Songs about historical events (1 Viewer)

[Jack]

I was just listening to 'Johnny Horton's Greatest Hits' and was inspired to have a look at the internet to see what his background was and found a reference to a craze for ballads with historical themes. Horton sang, amongst others, 'Sink The Bismark', 'The Battle of New Orleans', 'Commanche (The Brave Horse)' and 'Jim Bridger' and I wondered if there were other songs about historical events that are on our turntables as I write? Johnny Cash sang 'Remember the Alamo' which I always liked.

 

[johnnybach]

Battle of new Orleans - by Johnny Horton - also covered in the UK by Lonnie Donegan

then there's Waterloo by ABBA..............Battle of Brisbane by the Pogues - should suit you Jack.....................etc

 

[ChrisTay]

Jack,

I love the Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Not sure if this is what you meant but it is about the America South and the Civil War. But, certainly, it is always nice watching them play this on "The Last Waltz".

Rgds,Chris

 

[jazzeum]

Jack,

I wasn't sure if you were looking for songs recounting historical events written contemporaneously or subsequently written (such as the Horton songs). If written contemporaneously, Battle Hymn of the Republic comes to mind.

If not, one of my favorites when I was a teenager was Snoopy vs the Red Baron. Not really truly historical I suppose but enjoyable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtJ1Gnh9wPU

 

[GICOP]

One of my favourites

Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fo0avSQ6pi4

 

[GICOP]

Closely followed by...

White cross on Okinawa - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=EGRoaWSIcfw

 

[Rob]

'Aces High' by Iron Maiden is about the Battle of Britain. And I've a feeling Michelle Shocked once did a song about the ACW???

Rob

 

[ChrisTay]

"The Ballad of Ira Hayes" as covered by Johnny Cash.

 

[jazzeum]

One of my favourites

Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=fo0avSQ6pi4

A Bob Wills fan. I'm impressed ^&cool^&cool

 

[theBaron]

I can't believe none of you hosers has mentioned Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", eh.

Prost!
Brad

 

[GICOP]

A Bob Wills fan. I'm impressed ^&cool^&cool

Here's another Brad :salute::

Smoke on the Water - Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lmzN5-7699Q

 

[johnnybach]

Historical Event - The Great Fire of London

Song - We Didn't Start the Fire! - Billy Joel

What?{eek3}

 

[trooper]

Wir fahren gegen England...."Blitzi" Hitler and the Wehrmachts

 

[johnnybach]

Ferry Interesting - mein her.....


Zulu - Song of the Warriors.

Sung by the Zulus before a battle - to honour those who are about to die - and dignify them. They don't like it up 'em, you know!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx7KzuXz4AM&feature=player_detailpage#t=1s

 

[GICOP]

SHANGANI PATROL - John Edmond

Had to pick this one {bravo}}

I have the Mick Taylor version on 45rpm {bravo}}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HRfJIa0oJmY

 

[johnnybach]

Wir fahren gegen England...."Blitzi" Hitler and the Wehrmachts

Thought that was by Adolf and the Henchmen, Trooper?^&confuse

 

[ChrisTay]

Springtime for Hitler from Mel Brooks' The Producers

Have fun!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K08akOt2kuo

 

[waynepoo]

The Yellow Rose of Texas by Hoyt Axton and John Hartford from the Civil War Doco is just magical.
Wayne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoPQqPJ7fbQ

 

[Jack]

Battle of new Orleans - by Johnny Horton - also covered in the UK by Lonnie Donegan

then there's Waterloo by ABBA..............Battle of Brisbane by the Pogues - should suit you Jack.....................etc

Yes ... the Battle of Brisbane. Mel Gibson's stirring speech in Braveheart might well have be drawn from the battle between US and Australian servicemen in Brisbane. You ....can ... take ...our ... lives ... but ... you ... cannot ...take ... our ... w -o - m - e - n!

 

[Jack]

Jack,

I wasn't sure if you were looking for songs recounting historical events written contemporaneously or subsequently written (such as the Horton songs). If written contemporaneously, Battle Hymn of the Republic comes to mind.

If not, one of my favorites when I was a teenager was Snoopy vs the Red Baron. Not really truly historical I suppose but enjoyable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtJ1Gnh9wPU

Snoopy versus the Red Baron is indeed a classic. Does anyone remember the 'Get Smart' episode when Agent 86 flew a Camel against Siegfried?

As for The Battle Hymn of the Republic - one of the truly great pieces of music. On a three month trip around Europe in my youth - you know the kind, you go to find 'yourself' and you spend half your time trying to find a toilet - I bought a two volume history of the ACW - 'The Blue and the Gray' by Henry Steele Commager. It still sits on my shelf all these years later. At the end of Vol. 1 it recounts a story concerning a chaplain of the 122nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in Libby Prison and word came of a great Union defeat which demoralised the prisoners. Eventually word came that the Battle of Gettysburg was, in fact, a victory. The Chaplain stood in the middle of the room , and sang aloud "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord" and then, unsurprisingly, the prison echoed to the sounds of "Glory, glory, hallelujah" as the other prisoners joined in. Lincoln wept when he heard the story.

I suspect 'The Star Spangled Banner' should join the list as well!