The song has retained its counter-culture message, being used in a number of protest movements. But to some of us who were watching closely, we just knew we were headed for trouble. In 1968, the majority of the country thought morale was great among the troops, and eighty percent of them were in favor of the war. Julie Nixon was hanging around with David Eisenhower, and you just had the feeling that none of these people were going to be involved with the war. The song’s author and singer, John Fogerty, told Rolling Stone: The song was inspired by the wedding of David Eisenhower’s grandson and then-President Richard Nixon’s daughter in 1968. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater RevivalĪn anthem of the anti-war, counter-culture movement which skewers elites who support the war but refuse to pay the costs themselves, delivered from the perspective of someone who isn’t a ‘fortunate son’ (read: born of a wealthy family) themselves. It’s just a shot away’ – became the signature line in the song. Musically, the song was particularly noted for the inclusion of Merry Clayton, who sings the line ‘Rape, murder. The nugget of a point within that statement is that Vietnam was a war that was vigorously opposed, and the opposition to it formed part of a wider counter-culture movement. It’s apocalypse the whole record’s like that. People objected, and people didn’t want to fight it…(Gimme Shelter is) a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It was a real nasty war, and people didn’t like it. The thing about Vietnam was that it wasn’t like World War II, and it wasn’t like Korea, and it wasn’t like the Gulf War. And Vietnam was not war as we knew it in the conventional sense. Violence on the screens, pillage and burning. Well, it’s a very rough, very violent era. In a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jagger said: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards drew their inspiration for ‘Gimme Shelter’ directly from the Vietnam War. He found things that other people wouldn’t think of finding in there. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. Although it has enjoyed reincarnations under The Dave Mathews Band, The Grateful Dead and U2, Hendrix gave it his stamp with an iconic performance in London on 21 January 1968.ĭylan has described his reaction to hearing Hendrix’s version:
Originally written, recorded and released by Bob Dylan – to a positive reception – ‘All Along the Watchtower’ is now best identified with Jimi Hendrix. All Along the Watchtower – Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix It was an epic contest, and one which made 1956 - like 17 - a year that changed our world. Those in power fought back, in a desperate bid to shore up their position. All across the globe, ordinary people spoke out, filled the streets and city squares, and took up arms in an attempt to win their freedom. 1956 was one of the most remarkable years of the twentieth century.
0 kommentar(er)
