10 Greatest Anti-war Songs In Rock
1. Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
Put aside the lyrics to this song for a moment. The guitar playing is on point and the opening riff is indicative of 1960s rock. Neil Young is celebrated as a great songwriter, but his guitar playing should get more credit.
The lyrics were not directly related to the Vietnam War. However, they were a reaction to the American government's treatment of its own citizens who opposed the conflict. During a 1970 anti-war protest at Kent State University, a contingent of the American National Guard opened fire on groups of students who had gathered to make their feelings known.
Four students were killed and more were wounded. The event caused national outcry and prompted Neil Young to the pen the lyrics to one of the defining songs of the era. Young openly named President Nixon in the track as being complicit in the tragedy; a move that subsequently resulted in the song's banning by a number of radio stations.
It's a song that captured the mood in America during the late '60s and early '70s. The political rift was huge, the war had divided opinion to the point Americans were killing Americans, and many felt a sense of hopelessness. You can hear all this in Young's voice. It's a haunting number.