Page 90 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Wartime Chords

(and Discord)

The sound of Franklin Delano “God Bless America”. Fun swing but they heard different songs, with
Roosevelt’s voice filled almost songs like “Boogie Woogie Bugle lyrics describing bitterness about
every living room as he announced, Boy” relieved the country’s stress being forced to fight a war that had
via radio, “America is at war.” as Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, little definition.
It was not the first time that and Tommy Dorsey’s Big Bands
Americans had been notified of performed dance tunes which The Gulf War generation found
the grave news that its leaders made the most of fleeting happy Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the
had determined that war was the moments. USA” to be the song that best
only course, but it was the first communicated their feelings about
time that people heard the news The music that became popular being American. Believing that
being broadcast by the leader’s nationwide played and replayed they were fighting for a worthwhile
own voice piped right into their frequently each day. The music cause, Americans rallied once again
homes. Life changed for every kept up morale and encouraged with music that caused chests to
family in America with the harsh both national pride and belief in the swell. The youth of the early 1990s
announcement. Wives knew that country’s war efforts. Songwriters were determined to prevent a
their husbands would be called. and lyricists seized the opportunity repeat of Vietnam. Their music was
Mothers and fathers knew their to bolster the emotions of the mostly positive and communicated
sons would face being transported country. a sense of pride in where the
to a foreign land and placed in The next generation found country stood.
incredible danger. What they themselves embroiled in the From the earliest drums beaten in
didn’t know was that American Vietnam conflict. Music again times of battle to “The Battle Hymn
music was about to play a role in found its way into the wartime of the Republic” and beyond, to
their lives in a way it never had.
psyche — but this time in relaying the songs of our era, music has
Radio introduced the mass the strong sentiment of many always played a huge part in war
marketing of music. And what youths protesting the war. Bobby efforts. And the nationwide ability
better cause to write music than Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind”, to listen to popular music via
to help Americans cope with the Phil Ochs’ “What are You Fighting radio has drastically enhanced its
massive challenges they were For?”, and Tom Paxton’s “Lyndon power. Music can be compelling
facing? The music of World War Told the Nation” influenced public and persuasive. It can unite or
II was the dearest, in my opinion, emotion in a different way. The cause division. The songs recorded
of all American secular music ever young people were angry - forced during times of war can cause
written. It captured the emotions to fight before they could even lumps in our throats or burrs in our
felt by every lover left behind. It vote. This time music did not saddles. But the influence of music
swelled with the great commitment promote nationalism or tell of especially when it is universally
to country that unified every wartime love affairs as the music available through radio or other
soldier listening to Irving Berlin’s of World War II had. Vietnam media is undisputable.
veterans were and are still heroes,

90 Lubbock Senior Link