Songs with social and/or political messages;

1.) "No Shelter" by Rage Against the Machine

The main attraction - distraction

got ya number than number than numb

Empty ya pockets son; they got you thinkin that

What ya need is what they sellin

Make you think that buyin is rebellin

From the theaters to malls on every shore

The thin line between entertainment and war

The frontline is everywhere, there be no shelter here

Speilberg the nightmare works so push it far

Amistad was a whip, the truth was feathered and tarred

Memory erased, burned and scarred

Trade in ya history for a VCR

Cinema, simulated life, ill drama

Fourth Reich culture - Americana

Chained to the dream they got ya searchin for

The thin line between entertainment and war

There be no shelter here

The frontline is everywhere

Hospitals not profit full

Yet market bulls got pockets full

To advertise some hip disguise

View the world from American eyes

The poor adore keep fiendin for more

The thin line between entertainment and war

They fix the need, develop the taste

Buy their products or get laid to waste

Coca-Cola is back in the veins of Saigon

And Rambo too, he got a dope pair of Nikes on

And Godzilla pure mothaf***** filler

To keep ya eyes off the real killer

Cinema, simulated life, ill drama

Fourth Reich culture - Americana

Chained to the dream they got ya searchin for

The thin line between entertainment and war

American eyes, American eyes....

View the world from American eyes

Bury the past, rob us blind

And leave nothin behind

Just stare

Relive the nightmare.

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Analysis- I think that the overall main idea with this song is about the government and American views of money. The first few lines are pertaining to the world of advertising and buying and selling. It talks about how we are pulled in by ads and we are so convinced that we need this and that. In reality we don't need any of it. The sales world has a way of making you think that you need the newest of all things. "The thin line between entertainment and war." All America cares about nowadays is money and worth. Money buys happiness. We become so consumed in the media that we think more about other people's lives and every day things that we seem to forget who we were and where we came from. Our past is in the past and we drown out any memories through entertianment. Money buys happiness. The goverment makes you think that buying this item and that item it will make us happier. In reality, with or without it we are still the same. Sure it may make us happier at the time, maybe a few days, maybe even a few months. However as time goes by you won't remember how that item made you feel because there will be a newer and better something to hold you over. "The front line is everywhere." That phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the song. It's like an equation. If entertianment is like war, then what is the frontline? The answer is simple. The frontline is the media. You cannot escape the media no matter how hard you try. Everywhere you turn the people of America are drowning themselves in the media and it runs their lives.

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2.) "Ran Away to the Top of The World Today" by O.A.R.

I don't know nothing, i don't know a thing

But if i just keep on listening, together we'll sing

I've been walking for about a thousand years

And my feet are tired of crying all those painful tears

And my sight is going blind and my soul is way down low

But i haven't seen a thing, so that's all i can know

I said cause i don't know nothing, i don't know a thing

But if i just keep on listening, together we'll sing

I've been drinking to drown away my tears

And i'm sick of all the violence and i'm sick of all the fears

But i'm moving down the road, true i'm moving kind of slow

But i haven't heard a thing, so that's all i can know

Said cause i don't know nothing, ya'll don't know a thing

But if we just keep on listening, together we'll sing

I don't think that it's going that good today

I can't take my eyes off of the rain

And everybody's running away

Well i don't think that it's going that good today

Can't take my eyes off of the rain

And everybody's running away

I ran away to the top of the world today

I've been crying and losing lots of sleep

Cause the roads are getting longer

Winter snows come kinda deep

But i still will move along

And i still can feel the sun

And i see or hear a thing

And i'll break into a run

Said cause i don't know nothing, ya'll don't know a thing

But if we just keep on listening, together we'll sing

I don't think that it's going that good today

I can't take my eyes off of the rain

And everybody's going insane

Well i don't think that it's going that good today

I can't take my eyes off of the rain

Everybody's running away

I ran away to the top of the world today

I ran away to the top of the world today

Ran away top of the world today

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Analysis- Overall, this song is about trying to drown out and ignore the pain that has been going on in his life. In my opinion I feel as if he is referring to that in the media and/or that in which he sees on a daily basis. In a way whoever the narrator is seems like a total mess. He describes his feet being tired from carrying all of his tears. Also, whatever he has been going through is making him feel like he is a "thousand" years old. This seems as if he can't get away from the bad and it is just eating at him and breaking him down. The phrase that keeps being repeated is "I don't know nothing, I don't know a thing, but if i keep on listening, together we'll sing." He feels that while alone in this battle, he feels worthless and ignorant. He knows nothing at all. However with people in the same situation surround him, he feels better about it and knows he is not alone. He also feels that if they stick together they will all "sing", or make it together. His tactics for trying to rid himself of his pain is through alcohol. The violence and fears get to him so much that he's at the point where he is having a hard time sleeping and now he wants to leave. Slowly he is making his way out of this mess. He also feels that as he moves slowly down the "roads", these roads are getting longer and longer as he goes. By saying ******************************************************

Imagery;

1.) "Revolution Blues" by Neil Young

Well, we live in a trailer

at the edge of town

You never see us

'cause we don't come around.

We got twenty five rifles

just to keep the population down.

But we need you now,

and that's whyI'm hangin' 'round.

So you be good to me

and I'll be good to you,

And in this land of conditions

I'm not above suspicion

I won't attack you,

but I won't back you.

Well, it's so good to be here,

asleep on your lawn.

Remember your guard dog?

Well, I'm afraid that he's gone.

It was such a drag to hear him whining all night long.

Yes, that was me with the doves,

setting them free near the factory

Where you built your computer, love.

I hope you get the connection,

'cause I can't take the rejection

I won't deceive you,

I just don't believe you.

Well, I'm a barrel of laughs, with my carbine on

I keep 'em hoppin', till my ammunition's gone.

But I'm still not happy, I feel like there's something wrong.

I got the revolution blues,

I see bloody fountains,

And ten million dune buggies comin' down the mountains.

Well, I hear that Laurel Canyonis full of famous stars,

But I hate them worse than lepers and I'll kill them in their cars.

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Analysis- Overall the use of imagery found in this song is very good. To fully understand the meaning and what was going on I found myself reading the song over and over again. The entire song is about war. The beginning of the song sets that tone for you. It describes where the soldiers live off in their own section, but still near the enemy civilians. The narrator is asking them if they can me mutual. He isn't necessarily asking for help from them, but he asks that he be "good" to them. The narrator also goes on to say that he does not trust anyone and that no one is safe from his suspicion.

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2.) "War Song" by O.A.R.

Oh my God, tell me this won't last forever

Tell me that I'm not alone

Tell me this will come together now

Packed my thing up just the other day

Said my goodbyes to all these things I've saved

Out in the driveway, we laugh under the moon

Among my friends for now, but I'll be leaving soon

Many days from now, I'm sure

I'll be back among your graces

And with you I won't pretend

No, not at all

Crack the morning

Up and running quick

No sleep again last night but that's the way it is

Out in the open under broken skies

I feel every footstep

I see everybody's eyes

Oh and this is summer in another world

Far from the driveway and my baby girl

Soon comes the winter

With it quiet nights

Darker days and darker fights

But many days from now, I'm sure

I'll be back among your faces

And with you I won't pretend

No, not at all

Oh the fever is burning

Over at midnight but never like this

Hot under their fire

The stars are all falling but never like this

I hope you never see this

Wait, wait for my love

Don't forget me, never let me go

If you wait, wait for my love

I'll remember, never let you go

Until I'm fine, fine, fine

Until I'm fine, fine, fine

To be back in my room

I have the same dream every night

Just me among my things

No one else is there

There's no one left to fight

Just me among my things

Many nights from now, I know

I'll be back among your graces

Until then I'll just pretend

That I'm not cold

Oh my God, tell me this won't last forever

Tell me that I'm not alone

Tell me this will come together

Oh my God, you know

Wait, wait for my love

Don't forget me, never let me down

And just wait, wait for my love

I'll remember, every one of you

Just wait, wait for my love

Until I'm fine, fine, fine

Until I'm fine, fine, fine

I'll be fine, fine, fine

I'll be fine, fine, fine

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Analysis-

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