Paul McCartney and his songs of protest

Five... or ten minutes. The tune is catchy but lyrics are so bad it sounds like a "tongue in cheek" protest song.

 

Freedom!

Then:
Ebony And Ivory
Give Ireland Back To The Irish
Looking For Changes
(From the poll)

 

OK OK! Sheesh.

 

I'm sure it's been posted before but the scene with Paul and Eric Clapton backstage showing Paul teaching Eric the chords and feel for the song is simply embarrassing to watch.

 

His lyric book had a pretty pointed one called "Jerk of All Jerks." Don't think it was ever set to music tho.

 

So what specifically is Blackbird protesting then? The metaphor involved does not protest. It's asking one to rise out of pain and suffering. Socially conscious yes, protest no.
Southern Man by Neil Young is a protest song on the same subject. Pretty big difference in approach.

And for the record 'Strange Fruit' is also not a protest song. It's a song painting, about something oh so dreadful.

 

I don't like the song at all, but I gotta respect it as perhaps the bounciest, most family-friendly f-you ever recorded.

 

Wild Life might be a contender.

 

Sssttttttrrrrreeeeetttttttttttttccccchhhhhhhhhhh...........

 

Long Leather Coat, man. What a great piece of subtle protest work. But not too subtle.

 

I like "Big Boys Bickering" - so harsh (Paul said the controversial choice of lyrics suited his feelings precisely), yet musically, so pleasant!

 

Try not to take everything posted on the forum without a sense of humor.
You might pull a muscle.

 

Voted for "Give Ireland Back To The Irish", but would have much preferred to vote for "Calico Skies" as well...like the others you included here too!

 

We must agree to disagree my friend, because I don't share your definition of a protest song. In my opinion, a protest song doesn't have to specifically call for change in order to qualify as a protest song; instead it can highlight a hideous event in a metaphoric way (like Strange Fruits) or it can be a call for hope through the pain (like Blackbird).

 

Thanks for taking care of the humor for me!!

 

I'd give a nod to "Cow."

 

Give Ireland back to the Irish. Just thought of something interesting.... In an alternate universe with the Beatles still being together in 1972, it would have been cool to have a standalone single: Give Ireland back to the Irish b/w John's Luck of the Irish.