Songs about history can be about many things. They can be about a specific event that occurred in the past, or they can simply be about the act of remembering and learning from history. Here’s a list of ten songs about history that are sure to get you thinking about the past.
Contents
- 1. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel
- 2. “Don’t Drink The Water” by Dave Matthews Band
- 3. “Ghost Division” by Sabaton
- 4. “Headless Cross” by Black Sabbath
- 5. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot
- 6. “Indian Sunset” by Elton John
- 7. “American Pie” by Don McLean
- 8. “Memory of a Free Festival” by David Bowie
- 9. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
- 10. “Public Enemy No. 1” by Megadeth
- 11. “A Great Day For Freedom” by Pink Floyd
- 12. “Genocide (The Killing of the Buffalo)” by Thin Lizzy
- 13. “Black Day In July” by Gordon Lightfoot
- 14. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
- 15. “Charlotte Corday” by Al Stewart
- 16. “Run to the Hills” by Iron Maiden
- 17. “Children’s Crusade” by Sting
- 18. “The Palace of Versailles” by Al Stewart
- 19. “Dark Ballet” by Madonna
- 20. “The British Are Coming” by Weezer
- Final Thoughts
1. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel
First on the list is Billy Joel’s signature song about history, “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” The song is about how difficult it is to live in the 80s compared to living in the 50s. It was released in 1989 for his Storm Front album. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
2. “Don’t Drink The Water” by Dave Matthews Band
Next on the list is “Don’t Drink the Water” by Dave Matthews Band. The song is about the Vietnam War and how it affected the soldiers who were fighting in it.
It was released in 1998 for their album Before These Crowded Streets. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
3. “Ghost Division” by Sabaton
Sabaton’s “Ghost Division” is about the German Panzer division that was instrumental in the Nazi blitzkrieg during World War II.
The lyrics describe the tanks rolling through Europe, crushing all opposition in their wake. It was released in 2008 for the album The Art of War.
4. “Headless Cross” by Black Sabbath
“Headless Cross” by Black Sabbath is about the 16th century witch trials in England. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who is accused of being a witch and is sentenced to be burned at the stake. The song was released in 1989 for the album of the same name.
5. “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot
Next on the list is “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot. The song is about the sinking of the cargo ship Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior in 1975.
The lyrics describe the ship going down in a storm, with all hands lost. The song was released in 1976 on the album Summertime Dream.
6. “Indian Sunset” by Elton John
Elton John’s “Indian Sunset” is about the Native American experience. The lyrics describe the history of the Native Americans, from their first contact with the Europeans to the present day. The song was released in 1971 on the album Madman Across the Water.
7. “American Pie” by Don McLean
This next song is a more recent addition to the list, but it’s definitely one of the most well-known songs about history.
“American Pie” by Don McLean is about how time flies and memories fade. The song was released in 1971 on the album of the same title.
8. “Memory of a Free Festival” by David Bowie
David Bowie’s “Memory of a Free Festival” is a song about a free concert that took place in London in 1970.
The song reflects on the peace and love movement of the time, and how it has been forgotten by many people. You can still stream it on all music platforms out there.
9. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
U2 is an Irish rock band that has been around since the 1970s. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is a song about the marchers who were shot dead in Londonderry.
The song was released in 1983 and became an anthem for the peace movement. You can still find it on all major music platforms.
10. “Public Enemy No. 1” by Megadeth
Megadeth’s “Public Enemy No. 1” is a song about American Revolutionary War hero Benedict Arnold, who betrayed his country by defecting to the British Army. It was released in 2011 for their album Th1rt3en. You can stream it on all music platforms out there.
11. “A Great Day For Freedom” by Pink Floyd
The next song on our list of songs about history is “A Great Day For Freedom” by Pink Floyd. This song is about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Eastern Europe.
It was released in 1994 as part of their album The Division Bell. If you want to check it out, you can stream it on all music platforms.
12. “Genocide (The Killing of the Buffalo)” by Thin Lizzy
“Genocide (The Killing of the Buffalo)” by Thin Lizzy is a song about the near-extermination of the American bison in the 19th century.
It was released in 1980 for their album Chinatown. You can stream it on all music platforms. It now has over 100k views on Youtube so be sure to check it out.
13. “Black Day In July” by Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot’s song “Black Day in July” is a haunting ballad about the Detroit race riots. The song reflects on the violence and destruction that took place, as well as the hope for healing and reconciliation in the aftermath. It was released in 1968 for his “Did She Mention My Name?” album
14. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
This next song was released in 1994 by The Cranberries. The lyrics make references to the violence and death that resulted from the IRA bombing.
Despite its heavy subject matter, the song became a huge hit worldwide and helped to raise awareness about the situation in Northwest England.
15. “Charlotte Corday” by Al Stewart
“Charlotte Corday” by Al Stewart is a song about the assassination of French revolutionary leader Jean-Paul Marat.
The song tells the story of Corday’s act of political violence and her eventual execution. It was released in 1993 on the album Famous Last Words.
16. “Run to the Hills” by Iron Maiden
Next on the list is “Run to the Hills” by Iron Maiden. The song was released in 1982 and remains one of the band’s most popular tracks.
It has over 47 million views on Youtube. The song tells the story of the Native American genocide at the hands of European settlers.
17. “Children’s Crusade” by Sting
The next song on our list of songs about history is “Children’s Crusade” by Sting. The song tells the story of the crusade from the perspective of a child who participated in it. It was released in 1985 for the album The Dream of the Blue Turtles.
18. “The Palace of Versailles” by Al Stewart
“The Palace of Versailles” by Al Stewart is a song about the history of the palace itself. The song was released in 1978 for the album Time Passages. You can still stream this classic song on all music platforms out there.
19. “Dark Ballet” by Madonna
Madonna’s “Dark Ballet” is a song that tells the story of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution. The song was released in 2019 for the album Madame X. It’s one of her most popular songs with over 5 million views on Youtube.
20. “The British Are Coming” by Weezer
Finishing up our list of songs about history is “The British Are Coming” by Weezer. The song is about the American Revolution and was released in 2014 for the album Everything Will Be Alright in the End. You can check it out on all major music platforms.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! Our list of songs about history. We hope you enjoyed it and that you learned something new from it.
Most of all, we hope you have a better appreciation for history and the role it plays in our lives today. Thanks for reading!
