Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rockin’ the Right - The 50 greatest conservative rock songs
National Review ^ | June 5, 2006 | John J. Miller

Posted on 05/25/2021 8:49:09 AM PDT by Alas Babylon!

NOTE: This is a fifteen year old article, but the songs are timeless

On first glance, rock ’n’ roll music isn’t very conservative. It doesn’t fare much better on second or third glance (or listen), either. Neil Young has a new song called “Let’s Impeach the President.” Last year, the Rolling Stones made news with “Sweet Neo Con,” another anti-Bush ditty. For conservatives who enjoy rock, it isn’t hard to agree with the opinion Johnny Cash expressed in “The One on the Right Is on the Left”: “Don’t go mixin’ politics with the folk songs of our land / Just work on harmony and diction / Play your banjo well / And if you have political convictions, keep them to yourself.” In other words: Shut up and sing.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; History; Hobbies; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: conservativesongs; music; oxymoron; rockandroll
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-118 next last
Song list:

1. “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” by The Who.

2. “Taxman,” by The Beatles.

3. “Sympathy for the Devil,” by The Rolling Stones.

4. “Sweet Home Alabama,” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

5. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” by The Beach Boys.

6. “Gloria,” by U2.

7. “Revolution,” by The Beatles.

8. “Bodies,” by The Sex Pistols.

9. “Don’t Tread on Me,” by Metallica.

10. “20th Century Man,” by The Kinks.

11. “The Trees,” by Rush.

12. “Neighborhood Bully,” by Bob Dylan.

13. “My City Was Gone,” by The Pretenders.

14. “Right Here, Right Now,” by Jesus Jones.

15. “I Fought the Law,” by The Crickets.

16. “Get Over It,” by The Eagles.

17. “Stay Together for the Kids,” by Blink 182.

18. “Cult of Personality,” by Living Colour.

19. “Kicks,” by Paul Revere and the Raiders.

20. “Rock the Casbah,” by The Clash.

21. “Heroes,” by David Bowie.

22. “Red Barchetta,” by Rush.

23. “Brick,” by Ben Folds Five.

24. “Der Kommissar,” by After the Fire.

25. “The Battle of Evermore,” by Led Zeppelin.

26. “Capitalism,” by Oingo Boingo.

27. “Obvious Song,” by Joe Jackson.

28. “Janie’s Got a Gun,” by Aerosmith.

29. “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Iron Maiden.

30. “You Can’t Be Too Strong,” by Graham Parker.

31. “Small Town,” by John Mellencamp.

32. “Keep Your Hands to Yourself,” by The Georgia Satellites.

33. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” by The Rolling Stones.

34. “Godzilla,” by Blue öyster Cult.

35. “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

36. “Government Cheese,” by The Rainmakers.

37. “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” by The Band.

38. “I Can’t Drive 55,” by Sammy Hagar.

39. “Property Line,” by The Marshall Tucker Band.

40. “Wake Up Little Susie,” by The Everly Brothers.

41. “The Icicle Melts,” by The Cranberries.

42. “Everybody’s a Victim,” by The Proclaimers.

43. “Wonderful,” by Everclear.

44. “Two Sisters,” by The Kinks.

45. “Taxman, Mr. Thief,” by Cheap Trick.

46. “Wind of Change,” by The Scorpions.

47. “One,” by Creed.

48. “Why Don’t You Get a Job,” by The Offspring.

49. “Abortion,” by Kid Rock.

50. “Stand By Your Man,” by Tammy Wynette.

1 posted on 05/25/2021 8:49:09 AM PDT by Alas Babylon!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

Read the descriptions. I disagreed with some (Sympathy for the Devil???), but the reasoning is semi-sound.

What’s you’re favorite conservative rock song?


2 posted on 05/25/2021 8:50:26 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! ("You, the American people, are my only special interest." --President Donald J. Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

“God and Guns” Lynyrd Skynyrd


3 posted on 05/25/2021 8:53:04 AM PDT by GOP_Party_Animal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

How about that one “You gotta fight for your right party!”

Am I missing a word?


4 posted on 05/25/2021 8:54:23 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!
Holiday in Cambodia by the Dead Kennedys
5 posted on 05/25/2021 8:55:36 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (This is not a tagline.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

The South’s Gonna Do It Again!............ Charlie Daniels.............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEKMED-_2QQ


6 posted on 05/25/2021 8:55:48 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

TO.................


7 posted on 05/25/2021 8:56:24 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBShN8qT4lk


8 posted on 05/25/2021 8:56:54 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

It’s more country than rock, but Hank’s “A Country Boy Can Survive” certainly belongs in the top five.

https://youtu.be/3cQNkIrg-Tk

Side comment #1: Thanks for giving us the entire list.
Side comment #2: At number 40, “Wake Up Little Susie”. Huh?


9 posted on 05/25/2021 8:58:00 AM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

10 years after, I’d love to change the world.


10 posted on 05/25/2021 8:58:53 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

How about “One for the Vine” by Genesis? Like many of their songs there are a LOT of lyrics, but it’s a very interesting story:

Fifty thousand men were sent to do the will of one.
His claim was phrased quite simply, though he never voiced it loud,
I am he, the chosen one.
In his name they could slaughter, for his name they could die.
Though many there were believed in him, still more were sure he lied,
But they’ll fight the battle on.

Then one whose faith had died
Fled back up the mountainside,
But before the top was made,
A misplaced footfall made him stray
From the path prepared for him.
Off of the mountain,
On to a wilderness of ice.

This unexpected vision made him stand and shake with fear,
But nothing was his fright compared with those who saw him appear.

Terror filled their minds with awe.
Simple were the folk who lived
Upon this frozen wave.
So not surprising was their thought,
This is he, God’s chosen one,
Who’s come to save us from
All our oppressors.
We shall be kings on this world.

Follow me!
I’ll play the game you want me,
Until I find a way back home.
Follow me!
I give you strength inside you,
Courage to win your battles -
No, no, no, this can’t go on,
This will be all that I fled from.
Let me rest for a while.

He walked into a valley,
All alone.
There he talked with water, and then with the vine.
They leave me no choice.
I must lead them to glory or most likely to death.

They traveled cross the plateau of ice, up to its edge.
Then they crossed a mountain range and saw the final plain.
Still he urged the people on.

Then, on a distant slope,
He observed one without hope
Flee back up the mountainside.
He thought he recognized him by his walk,
And by the way he fell,
And by the way he
Stood up, and vanished into air


11 posted on 05/25/2021 8:59:04 AM PDT by cuban leaf (We killed our economy and damaged our culture. In 2021 we will pine for the salad days of 2020.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

Silent Running


12 posted on 05/25/2021 8:59:15 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

I would have added

Born Free Kid Rock

Philadelphia Freedom Elton John


13 posted on 05/25/2021 8:59:43 AM PDT by shoedog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!
The Circle Jerks - When the $hit hits the fan
14 posted on 05/25/2021 9:00:42 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

there’s a whole lot of huh? here.


15 posted on 05/25/2021 9:02:02 AM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

You gotta to fight for your right party!


16 posted on 05/25/2021 9:02:08 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

“I Don’t Want Nobody ti Give Me Nothin’ (Open Up The Door and I’ll Get It Myself)” by James Brown


17 posted on 05/25/2021 9:02:20 AM PDT by CrosscutSaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

CONVOY by CW McCAll


18 posted on 05/25/2021 9:04:16 AM PDT by njslim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

“I Still Believe”, by The Call.


19 posted on 05/25/2021 9:04:49 AM PDT by ColoCdn (Nihil, sine deo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Alas Babylon!

Respect Yourself by The Staple Singers.

If you disrespect anybody
That you run in to
How in the world do you think
Anybody’s supposed to respect you?

If you don’t give a heck ‘bout the man
With the Bible in his hand
Just get out the way
And let the gentleman do his thing

You’re the kind of gentleman
That want everything your way
Take the sheet off your face, boy
It’s a brand new day

[Chorus]
Respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don’t respect yourself
Ain’t nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na, na, na, na
Respect yourself, respect yourself

[Verse 2]
If you’re walking ‘round
Thinkin’ that the world
Owes you something
‘Cause you’re here
You’re goin’ out
The world backwards
Like you did
When you first come here

Keep talkin’ ‘bout the president
Won’t stop air pollution
Put your hand o’er your mouth
When you cough, that’ll help the solution

Oh, you cuss around women folk
And you don’t even know their names
And you’re dumb enough to think
That’ll make you a big ol’ man

[Chorus]
Respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don’t respect yourself
Ain’t nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na, na, na, na
Respect yourself, respect yourself
Respect yourself, respect yourself


20 posted on 05/25/2021 9:05:05 AM PDT by FrogMom (Time marches on...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-118 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson