20 Greatest Songs That Said F*** You To Authority

Records that just didn't care...

Sex Pistols God Save The Queen There is surely no more appropriate medium than music for spreading a hard-hitting message far and wide. Even if not always tasteful (we're looking at you, Morrissey), it cannot be denied that by and large, music is a peaceful form of protest. Political expression and music have gone hand-in-hand for decades, and this is seen across many cultures throughout the world. Particularly common in rock music - especially in punk rock - are anti-establishment themes, while reggae artists are renowned for dealing with racial tension and segregation. Other more specific political messages can also be told through song; Bob Dylan was a master of the political narrative, for example, often pursuing justice through his lyrics. Past musicians have even been deemed 'political' by cultural association, regardless of political content. Take The Beatles, who were heavily censored by authorities in much of Eastern Europe and The Soviet Union, whereas their music became symbolic of social change and progress in the West. For clarity, we've chosen songs that are fairly transparent in their content and easily recognisable as political. Not only are all of these songs brilliant in their own right, they all serve up a musical middle finger to the man - a real "F*** you" to the authority.
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Contributor

Recent English graduate and Newcastle United nut. Rom-Com enthusiast, Bob Dylan fan-boy and expert poacher of eggs.