My second list is of ten of my favorite “conservative” songs. Frankly, it was harder to come up with ten conservative songs than ten liberal songs by a wide margin. For the purposes of this list, I will count a song as conservative if I deem it to espouse a conservative agenda or conservative values. Among other things, this could include cries against government intervention in the realm of economic policy, an affinity for the “tried-and-true” traditional view of values, a hawkish view on war and foreign policy, and concerns about individual liberty and freedom. Here it is:
“Taxman” by The Beatles
This one instantly came to mind when making this list. The Beatles certainly made some music that could have been on my liberal music list, but there's nothing more conservative than a song railing against a 95% marginal tax rate.
“Revolution” by The Beatles
This one might be a controversial selection... but I believe a close examination of the lyrics finds the piece to warn against revolutions and change merely for the sake of change.
“The Trees” by Rush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHEcIbhDiw
Rush is my favorite band of all time, by far. I'm including the link because this song is not as commonly played as some of the others. I'm just going to post the lyrics on this one without further comment, as the metaphor is pretty heavy-handed:
“The trouble with the maples,
And they're quite convinced they're right...
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled.
As the maples scream 'Oppression!'
And the oaks just shake their heads.
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
'The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light.'
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.”
“Something For Nothing” by Rush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=096LhjGNNCk
“You can't have something for nothing,
You can't have freedom for free.
You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dreams might be.”
A very conservative view towards welfare. Whereas Bruce Hornsby blames the rich for keeping the poor down in “The Way It Is”, Rush says that it's the poor's own fault.
“Red Barchetta” by Rush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAvQSkK8Z8U
Based on a short story in where the future is regulated by environmental nuts and safety nazis. The protagonist fights the laws by driving a really, really fast awesome car—the type that is considered too unsafe and too polluting in the future. Good tune.
“I Fought The Law” by The Bobby Fuller Four (among countless others)
“I fought the law, and the law won.” This is why you should respect authority figures.
“Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” by Toby Keith
I'm listing this as a representative of every post-9/11 country song that advocated scorched-earth diplomacy on the people who attacked us.
“Justice will be served,
And the battle will rage.
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage.
You’ll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass,
It's the American way!”
“Janie's Got a Gun” by Aerosmith
As the saying goes, “God created men and women... Samuel Colt made them equal.” I'm being somewhat tongue-in-cheek here, but this song does advocate Second Amendment freedoms as a way for women to escape abuse.
“My City Was Gone” by the Pretenders
This song could have made either list. Obviously, the Pretenders meant for it to be an environmental anthem, but it could also be taken as conservative's hesitation to embrace government-sponsored change. Because Rush Limbaugh commandeered the tune for his show's theme song, I'm putting it here.
“Won't Get Fooled Again” by The Who
I need a tenth song. Obviously, I think the Who would probably bristle at this song's inclusion on this list, but it is a cynical look at revolution and societal change in general.
It's harder to point to “conservative” songs as having an effect on the general public. When songs advocate sticking with tried-and-true traditional values, well... it is difficult to give them credit for keeping things the same.
I should also note at this point that many of the songs on this list were made by artist who could very well have a lot of songs on the other list, as well. Also, there are many songs that can be twisted to fit an alternate agenda. Three songs immediately come to mind when I mention this: “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen, “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and “Pink Houses” by John Mellencamp. All three pieces are examples of songs that sound patriotic on the surface. “Fortunate Son” was heavily edited by Wrangler in an attempt to sell jeans. Ronald Reagan famously wanted to use “Born in the U.S.A.” in his 1984 presidential reelection campaign. “Pink Houses” was used by John McCain in the 2008 election until Mellencamp asked McCain's campaign to stop using the piece, stating that his personal views were at odds with McCain's and that the song was being taken out of context.
All three of these songs can be made to be patriotic on the surface, but a closer examination of the lyrics indicate that all three are in fact protests against the American system. In one sense, the personal beliefs of the artist become almost irrelevant, and independent actors in the media can use it to whatever ends they deem necessary.
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