What are some really good 1950s songs?

Songs that make a clear point about a major theme or event in American History/Society from 1950s to 1970s?

• I need some song suggestions. I am looking for songs (1950s-1970s) that talk about American History and/or society. Example: Songs that deal with the Civil Rights movement If you had the background info or further information on the song as well, that would be great. Thank you I appreciate it :-)

• Answer:

  Don McLean's "American Pie" (album "American Pie," 1971) It's about February 3, 1959 and the loss of innocence that followed in the '60s. Feb. 3rd was the Day the Music Died, the day Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper perished in a plane crash. You listen to some of the lyrics, it's not just the fact that "The day the music died" is several times in the song that tells us it's about that day. At the very beginning of the song you also have the lines "But February made me shiver With each newspaper I delivered Bad news on the doorstep I couldn't take one more step I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride But something touched me deep inside The day The music Died" Buddy Holly had just gotten six months before the crash and his wife was expecting their first baby when the crash happened. Shortly after she got the news she had a miscarriage. The song goes on to be ten years later and you've you got fallout shelters, Helter Skelter, Camelot ("when the jester sang for the King and Queen" is a bit of a reference to the Kennedy administration, aka Camelot), the jester could be a reference to LBJ (you have the line "and as the king was looking down the jester stole his thorny crown"), and the space generation (the baby boomers who grew up during the early days of the space race). Chicago's "Someday (August 29, 1968)" complete with the "Prologue (August 29, 1968)" (album "Chicago Transit Authority," 1969), "Dialogue Part I & II" (album "Chicago V," 1972" and "Harry Truman" and "Old Days" (album "Chicago VIII," 1975). The prologue to "Someday (August 29, 1968" is a sound byte from the anti-war demonstrators outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, August 26-29, 1968. The sound byte is actually from August 28th, it starts off with a guy on a bullhorn shouting to the demonstrators that it's time for them to get moving and don't worry if the cops try locking them up. Then the crowd starts chanting "The Whole World is Watching." After the prologue finishes, but with the chant still going on, the song comes up and the first lines painting a picture of hate and fear. After the first chorus you return to the chanting very briefly. You listen to it it's as if the song is putting you there that day, as if your one of the demonstrators facing nightstick wielding cops intent on arresting you. "Dialogue Part 1 &2" is a dialogue between two of the band's lead singers (well Part 2 is). The first guy is asking questions about the shape of the country in the early to mid '70s and if their scaring the 2nd guy and the 2nd guy feeling things aren't too bad (save for war which the 2nd guy states he hopes the president knows what he's doing but doesn't know if he does). Part 1 ends with the 2nd guy admitting that the outlook of thinking everything is fine makes him miss what could be wrong while the 1st guy is thanking the 2nd for making him feel better about the future of the country. Part 2 picks up with the whole band saying it's up to the people to make a better future. That the people have the power to change the world. "Harry Truman" is basically about the political shape of the country since Truman left office. "America needs you Harry Truman Harry could you please come home Things are looking bad I know you would be mad To see your favorite men Prevail upon the land you loved America's wondering How we got here Harry all we get is lies" The song goes on about how politics have seemingly changed and claims that Harry Truman was perhaps the last honest president. What the nation needs is then honesty from it's politicians (sounds like an appropriate song for today come to think of it). "Old Days is a song of nostalgia. An adult looking back on their youth. Their remembering the things from their youth that they loved. Howdy Doody, drive-in movies, comic books, blue jeans, and baseball cards, all part of America's society of the '50s (though they could fit other countries as well) all serve to take them back to the days of their youth when things were simpler. The irony is that the lead singer on the song hated the Howdy Doody show in his youth and it was more the writer who these may have reflected youth for.