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There is a deep connection between our memories and our emotions; something about music, popular songs especially, strengthens this relationship. In a time of war, everything about the human experience is sharpened: fear, love, hate, regret, altruism, and a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves. All these feelings are reflected in the music of the day, and to the participants, permanently engrained in their psyches.
Apart from the Scots playing the bagpipes onto the battlefield, or the American Revolution spurring on its rag-tag army with fife and drums, certain songs have inspired men to do battle. The war to end all wars, better known as World War I, had an anthem for the soldiers from America. George Cohen’s Over There was on the lips of hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic and patriotic adventure-seekers, crowding onto troop ships bound for Europe: "…and we won’t come back ‘till it’s over over there!"
During this seemingly pointless conflict, there was a time where the German and Allied forces called an impromptu truce. It was on Christmas Eve, 1914. Both sides were firmly planted in their respective trenches, well within hearing distance of one another. After lighting candles, the Germans started to sing Stille Nacht and the Allies joined in with Silent Night. One thing lead to another on that sane evening, and a magical peace broke out on the bloody, pock-marked fields of France. There were similar occurrences in 1915 and 1916 as well. Unfortunately, the ones who do the killing in wars, are not the ones who make the rules.
It seems that music can also be part of the peace process. Nothing demonstrated this better than the Vietnam war. An undercurrent of opposition to this disastrous conflict started on the American campuses (where the students stood to lose more than the politicians), and spread to most of western society. Folk artists spearheaded the charge with the likes of Bob Dillon, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary. Phil Ochs started things off in 1965 with I Ain’t Marching Anymore. Other groups joined in the fray, including Country Joe and the Fish, The Byrds, CCR, Chicago and John Lennon. Anti-war became mainstream by the early ‘70s.
Was the Vietnam war ended because of the peace movement and its music? It’s hard to say - the war was probably un-winnable, anyway - but just as Over There helped to send soldiers into battle, Bring The Boys Home by Freda Payne surely helped to do just that.
The most destructive war in history was World War II. By the time the Americans entered after Pearl Harbor, there weren’t many communities in the world who weren’t profoundly effected by this conflict. Both sides understood the power of music as a motivator and even propaganda tool. Songs such as Der Fuehrer's Face by Spike Jones contained lyrics that belittled Hitler and his army. Since most countries were usually in range of the enemies public radio, broadcasts from the likes of Tokyo Rose, and Lord Haw-Haw were used to try and discourage the resolve of the average foot soldier or citizen.
Most popular music, however, was simply a reflection of the fears and aspirations of those who wanted the war to be over, and their loved ones returned safely. War does strange things to people, and I guess we all stop to appreciate what we have in times of great hardship. Maybe that’s why songs like We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn are so powerful for anyone around in the 1940s. I can guarantee you that my Dad will feel a tiny lump in his throat when he hears the song that forever defines a generation from Great Britain.
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