Take Five: Protest Songs from Beyond the “Protest Era”

Music as a vehicle for protest has a long and proud history. During the McCarthy era of the 1950s and the civil rights era of that and the following decade, folk artists used songwriting as a means of shining a light on important social issues. During the Vietnam War, artists in rock – and in fact across the musical spectrum – worked protest into their music. Today, those periods in history are the ones most readily associated with protest anthems. But the tradition of using music to communicate heartfelt and strongly-held views has been with us before and after those tumultuous years. Here are five protest songs from eras other than the ‘50s and ‘60s. They show that the social consciousness and rebellious spirit of musical artists endures – and will continue to endure – through the ages.

“God Save the Queen” from Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
While some viewed Sex Pistols’ music as designed merely to shock and offend, their songs often had more depth than might first appear. “God Save the Queen” was a protest against what the band members saw as the British government’s mistreatment of the country’s working class. The single – which was banned by the BBC – followed another protest song, the equally strident “Anarchy in the U.K.” While nearly a half century later the music might seem less abrasive than it once did, the song’s sentiments are as sharp as ever.

“Beds Are Burning” from Midnight Oil’s Diesel and Dust (1987)
Singer, songwriter and band leader Peter Garrett co-wrote “Beds Are Burning” with his Midnight Oil band mates to protest what the group saw as the Australian government’s mistreatment of Aboriginal communities, including removing them from their ancestral lands. The song would be but one of many Midnight Oil songs to put forth social commentary, and it would be a massive international hit, climbing to the No. 1 spot in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. “Beds Are Burning” made it to No. 6 in Australia, and No. 17 in the U.S.

“Zombie” from The Cranberries’ No Need to Argue (1994)
Written during The Troubles in Ireland, The Cranberries’ “Zombie” concerns the death of two children (and injury of more than 50 other persons) at the hands of a bombing attack in 1993. While the song focuses specifically upon the contentious situation in Northern Ireland, singer Dolores O’Riordan’s lyrics apply as an indictment of senseless violence the world over. The music and message of “Zombie” resonated around the globe: released as a single, the song reached Top Ten in nearly 20 countries, claiming the top spot in seven of those.

“Land of Hope and Dreams” by Bruce Springsteen (2000)
A patriotic song extolling the best values of American culture, “Land of Hope and Dreams” is filled with the vivid lyrical imagery for which Bruce Springsteen is best known. The song was first released on a various artists charity album in 2000, again in a live version on a 2001 concert DVD, and most recently in 2025 on an EP of the same name. In the newest version – recorded live in Manchester, England – Springsteen speaks to the audience about the current U.S. president, calling him “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous.” Which he fucking is.

“Holiday” from Green Day’s American Idiot (2005)
Though Green Day got their start as a punk band with a pop sensibility, by the time of their seventh studio album, the group was taking on more ambitious projects; the critically-acclaimed (and Grammy-winning) American Idiot is a concept album about American disillusionment. The album and its songs would become staples of the band’s live set for years to come. During a performance at the Coachella Festival in April 2025, the band changed the song’s lyric: instead of “redneck agenda,” Billie Joe Armstrong sang “MAGA agenda,” a direct criticism of the current White House occupant and his legion of followers.