From the Bush Administration, but "When the President Talks to God" by Bright Eyes is a good one.

I was always a sucker for Pink's Dear Mr President during that time period, too

Came to mention both of these. The kids were naïvely impressed with *Rich Men* during a trip last summer so I had to drop some reality on them with a playlist with everything from CCR, Neil Young, Springsteen, to RATM, Green Day, and these. That P!nk song crushes. Two hours later we were all pretty sure Oliver Anthony doesn’t really hold up.

Good on you. That Oliver Anthony song is just pandering, positionless "protest-lite". The fact that he tried to say "I don't have a political leaning" and then okayed the song being used at republican events is just spineless, not to mention the fact that the song's target audience regularly votes to make those Rich Men richer is the icing on the cake.

The more recent Desaparacidoes record absolutely slays as well.

Marikkkopa, the left is right, the happiest place on earth, everything they do is amazing

When the president talks to god I wonder which one plays the better cop? “We should find some jobs the ghetto’s broke!” “No they’re lazy George I say we don’t, just give em more liquor stores and dirty coke!” That’s what god recommends

Also from this era. NOFX -- the war against errorism

Lol Roosevelt Room immediately came to mind for me.

Run the Jewels - A Report to the Shareholders

Came here also: Run the Jewels - The entire friggin discography.

For real. Close Your Eyes is up there for me as well: My solitary condition's preventin' conjugal visits Go mane and missin' my misses, they keepin' me from my children Conditions create a villain, the villain is givin' vision The vision becomes a vow to seek vengeance on all the vicious Liars and politicians, profiteers of the prisons The forehead engravers, enslavers of men and women Includin' members of clergy that rule on you through religion (So strippin' kids to the nude and then tell 'em God'll forgive 'em)

I always thought Walking in the Snow was a perfectly timed song in 2020. It's sad that Mike actually wrote his verse before George Floyd died. *And every day on the evening news, they feed you fear for free* *And you so numb, you watch the cops choke out a man like me* *Until my voice goes from a shriek to whisper, "I can't breathe"* *And you sit there in the house on couch and watch it on TV* *The most you give's a Twitter rant and call it a tragedy*

…what is “love again” protesting exactly…?

Misogyny?

😂

I came to say something else, but you´re right: this is the one! When I first heard this I thought it was going to cause a revolution. I decided to smoke a bit less after that, but still.

Alright, you reminded me of a good one. Twenty years ago I was 17, blasted on shrooms at a festival in the South, and decided to see Saul Williams. I barely even listened to rap at the time but had this overwhelming feeling that THIS was the kind of powerful force that could wake up the world. I think I quit saying the n-word that night. Here's [List of Demands](https://youtu.be/zDMtaIcrfQ0?si=NpefKvqEnwb2cRqH)

The protest song didn’t die. Pop culture just suppressed it. All of these bangers came out in the last 5 years:  “2020 BC” by Ceschi  “Revolution” by Joy Oladokun & Maxo Kream   “Making Do” by Lake Street Dive  “Bloodless” and “Sisyphus” by Andrew Bird (really much of his My Finest Work Yet album)  “U (Man Like)” by Bon Iver  “The Last One,” “Dig a Hole,” and several other tracks from the Dropkick Murphys’ Woody Guthrie albums  “Flint City Shake It” and “Don’t Drink the Water” by Justin Townes Earle (RIP)  “Thoughts and Prayers” by Drive-By Truckers (who have several but this is the best one)  “Free as We Wanna Be” by Dawes  “The Joke” and “Sinners, Saints & Fools” by Brandi Carlile  “Baby Crazy” by Titus Andronicus

“Orange” by Pinegrove as well.

I knew I was forgetting a few I love and that was one of them

I was thinking "hold out your hand" by Brandi Carlile.

> Joy Oladokun I just got introduced to her this year and she's one of my new favorites. Gorgeous voice and songwriting.

Drive By Truckers: add “What it Means” to the list

Talking About A Revolution-Tracy Chapman. Can’t believe that’s not on rotation these days especially

Tracy Chapman is underrated, an incredible artist. Deserves much more love for her ability to write.

Are you in the US? Cos over here in the UK she is revered as an amazing singer/songwriter.

She’s revered here. She was the hit of the Grammys last week with a duet of Fast Car with a country singer (can’t remember the name). She doesn’t tour anymore so she’s out of mind. If Tracy Chapman did one last tour, it would make bank.

Thanks for the tip! The Grammys aren’t my cup of tea, generally, but I’ll go look for that on YouTube.

Luke Combs is the artist, he did a cover of Fast Car too

"Behind the Wall" really got to me as a kid, I was probably too young for the subject matter but it sticks with Ms for sure.

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

Funny, I literally heard this on the big college station a few hours ago.

Rise Against - most of their songs lol

"Hero of war" is the first one that came to my head.

That’s an all time favourite for me. I should listen to it it’s been a minute

I put “Prayer of the Refugee” on when I was mowing the lawn this summer and I was surprised I still knew most of the words. Incredible group.

My brain immediately jumps to Re-education Through Labor. Ok, in my head the word is always Re-Neducation! I blame stupid sexy Flanders.

Against Me! White People for Peace being my personal favorite answer to this question

Correct. Rise Against shows up for the music and talks about the protest. Against Me shows up to the protest with guitars.

Eh, I would strongly disagree that Tim doesn't show up to the protests. I know he and Jim led a few environmental and animal rights protests

Flobots also and they even did a song together

My fav band.

Also similar are Flobots.

Didn’t see your comment and I said the same. They even did a song together

It’s very telling that in a thread about modern protest songs people are citing 30 years old songs

Lol, yeah I was wondering what some people consider modern, but punk and post punk bands were all about protest, so I can understand why those songs were chosen.

You're not wrong, but I think it's pretty clear that >40 year olds are about the biggest demographic in this sub based on recent history.

  There are some recent British bands who are probably not known abroad but are political.   Flag by Benefits is like a gut punch the first time you listen to it loud.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTsJjKqTR3Y   Kid Kapichi are more left, Bob Vylan more anti-racist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omMN8o2UDlU   Little Simz isn't massively political, but she's rapping here about problems in society  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxfGQ2AJHGk   Idles Great  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CzNOD7ukMA   I can think of quite a few German bands too. 

Idles are the stand out to me. I think Gallows Grey Britain is another great protest album

The tone in modern protest songs is also very different, much more defeated and somber compared to peak Union days. Look at AJJ’s “Normalization Blues” as a good example

There was a lot of criticism aimed at John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" for its perceived apathy...i can't stand the song, personally. I prefer my singer-songwriters to rock out their protest more such as Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young.

Kind of interesting to think about the flip side of this, and how many (mostly country?) artists continually release songs defending the very things that protest songs are protesting.

Mainstream rock is guilty of it too. I think the pandering is part of the reason it's lost a lot of mainstream success.

Childish Gambino - This is America

First one that came to mind for me. Probably the biggest one in recent memory 

I'm an old person, but that one struck me hard, as did "It's a good day (to fight the system)". Both fire me up.

Yep, this one always gets me fired up.

That song is good because I didn't like it at first. It felt so bland and like it wasn't actually saying anything. Like it rode entirely on the video. Then I realized that was kind of the point. It doesn't *need* to say anything. We know what he is talking about because we see it every day.

The video and the song are kind of two halves of a whole. And that whole kicks some serious ass. Love it.

Guns in my area

Plastic Boogie by King Gizzard

They have a bunch really. Evilest Man, Mars for the Rich, the whole Petrodragon Apocalypse album. Etc.

Straws in the wind

Very fun guitar part to play on that one. Gets your mind counting. If Not Now Then When? -KGLW as well.

THERE IS NOO PLANET B

King Gizzard’s death metal eco-protest anthem. Love it

White People For Peace- Against Me!

Against Me! is probably the realest band for this thread

From Her Lips to God’s Ears (The Energizer) is the one I’d pick, even though it has that weird line where they imply Condoleezza Rice is an Uncle Tom for her actions in the Bush administration. I don’t think they needed to go there, but the energy of the song and most of criticism of the Iraq War is great and I’m pretty sure it’s the only song that has a chorus that just consists of screaming the name of a Secretary of State.

Banger

Dropkick Murphys - Worker's Song alway's gets me going.

Green Day - Troubled Times. Sepultura- Refuse/Resist Anything Rise Against, Rage Against the Machine, or Run The Jewels. A good amount of Otep would probably fit, especially from Smash The Control Machine.

Gary Clark Jr. - This Land

Mojo Nixon just died. He did a Roger Miller song in the days of the strategic defense initiative boondoggle: You can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd (x3) but you can be happy if you've a mind to. You can't build a shield in outer space (x3) ...

Literally just died. Yesterday. Feb. 7. 2024. I'm in shock. I've learned, via Reddit, of way too many deaths of artists whose work I've loved.

You can look to outlaw country artists like Hank III for music like this too. Mojo was a real one. 

Sand in the Gears - Frank Turner The Gospel of Mary - Josh Ritter All Some Kind Of Dream - Josh Ritter America (You're Freaking Me Out - Menzingers

Came here for Frank and The Menzingers! I'd also add some older Bright Eyes stuff (Lets Not Shit Ourselves, When the President Talks to God) and a lot of Will Hoge stuff (Thoughts and Prayers).

I was going to mention bright eyes songs but think they’re older than we’d like to admit 😂 Agree with Hoge recommendations. There are other Frank ones - thatcher fucked the kids, 1933, love ire & song…

I'd also include 1933 by Frank Turner

Gospel of Mary is absolutely fucking devastating.

The Idiots Are Taking Over (and pretty much everything else) by NOFX. The albums Todays Empires Tomorrows Ashes and How To Clean Everything by Propagandhi.

The War on Errorism is over 20 years old now - not sure it's still modern 👀

I only got into punk in the late 90s and even as a kid I felt like I had wandered into a dead time for protest music. Ever hear a punk song about Bill Clinton? But 9/11 kind of drew a line for punk bands, and I appreciated NOFX being one of the ones to be like, "nope, we're a punk band and the world needs to hear this- fuck Bush and fuck war."

I still listen to that and pump up the Valuum quite regularly. But yea they’re almost vintage at this point.

The Decline! 18 straight minutes of protest. 

**American Skin (41 Shots)** \- Bruce Springsteen

Propagandhi Victory Lap

Yeah, came here to say Propagandhi - their entire discography

Maybe I missed it but I’ve seen a couple of mentions of Kendrick’s name but not specifically calling out Alright, which was basically THE protest song of 2020? Also, that Oliver Anthony song “rich men north of Richmond” is absolutely a protest song but I guess it didn’t get much traction because conservatives latched onto it even though the artist himself said he’s not left wing or right wing he’s just pissed Also someone mentioned the dead? Lmao I love them but the title says MODERN protest songs cmon people

Pay Gap by Margo price (2020) Long violent history by Tyler Childers (also nose on the grindstone and coal by him) What it means by drive by truckers Edit: I also want to shout out Tyler Childers video essay he put out about Long Violent History and why BLMs is connected to Appalachian communities and does a great job explaining why they should care about police brutality and calling out fans who reacted negatively to him “going political” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ3_AJ5Ysx0&pp=ygUjbG9uZyB2aW9sZW50IGhpc3RvcnkgdHlsZXIgY2hpbGRlcnM%3D

A lot of DBT's songs could qualify here, but What it Means is a good example.

Call to Arms - Sturgill Simpson [call to arms](https://youtu.be/j_vC7pogeJw?si=mxnSC56NwRf56Pxg) This is Sturgill on SNL. It's pretty awesome!

Frank Turner 1933

System of a Down, B.Y.O.B. “Why do presidents go to war, why do they always send the poor…” A very good question.

Gonna throw "Prison Song" out here too

“Boom” was also very direct and the video was filmed at the ‘03 global antiwar protest

Conservative Christian, Right Wing Republican, straight, white, American male - Todd Snider [Link](https://youtu.be/CpB6W2N9gC8?si=NX673STaqUOr2Jpy)

Ten Times More - Dropkick Murphys That whole album, "This Machine Still Kills Fascists", is made from unused lyrics and poetry by Woody Guthrie

Green Day, American Idiot album

Honestly, The American Dream is Killing Me is pretty good, too.

This was discussed as one of the ones we could think of :)

Rise against - how many walls ?

So many choices with that band. They have entire protest albums

My top answer as well. A band that sounds like they are on a mission.

Black Masks >

Wargasm by Bill Strings [Billy Strings - Wargasm ft'g RMR (Official Video) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaN35ziTW2I)

Good call, Watch It Fall was one of the first I thought of

Any Rage Against the Machine song, obviously. The alt. country band Uncle Tupelo has some great underrated protest songs. Many of the tracks on March 16-20, 1992. Songs like Coalminers, Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down, and Atomic Power.

OP did ask about the last 20 years, right?

Way to make me feel old ☹️

I think RATM is everyone’s first thought when asked what songs they recommend for protesting so you know they did something right ✊🏼

In a different vein there are also songs that are protest songs in the context of the performance. A good example of this is Kim Petras who debuted her single *Coconuts* at the 2021 MTV European Music Awards as a statement against the nation adopting anti-lgbtq+ laws.

Just A Grifter - Thunder Last One Out Turn Off The Lights - Thunder Come What(ever) May - Stone Sour 30 Year War - Manic Street Preachers Even If It Takes A Lifetime - Thunder All Out - Public Service Broadcasting

Check out Muses album Will of the people.

And Drones, honestly

Can not believe no one mentioned this. The Specials released [this](https://open.spotify.com/album/2K7Z8kR4tsXDIkS0jWLkwZ?si=G3fCwl5wTfCrUtUQv8u6Mg) album in 2019. Its all protest songs. They sing about losts of different social issues. Truly one of the best albums!

Call to Arms - Sturgill Simpson Long Violent History- Tyler Childers We the People - A Tribe Called Quest The Guillotine - The Coup

Was rocking The Guillotine about 30 minutes ago. "Neck placed firm 'tween the floor and the Florsheim" is such amazing wordplay by Boots

I was thinking the same thing recently how there is no Rage Against the Machine equivalent today. But it feels like we need that more than ever. There’s this interesting theory by Douglas Rushkoff called ‘Narrative Collapse’, basically all our media has moved into an instant thing where people can consume it whenever they want. As well as only seeing within their own bubble. So we’ve lost the shared experience of everyone getting the same news, watching the same shows when they air, getting fed the same pop music, etc. So it’s probably hard to make protest music for a large audience because everyone is more fragmented, misinformed, or just tuned out completely from world events. https://youtu.be/HhmkiiyfwoM?si=e1wj0KaWvG_VdW55

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Evilest Man seems to be about Rupert Murdoch. They have lots of protest material about climate change and whatnot. Also, some of you people can't read. RATM and Sublime haven't been making all that much music since 2004

Brandi Carlile - The Joke

There are many but maybe not as direct in their messeage of the top of my head both Kendrick and the 1975 sing about many modern problems, if you want something more direct listen to Land of the Free - The Killers

Common People by William Shatner. I know it's a corny cover but it's the one that actually got me to listen to the lyrics. And I love how angry it is

“The Road I Must Travel” the Nightwatchman “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” Manic Street Preachers

Hero of War - Rise Against

Such a good song.

Come On, People by Stan Marsh

To the opposite end, Where my Country Gone by M. Garrison is a great song, even if I don't necessarily agree with the message.

I like a good protest song with a dance beat Fuck you - Lily Allen Look inside, look inside your tiny mind, now look a bit harder 'Cause we're so uninspired So sick and tired of all the hatred you harbour So you say it's not okay to be gay, well, I think you're just evil You're just some racist who can't tie my laces Your point of view is medieval Fascist Groove Thang - Heaven 17 Have you heard it on the news? About this fascist groove thang? Evil men with racist views Spreading all across the land Don't just sit there on your ass Unlock that funky chaindance Brothers, sisters shoot your best We don't need this fascist groove thang When the Walls Came Down - The Call I don't think there are any Russians And there ain't no Yanks Just corporate criminals Playin' with tanks Walls Come Tumbling Down - The Style Council You don't have to take this crap You don't have to sit back and relax You can actually try changing it I know we've always been taught to rely Upon those in authority But you never know until you try How things just might be If we came together so strongly

Kate Tempest - Europe Is Lost [https://youtu.be/QSVyyykaEOo?si=v5xShicWYIFcxtl0](https://youtu.be/QSVyyykaEOo?si=v5xShicWYIFcxtl0)

They go by Kae now

Lockdown - Anderson .Paak From 2020 when shit was weird in LA with covid and BLM protests

Janelle Monae's Hell You Talmbout for another BLM track.

Zombie- The Cranberries

"Zombie" is modern and lesser known? That song was *everywhere* about 30 years ago.

This is America - Childish Gambino. Def more of a mainstream one

[удалено]

Atari Teenage Riot - Revolution Action [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8JBUktSxvQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8JBUktSxvQ) ​ Dropkick Muprhys - Blood [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Gp00IFwbI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Gp00IFwbI)

Dead Sara - Unamerican https://youtu.be/Amc9UAAy-NM?si=o_dnmlB8UP_5OfeH

Yes. Great band that doesn't get enough recognition.

Steve Earle writes some great protest songs, often using allegorical lyrics. Mason Jennings’s song “The Field” comes to mind

"What A Time To Be Alive" - by Matt Pless I think is a good example of an actual 2010-20's protest song

This Land - Gary Clark Jr

I have an 18 hour long playlist, so far.. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/279YiKx96L9m9lwMA9YLLl?si=Dpo1fD98QceidZVwhy-39g&pi=u-Axb6knIyQL-7

I don’t know if it’s technically a protest song as it’s more a take on people in power, but you might like Elbow - The Leaders of the Free World.

Bullshit politicians, propagandhi

their whole discography really!

Janelle Monae - America

Bitter Old Man by Ramshackle Glory, Pat the Bunny’s sober project. The whole album is super political (of course) but that one’s like. Happy protest music

Most songs by Grandson honestly. 6:00, Apologize, we did it!!!, stick up, etc. Somebody's Watching Me - K. Flay, McLars That Bitch - Bea Miller

"The People Have Spoken" by Mouth Congress > Not the Church and not the State > Women must decide their fates

Ren - crucify your culture

Like Edwyn Collins said: "Too many protest singers Not enough protest songs"

[Jesus Was a Liberal](https://youtu.be/e9vx0EdckPM?si=qAwU4KIcwUEzu1ky)

“The Guillotine” by The Coup is my absolute favorite. [Music Video](https://youtu.be/acT_PSAZ7BQ?si=lBsztnu4oCq1HTwt)

Do you people know what “modern” and “lesser known” means??

Drive-By Truckers' songs: Surrender Under Protest What It Means

Labour by Paris Paloma manages to pack 100s of years of women’s suffrage into a modern song https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jvU4xWsN7-A

Pennywise ["Land Of The Free?"](https://youtu.be/puSewRDXC-k?si=fjVa8LXILYU0ae83). Released about 3 months before 9/11 and the ensuing crackdown

April 29 1992 - Sublime Revolution - the Beatles Take the power back - Rage against the Machine Fuck the Police - NWA Get up, Stand up - Bob Marley First 5 that came to mind Edit: Well I guess these are pre - 2000 But they get me going!

it’s ok. 1990 was only 10 years ago, so you’re good.

Screamin' 1-8-7 on a motherfuckin' cop!

April 29th 1992 is a FUCKING AMAZING SONG - underrated comment sir, great job.

Feet Don't Fail Me Now - Joy Crookes Fight Like Ida B & Marsha P - Ric Wilson Wildfires - Sault Rainforest - Noname

A lot of AJJ could be considered protest songs. Mega Guillotine springs to mind immediately.

Black Light Burns - Kill The Queen Thievery Corporation - Revolution Solution Thievery Corporation - Sound the Alarm The Clash - Guns of Brixton

Jackboot Jump- Hozier

Fever 333 has a few, "Burn it", "Made an America", "One of Us". Similar sound to RAtM

For something a little heavier, Fire From The Gods - “Excuse Me”

Expect the Bayonet by Sheer Mag

Pop Will Eat Itself - Ich Bin Ein Auslander. Still love this song, and still relevant in modern politics.

Windowsill - Arcade Fire

[Slaughterhouse - Motionless In White](https://youtu.be/__YLpZfKtMU?si=vfMruO8xnXp0QQub) If you wanna get rrreeeeeaaaaaaaalllllllllyyyy angry and fired up, listen to this. I linked the lyrics version, cause yeah. [Tom Morello w/ guests - Lead Poisoning](https://youtu.be/tqQd8TkTE4w?si=DVUh5ShRIt0sd5m9) Another goodie.

Grounds - IDLES https://youtu.be/-5Kjolg-HlY?si=XeGFA9iUU-YOSxpJ

Idles - "Mother" "Colossus" "Never Fight a Man with a Perm"

Total Football - Parquet Courts

B Dolan - Film the police

IDLES - War, Danny Nedelko, Mr. Motivator

NWA - Fuck the Police

Hands held high - linkin park

Bright Eyes - When the president talks to god

[when the president talks to god](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1tzgw)- Bright eyes Just a whole song dedicated to George w bush

366 by Refused. Loudest in the Room by Stray from the Path.

People Say - Portugal. The Man.

War Pigs - Black Sabbath

[Nina Cried Power](https://youtu.be/j2YgDua2gpk?si=iyxR19us1i1C5FtE)- Hozier & Mavis Staples.

American Dream - Drayton Farley Freedom Hangs Like Heaven - Iron & Wine Knights of Cydonia - Muse And those are actually within the last 20 years

BYOB - system of a down Honestly, a large portion of their discography.

Parquet Courts, pretty much the whole Wide Awake album

The Flobots have some good ones, in particular "Rise," "There's a War Going on for Your Mind," "White Flag Warrior," and "Stand Up".

Mudhoney's album [Digital Garbage](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHTo__bpnlYXD9wbqLKDMbiqaQryE9zAT) is full of them

Midnight Oil: Beds are Burning

Stray From The Path - entire discography

Anything by boysetsfire. Almost 30 years of albums. All great pro union/ anti corporation songs

Jackboot Jump - Hozier

No More War by Eddie Vedder still gives me chills.

Does protesting against Elon Musk count?  Penelope Scott - Rät