Powerfull Songs

Have you heard any songs that just jump out at you? I recently found this one about the Irish Brigade and a little bit about the situation in Northern Ireland.

Please accept my apologies about the image, I did not make it.

The song is ok.The image is a bit pointless especially since the song is about the American civil war.

You can all look these songs up yourself.

A Day In The Life - The Beatles
The Crystal Ship - The Doors
Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
Epitaph - King Crimson
Little Wing - Derek and the Dominos

Interesting story behind it actually.

Following a visit to Ireland in 1980, Carl Funk, a young singer-songwriter from Seattle, felt compelled to write this song, expressing his vision of Ireland's tragedies and hopes, presenting it to me in basic form upon his return. Originally, the song's protagonist was "Captain Farrell," the same name from the old Irish folk-song "Whiskey In The Jar," which Carl had learned on the trip. I thought the song was brilliant, but thought that we ought to find a different, previously unused name for the captain. Days later he called saying he had just seen the name "Taggart" on the side of a moving company's van, and wondered if the name might work. I looked into it--the name was indeed an Irish one, and worked beautifully. For my part I did minor work to the vocal melody, composed the instrumental sections, arranged of the song structure and harmonies, and we soon had a finished song. Neither Carl or I had any knowledge of the Irish Brigade of the American Civil War at this time.Eight years later we would learn of some very strange coincidences surrounding this song: First, that the uncommon, almost randomly chosen name turned out to have been a real person, of the same name and rank: Captain Samuel Taggart of Co. I, 116th PVI, Irish Brigade. Secondly, that he was as beloved by his men in real life as his fictional counterpart, and died on August 25th, 1864, at the battle of Ream's Station, VA, in the same manner as described in the song. Lastly, that eight years later I would unknowingly join the reenactment company portraying Taggart's men, and finally be made aware of these bizarre coincidences. Initially, I debated using the song on the album, as my purpose was to present a collection of only period songs of the Irish in the Civil War. I soon came to the conclusion that there seemed to be some unearthly forces at work with the song, compelling us to tell the world of Samuel Taggart's story, this being reason enough to justify putting it on the album. The song has become an anthem of sorts for the men in my company, and I don't think they would have ever forgiven me if I hadn't.

This is how I want to be.

Probably the ultimate song

Seriously when i first heard this song i nearlly cried with joy.

Love - You Set the Scene
Beach Boys - Surf's Up
Chapterhouse - Treasure
Slowdive - Souvlaki Space Station
My Bloody Valentine - Soon
Swervedriver - Last Train to Satansville

I'm not completely sure what you mean by 'powerful', these songs were chosen because of their gravity.

Electric Funeral

Black Sabbath.

The ultimate anti-nuclear song.


And War Pigs
The ultimate anti-war song


Listen to them!!

Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Required listening for any would-be warmongers.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Now when I was a young man I carried me pack
And I lived the free life of the rover.
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback,
Well, I waltzed my Matilda all over.
Then in 1915, my country said, "Son,
It's time you stop ramblin', there's work to be done."
So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun,
And they marched me away to the war.

And the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
As the ship pulled away from the quay,
And amidst all the cheers, the flag waving, and tears,
We sailed off for Gallipoli.

And how well I remember that terrible day,
How our blood stained the sand and the water;
And of how in that hell that they call Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.
Johnny Turk, he was waitin', he primed himself well;
He showered us with bullets, and he rained us with shell --
And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us all to hell,
Nearly blew us right back to Australia.

But the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
When we stopped to bury our slain,
Well, we buried ours, and the Turks buried theirs,
Then we started all over again.

And those that were left, well, we tried to survive
In that mad world of blood, death and fire.
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
Though around me the corpses piled higher.
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head,
And when I woke up in me hospital bed
And saw what it had done, well, I wished I was dead --
Never knew there was worse things than dying.

For I'll go no more "Waltzing Matilda,"
All around the green bush far and free --
To hump tents and pegs, a man needs both legs,
No more "Waltzing Matilda" for me.

So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed,
And they shipped us back home to Australia.
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane,
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla.
And as our ship sailed into Circular Quay,
I looked at the place where me legs used to be,
And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me,
To grieve, to mourn and to pity.

But the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
As they carried us down the gangway,
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared,
Then they turned all their faces away.

And so now every April, I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me.
And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march,
Reviving old dreams of past glory,
And the old men march slowly, all bones stiff and sore,
They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask meself the same question.

But the band plays "Waltzing Matilda,"
And the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear
Someday, no one will march there at all.

Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda.
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong,
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?

Notes on the song.

The tide is turning - Roger Waters

Epitath - King Crimson (as already posted by Marquis de Sade )

Take this bottle - Faith No More

and my new favourite song

Journeyman - Iron Maiden

Tool-10,000 days, Vicarious
GnR-civil war
Dashboard Confessional-Stolen (I admit it, it tugs at the ol' heart strings)
Johnny Cash (NIN)-hurt

Well, not sure what "powerfull" means here.
Songs which keep ringing in my head:

Derek and the Dominos - Layla
Status Quo - In the army now
R.E.M. - Losing my religion
The Prototypes - Kaleidoscope

and so on...

Originally Posted by HansDuet

Status Quo - In the army now

No...really?

Abide with me. Almost makes me believe in god.

I visited the WWI sites near Ypres during the week, so this song seems all the more poignant.

have a listen to makeshift patriot by Sage Francis. nice, balanced account, complete poetry
x

I usually don't listen to a lot of music, though the music used in last year's "Gears of War" ad. was quite depressing:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...613&pr=goog-sl


(this song is extremely true)

Gollum's Song

ewwww, country.