America
From talking to people from other countries, their ideas about America aren't really accurate, like it's not stuff that weee all would think about the states but I find that the majority get a picture of either one of two things: Indians, and New York City, so that's what I chose. It's just sort of an iconic thing that I think pretty much everyone could identify as America, even though we all know that this is far from what the rest of America is like. New York is kind of like it's own little country inside the states. It could be a symbol for like, growth and modernism and stuff like that that separate us from other countries!

Song 15

We Didn't Start the Fire: Billy Joel---1989

Great song. Billy Joel lists off events in history to point out that just because there are conflicts and issues we are facing today, it doesn't mean there is something wrong with us or our generation (it still applies even though he is from an earlier generation) The message is that people have always been people since the begining of the world. There have always been conflict and problems in every age and in every civilization and there always will be.
His song also shows how history repeats itself. Wars, persecution, corrupt governments...
It could be used as a history lesson because there are events mentioned in the song that a lot of people may not remember or recognize from history. It makes you curious. He crams a lot of history (1949-1989) into that one song, though. I was going to count, but it seemed pointless.

Song 14

The Hands that Built America: U2---2002

U2 often sings about politcal or other issues in our world, this song included.
Bono reminds us where we all came from. We're not just Americans, we're everything that our history is. We are everyone from every country who ever left their home countries for a new beginning and new hope.
He talks about the struggle to reach the goal that we founded America on.. Liberty and justice for all. 'Of all the promises is this the one we could keep - Of all the dreams, is this one still out of reach'
I think the end is about 9-11 (early Fall, cloud on the New York skyline). , but it's hard to tell what his little symbols mean. What is the 'yellow line'? Maybe its the dividing line between those who don't believe in America (those who want to tear us down) and those of us who are still building America...

Powerful song. It reminds us that we are still creating America's history. We are still building America.

Song 13

The Times They Are A-Changin': Bob Dylan---1964

The song is kind of vague, he's not really specific but it's clear that he's talking about how things in the world around us wont always be comfortable and we won't always be ready but we need to keep an open mind. You can't really fight it. Change will come whether you're ready for it or not. Civil rights, the Vietnam War, and other things were going on when Bob Dylan wrote this song. He was probably speaking to himself as much as to his audience.
I like the message of this song. You never really know what tommorrow is going to bring. If your mind is closed and you're unwilling to consider other people's points of view you'll never grow.

Song 12

Youngstown: Springsteen----1995

It sounds like the steel mill in the song was first built in 1803 and was used to make cannon balls during the civil war. Then the singer's dad worked there and made tanks and bombs for WW2. The singer found himself working under the same brutal conditions in the same mill. He feels like he will die there. He doesn't feel anyone knows or cares about the suffering they have all gone through. What was it all for?

The ending was poetic but probably no one but the writer really knows what "I pray the devil takes me to stand in the fiery furnaces of hell" is supposed to mean. The song is depressing.
Suffering shows up again in America's history.

Song 11

A Change is Gonna Come: Seal---1963

The song, to me, is talking about the frustration black people had to experience after seeing slavery end but not prejudice and segregation. It's a very hopeful song because even though he describes the hardships, he keeps repeating that he expects to see a change one day. He faces the day and crosses boundaries with hope, knowing that he might get knocked down today but one day he'll be treated like every other man.
The song is in story form kind of, sung in the present tense as the singer is living the problem. I don't really like the song.
I'm glad to say that America has moved beyond segregation and most people are enlightened to the equality of every person whatever race or gender.

Song 10

Strange Fruit (1939) Single Version-Billie Holliday---1939

What a sick song. But it keeps the truth of America's past in our memory. Everyone knows about slavery and the brutality black people suffered because of their "owners". But even after slavery ended, black Americans' suffering didn't stop.
Abel Meeropol describes the 'strange fruit' dangling from the trees. It makes me want to vomit. The fruit is a disgusting metaphor for black people who were lynched during the post slavery years and for generations after. Like fruit, these people would swing and hang from the branches of the trees. Like fruit, their flesh would be there for hungry birds to pluck. Like fruit, their bodies would rot in the sun. it's so sad and gross.