From history books to your ears! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down the greatest songs that drew inspiration from, or directly retold, important historical events. Our countdown of songs inspired by historical events includes “Hurricane”, “I Don’t Like Mondays”, “Ohio”, and more! Do you agree with our list? What are some of your favorite songs inspired by historical events?
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36 comments
Do you agree with our list? What are some of your favorite songs inspired by historical events?
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Some more honorable mentions:
Peter Gabriel – "Biko" (the violent death of South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in police custody [1977])
P.O.D. – "Youth of the Nation" (Columbine High School massacre [1999])
Owl City – "January 28, 1986" (the Challenger disaster [1986])
Pink Floyd – "A Great Day for Freedom" (the fall of the Berlin Wall [1989])
Marillion – "Estonia" (the sinking of MS Estonia in the Baltic Sea [1994])
Could have done a Top Ten Historical Iron Maiden songs 🤘🤷♂️🤘
Should at Least "We didn't start the fire be in honarble mention?😂"
Australia has "From Little Things Big Things Grow", co-written by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody, recorded separately by both of them and covered by many other artists. It narrates the strike and occupation by the Gurindji First Nations people, led by their elder Vincent Lingiari, against the Vestey's pastoral company from 1966 until 1974, and the eventual success of the Gurindji action in securing the granting of land rights to them by the Federal Government of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, with Whitlam symbolically pouring a handful of sand from the land through the hands of Vincent Lingiari.
Can’t believe that people are STILL lying about the demonstrations at Kent State.
Empty Garden by Elton John, about the murder of Lennon.
What about where were you when the world stopped turning by Alan Jackson which was about the twin towers falling
How do you not include Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” on this list??👀
Pogues – Lorca's Novena
"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" – Elton John
(John Lennon's assassination)
"Candle in the Wind" – Elton John
(Marilyn Monroe's and Princess Diana's deaths)
"Rooster" – Alice in Chains
(Vietnam War)
"The Rising" – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
(9/11)
5:16. Heard that song. Thought "Who are Frank Zappa and the Mothers"?
Best rabbit hole ever
Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning, and Have You Forgotten, should have been listed because they are about the 9/11 attacks.
I adore Bread and Roses by Judy Collins, about the shirtwaist fire tragedy.
Plenty of better history-based music just in Iron Maiden's discography, or each of Sabaton's albums. Seriously, the events were memorable and important, but the music? LOL.
Would’ve added Fernando by ABBA about the Mexican Revolution
Buffalo Springfield "For What It's Worth" – you could pretty much do a Top 20 just with Dylan songs – but really, no love shown to "The Battle Of New Orleans." Guess you guys are the who that never heart Horton.
Irish Republican Army…not Revolutionary
The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
I only remember I don’t like Mondays, Zombie, Sunday Bloody Sunday and American Pie.
Meredith Brooks "I'm a B$tch" about kamala
The R in IRA stood for Republican not revolutionary, just fyi fire your research people lol.
Wind of Change by Scorpions?
Enola Gay – OMD
Can never take Sublime seriously – won't listen to them now. Get a date right or don't record it. Bunch of amateurs.
Biko by Peter Gabriel
Sabaton? they have only historic songs…
If not Billy Joel, The Farms Altogether Now 1990 about the 1914 Xmas truce?
Wasn’t as much of an historical event, but Jeremy is good honorable mention 🤙
I would have put Maiden's "Alexander the Great" on this list. That's one of their best songs.
WHERE THE HELL IS SABATON???
ALL of their songs are about historical events and people from all over the world. "To Hell and Back" and "82nd All the Way" are both about 2 different American soldiers, "Primo Victoria" is about D-day (WWII), "Uprising" is about the Polish resistance trying to take back Warsaw from the Nazis (1944) and "A Lifetime of War" is about the 30-years war in Europe (1600s).
We Didn't Start the Fire – Billy Joel, literally so many topics covered in that song!
For What It's Worth – Buffalo Springfield, protesting the Vietnam War
August 7, 415 by Bon Jovi (not historical but significant)
The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton
Sink the Bismark by Johnny Horton
Where were you when the world stopped turning by Alan Jackson
What about George Harrison – Bangla Desh
You forgot,I was only 19 ( A walk in the green light) it's about the Aussies in the Vietnam war
You could fill up a top 30 of Sabaton songs about historical events. Almost all of their catalog has historical lyrics.
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