrays, very accurately, the issues of our country with the underlying issue of how people don’t listen to each other.
Honorable Mentions
“FDT” – YG
“Changes” – 2 Pak
“Throwing Stones” – Grateful Dead
“Sheep” – Mt. Joy
“Dogs” – Pink Floyd
“Kids” – Current Joy
Gabriel Sakr, Entrepreneurship, Sophomore
“Pure Comedy”, Father John Misty
Pure comedy is about how the systems made by humanity are a bad joke. In the beginning of the song he explains at birth humans are impressionable. Therefore, it is a toss-up if you will be raised with good morals or not. Then Father John Misty goes into the inequality between genders and how it, unfortunately, goes back to biology. In the hunter and gather society it made sense for the women to stay and nurture the child with milk while the man went hunting for meat. Furthermore, menstruations can cause iron deficiency, that is why the man had to hunt for meat. Then he goes on to make fun of religion by pointing out how their stories do not make sense. Lastly, he mentions opioids and cigarettes as a corrupt way for people to numb their pain from life.
I chose this song because of how creative it is. Furthermore, I agree with all of Father John Misty’s points. I really like the music video and it gives the song more depth. This relates to our course because this song is all social commentary. This song is first on my greater playlist because it attacks the worst of humanity. After this song, my focus is one out of the many terrible systems that humanity created.
Honorable Mentions
“WAV Files” – Lupe Fiasco
“Born in the U.S.A.” – Bruce Springsteen
“Blacker the Berry” – Kendrick Lamar
“How Many Times” – Trey Songz
“The Bigger Picture” – Lil Baby
“The Times They Are-A Changin” – Bob Dylan
Sara Mochel, Art and Sustainability, Senior
“This is America”, Childish Gambino
Released in 2018, “This is America” won Donald Glover a Grammy for Best Rap that it undoubtedly deserved. The music video is in itself a work of art, shot with a total of nine rolls of film and edited to six shots. It depicts an intense array of symbolism reflecting the state of American society. The lyrics speak to the oppressions felt by the African American community stating:
This is America
Don’t catch you slippin’ now
Look at how I’m livin’ now
Police be trippin’ now
(…)
Guns in my area
I got the strap
I gotta carry ’em
This song speaks to the unending violence felt at the hand of police especially within minority communities and their response being to take up arms as their only defense. Stating clearly that “this is America” the message of the song cannot go unheard, with references to Jim Crow and guerilla warfare and the 2015 Charleston shooting. This song is a can’t miss in regard to understanding the state of our nation and the social justice issues that plague our society.
Honorable Mentions
“Under Pressure” – Queen and David Bowie
“Little Boxes” – Malvina Reynolds
“The Sound of Silence” – Simon & Garfunkel
“Changes” – Tupac
“One” – U2
“Invisible People” – Chicano Batman
“Colors” – Black Pumas
“Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” – Tracy Chapman
Dylan Burch, Sophomore
“Robbin Hood Theory”, Gang Starr
Produced in 1998 by Gang Starr, “Robbin Hood Theory” was a part of the Moment of Truth album, which is an amazing album in my opinion. The song is talking about the importance of educating the youth about systemic racism and oppressive powers so that they can help create change as they grow up. It’s old school rap with not a large amount of explicit language. Guru, the rapper in this song, typically doesn’t use explicit language when not necessary, a contrasting move from other artists in the rap genre.
I loved this song for the beat originally. And thanks to this class I went back and listened to the lyrics through this lens of greater depth and understanding. I have thus found I like it even more. My favorite part of the song is the introduction, “If we’re not schooling the youth WITH wisdom, then the sins of the father will visit the children, And that’s not keepin it real… that’s keepin it – WRONG”. I think that line is extremely powerful. I see today a severe lack of wisdom in political powers and this song emphasizing the impotence of wisdom gives me hope.
This is the chorus, which I think is extremely powerful:
“Now that we’re gettin somewhere, you know we got to give back… For the youth is the future no doubt that’s right and exact… Squeeze the juice out, of all the suckers power… And pour some back out, so as to water the flowers… This world is ours, that’s why the demons are leery… It’s our inheritance; this is my Robbin Hood Theory… Robbin Hood Theory”
Honorable Mentions
“Pigs” – Pink Floyd
“Horse With No Name” – America
“Killing In The Name Of” – Rage Against The Machine
“Could You Be Loved” – Bob Marley and the Wailers
“Helplessly Hoping” – Crosby, Stills, & Nash
“Everything Changes” – SOJA
Benjamin Gorelick, Environmental Science, First Year
“Africa”, Toto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQbiNvZqaY
The lyrics of “Africa” capture the quandary of a guy who must choose between his two loves- the continent of Africa and the girl he finds therein. The song’s co-writer David Paich, keyboardist, and vocalist of Toto, said he was inspired to write the song when during the early ’80s, he watched a documentary about the “death and suffering” plaguing many people across the continent of Africa. According to Paich, the horrible images of suffering stayed in his mind for a very long time, forcing him to imagine what he would feel and what he’d do if he had the misfortune to be there.“Africa” actually has a number of interpretations, one of which is an invitation to immerse oneself into a situation of terrible death and suffering, as was the case in Africa at the writing of the song, and to determine what one would do.
I still remember the first time I heard “Africa” by Toto. I was in eighth grade with the varsity lacrosse team in Seattle, on our way to our first ever game, my teammate sitting in the front of the van turned it on. I immediately got the chills. It was almost like hearing angels coming from the speakers. The words and the rhythm of the song was so contagious. Everyone in the van was screaming along to the lyrics. From that point on I couldn’t help but fall in love with this song. Throughout the next four years of high school my team and I carried this song along with us. Listening to it on trips, before games, or even just when we were with each other. Even though I had the entire song memorized by heart back then I had no idea what Toto was trying to say. Now that I’ve dug deeper into my favorite song, I can see that there is love in the song, but also suffering and death in Africa. It is about a man’s love for a place and what he is willing to do to be there and take care of it. I can relate so much more with the song now especially with the huge climate crisis we are facing today. Yes, we must protect Africa, but not only Africa we have to love and protect the Earth and be willing to give back to it. This class has not only opened my ears to hear what these artists are truly saying, but also it has opened my eyes to see what they are fighting for and believe in.
Honorable Mentions
“Everyday Struggle” – The Notorious B.I.G.
“Blue World” – Mac Miller
“Ultralight Beam” – Kanye West
“Up Up and Away” – Kid Cudi
“C.R.E.A.M.” – Wu-Tang Clan
“Could You Be Loved” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Brayden Stephenson, Outdoor Adventure Leadership and Journalism, Sophomore
“The Sound”, Live From Home
This song is so important to listen to as it pertains directly to what is happening in our country right now. It offers criticism of our broken nation and the systemic racism that exists. This song is inspired by a civil rights leader, John M. Perkins. He’s someone who refused to except hatred as a viable way of life. He wrote a book called Let Justice Roll Down, which delivers a message of being committed to having unconditional love for the oppressed and the oppressor. Perkins says, “Our love is the final fight”. It teaches the listener to be anti-racist and use love as a vehicle to fight hate. Love is louder than hatred. Love is louder than racism. Love is louder than violence.
Switchfoot released their first album in 1997. They are a group of surfers from San Diego and the lead singer and bass player both come from a family of pastors. They’ve used their voice in music to take part in criticizing of the church, race issues, and environmental causes. Because of this they’ve faced plenty of anger from evangelicals and western religion. They’ve had a hand in helping To Write Love On Her Arms (https://twloha.com/), a non-profit devoted to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. They made it their goal to be a vessel of hope. “It’s a chance for all of us to be reminded of what brings us together, not what tears us apart. My hope, for this record,” Jon shared, concluding, “is that it would be a reminder that there are new streams available for us to travel down, and that hatred is not our language, love is our native tongue”, Jon Foreman, lead singer of Swicthfoot. Love is the movement.
Honorable Mentions
“Looking For America” – Switchfoot
“Love Alone Is Worth The Fight” – Switchfoot
“Welcome To The Cruel World” – Ben Harper
“Patron Saint of Rock and Roll” – Jon Foreman
“The Sound (John M. Perkins Blues)” – Switchfoot
“Revolution” – John Butler Trio
“Love is The Movement” – Switchfoot
Love Will Find a Way” – Mike Love
Brenda Medina-Isla, Biology, Sophomore
“In the River”, Raye Zaragoza
Raye Zaragoza is an Indigenous, Mexican and Japanese-American singer-songwriter. She is known as “one of the most politically relevant artists in her genre” by Paste Magazine. This song was dedicated to the Standing Rock Sioux. It’s amazing the message she brings forward, not only the message itself, but how she moves people to stand up for what they believe in.
When I came across this song the title was under “In the River: A Protest Song.” I heard it over and over and I still feel the same way I did when I first listened to it. It is such a unique moving song. After listening to different genres who like her send out a message about injustice and discrimination, especially Indigenous tribes that are at risk to the impacts of climate change, I was able to see a bigger picture with this song. No matter what the outcome is, we are fighting for our future, our children and the generations that follow. Please protect my future or how Raye Zaragoza said in this hit, “don’t poison the future away.” Protect our homes and our land, we must stop damaging the Earth.
Honorable Mentions
“Earth Song” – Michael Jackson
“Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth” – Willie Nelson
“Nina Simone” – “Feeling Good”
“Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
“What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
“What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
Jacob Pranke, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship, Senior
“Changes”, Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur usually dropped music about the life of a gangster, but also provided a new insight during his era. He spoke about civil rights, racism, and activism when many rappers of his time and of today mostly rap about violence, drugs, woman (in a sexist manner), etc. The song “Changes” is one of my favorites of all time. He talks about not seeing changes in the world we live in and what we need to do to push for change. He refers to the African American civil rights movement and how the movement was supposed to end social issues such as racism and poverty for the African American community, but he still doesn’t see a change. The song has a positive, uplifting beat (courtesy of Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is”), but it directly displays the correlation between his skin color and poverty and inequality.
Tupac is one of, if not the most legendary rapper of his era. I love all of his music. He was just a unique artist who rapped about real-world problems and spoke about solutions. He addressed inequality and systemic racism, which I have always thought to be very powerful coming from his style and delivery of music. Change is needed and we need to keep bringing up these issues and fighting for what is right. RIP 2pac.
Honorable Mentions
“We Shall Overcome” – Pete Seeger
“Otherside of America” – Meek Mill
“Imagine” – John Lennon
“Say It Loud-I’m Black and Proud”– James Brown
“Fortunate Son” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
“I Can’t Breathe” – H.E.R.
