Ani Difranco
Not a Pretty Girl

Tracey Tanenbaum interviews Ani Difranco about the inspiration for this 1995 feminist anthem.

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The Dixie Chicks
Not Ready to Make Nice

The Dixie Chicks fell from grace when Natalie Maines criticized President Bush prior to the Iraq War. "Not Ready to Make Nice" was their musical response.

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Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Ohio

Dan Reed tells us about the CSN&Y song inspired by the 1970 shootings at Kent State.

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Merle Haggard
Okie from Muskogee

Roger LaMay talks about Merle Haggard's 1969 anthem in support of small town traditional values.

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The Impressions with Curtis Mayfield
People Get Ready

Helen Leicht talks about this uplifting civil rights tune which borrows from his gospel roots.

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Patti Smith
People Have the Power

Bob Bumbera explores Patti Smith's 1988 feel good anthem "People Have the Power."

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Aretha Franklin
Respect

Michaela Majoun talks about the Otis Redding tune. In 1967 Aretha Franklin turned it into an anthem for the feminist and civil rights movements.

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Gil Scott-Heron
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Dan Reed reports on Gil Scott-Heron's 1971 song, a bold statement against cultural conformity and a precursor of rap.

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Black Flag - Rise Above /
Minor Threat - Straight Edge

Beth Warshaw-Duncan reports on the Hardcore music movement of the 1980's and two of its emblematic songs.

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Bruce Springsteen
The Rising

Dan Reed muses about Bruce Springsteen's story of a firefighter's heroic effort to save survivors in one of the Twin Towers on 9/11.

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Janis Ian
Society's Child

Tracey Tanenbaum reports on Janis Ian's controversial song about an interracial-relationship recorded in the mid-60's.

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Billie Holiday
Strange Fruit

Tracey Tanenbaum reports on 1939 ballad about lynching made famous by Billie Holiday.

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Sun City

Bob Bumbera reports on Steven Van Zandt's 1985 tune intended to score a blow against Apartheid in South Africa.

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Bob Dylan
The Times They Are-A Changin'

Gene Shay reflects on his encounter with Bob Dylan and his impressions of this song.

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We Shall Overcome

Gene Shay reflects on the power of this old song in his life.

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Marvin Gaye
What's Going On

Tracey Tanenbaum reports on Marvin Gaye's seminal song "What's Going On," a tune that prescribed love as an antedote to a nation in turmoil.

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Which Side Are You On?

Gene Shay talks about this pro-union song penned by Florence Reece in 1931.

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John Coltrane
Alabama

In 1963 four black girls died in the racially motivated bombing of a Birmingham church. "Alabama" was John Coltrane's musical response.

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Big Bill Broonzy
Black, Brown & White

Jonny Meister reports on Big Bill Broonzy's 1947 song on racial discrimination.

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Bruce Springsteen
Born in the USA

Bob Bumbera says he misinterpreted the meaning behind Bruce Springsteen's 1984 tune. It turns out he wasn't the only one.

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Leadbelly
Bourgeois Blues

Jonny Meister reports on Leadbelly's 1938 song written after the bluesman, Alan Lomax and their wives tried to find a restaurant willing to seat the interracial foursome.

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Billy Bragg

Tracey Tanenbaum speaks with one of contemporary Britain's most iconic political songwriters.

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Rage Against the Machine
Bulls on Parade

Jim McGuinn reports on "Bulls on Parade", Rage Against the Machine's ferocious 1996 denouncement of the military industrial complex.

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Sam Cooke
A Change is Gonna Come

Gene Shay talks about Sam Cooke's first stab at a civil rights song.

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The Clash
The Clash

Mojo magazine declared The Clash's 1977 self-titled debut "the ultimate punk protest album" and "searingly evocative of dreary late '70s Britain, but still timelessly inspiring". Jim McGuinn discusses the album's powerful screeds ("Police and Thieves", "I'm So Bored with the USA", "White Riot" and more) and its enduring legacy.

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Woody Guthrie
Deportee

Tracey Tanenbaum talks to Jeb Loy Nichols about the Woody Guthrie tune "Deportee" and his own attempts at writing protest songs.

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Tracy Chapman
Fast Car

Helen Leicht talks about Tracy Chapman's 1988 tune, a profile of generational poverty.

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Public Enemy
Fight the Power

Dan Reed talks about Public Enemy's politically hard hitting song featured in Spike Lee's 1989 movie Do the Right Thing.

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Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fortunate Son

Helen Leicht reports on the origins of John Fogerty's anti-Vietnam song.

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Bob Marley
Get Up Stand Up

Jim McGuinn discusses the power of Bob Marley's "Get Up Stand Up", a call for personal empowerment across the globe and in particular to Rastafarians. It is also a testament to fundamental Rastafarian beliefs. "Get Up, Stand Up" was the last song Marley ever performed on stage, on September 23, 1980 at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Tom Robinson
Glad to be Gay

Michaela Majoun reports on the inspiration for Tom Robinson's 1978 gay rights anthem.

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John Lennon
Imagine

Helen Leicht reports on John Lennon's iconic and subversive call for peace.

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Iraq Medley

Bob Bumbera offers a sampling of songs that have come out in opposition to the war in Iraq.

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James Brown
King Heroin

Jonny Meister talks about James Brown's gorgeous 1972 song, a precursor to rap. It addressed the deadly addiction in the form of metaphor.

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Jackson Browne
Lives in the Balance

Michaela Majoun reports on Jackson Browne's 1986 album - his response to the policies of the Reagan administration.

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Grandmaster Flash &
the Furious Five
The Message

Jim McGuinn turns his attention to one of hip-hop's earliest anthems of unrest, "The Message", a searing portrait of the hopelessness of inner-city life.

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