Student Activities

Popular Music During the Vietnam War

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
State Standards:
Common Core Standards: D1.4.9-12., D2.Civ.2.9-12, D2.His.3.9-12., D2. His.4.9-12., D2. His.7.9-12, D2.His.8.9-12., LITERACY.RH.6-8.6, RH.9-10.8, RH.9-10.5, RH.9-10.4
 
State Standards: Fine Arts 7.7, 7.8, 7.10, 8.7, 8.8, 8.10, MIB.19-20, MII.18, HIB19-20

Objectives: 

Name three songs that are associated with the Vietnam War. 

List five popular themes used by artists during the Vietnam Era. 

Describe two types of music that became popular during the era. 

 

Guiding Questions: 

How was music used to both support and protest the Vietnam War? 

Why was music such an iconic part of the Vietnam Era? 

What type of music became popular in the Vietnam Era? 

 

Key Vocabulary:  

Music: vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion 

Protests: a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something 

Peace: freedom from disturbance; tranquility; a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended 

Honor: adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct 

Background 

During the 1960s and 70s artists used music to both protest the Vietnam War and to advocate for peace. Dozens of songs were either written about or associated with the war. Many of these songs shared similar themes and play an important role in understanding the war and the sacrifice of those who served.  

Procedure 

Play some of the most popular songs on the radio during the Vietnam era. For instance:

  • Peter, Paul, and Mary’s 1963 cover of “Blowin’ in the Wind” originally written by Bob Dylan.
  • "Bring 'Em Home" by Pete Seeger (1966)
  • "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie (1967)

In the later years of the war, the music became more serious. To show the change in mood:

  • "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
  • Edwin Starr’s 1970 rendition of the Temptations’ song “War (What Is It Good For)”
  • “What’s Going On,” by Marvin Gaye (1971) 

To connect your lesson to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, you can play the song that Bruce Springsteen wrote in 2014 called “The Wall” which he wrote after he visited the Wall to honor his friends and fellow musicians who died in the war.

Activity  

Ask students to come up with lyrics to honor veterans and to advocate for peace today. Have them create a playlist of existing songs that they feel support or could be used to support a cause.  

Tags: education music protest songs national mall and memorial parks vietnam veterans memorial pop music

Last updated: August 22, 2023