The Protest Song ©   John MacEachern

Pete Seeger, The Weavers, Guthry and others
Sang for freedom for Blacks, their sisters and brothers
The protest songs grew louder and stronger
As American wars went to fields far and yonder.

Agent Orange shrivelled ‘Nam’s lush fields of green
As songsters grew vocal of what should have been
Dylan and Baez and trios galore
Joined Seeger and others in opposing the war

“Come Senators, Congressmen please heed the call”
Was sung on every corner and written on every wall
Nixon the President finally gave in
Much to his annoyance and incredible chagrin.

“Give Peace a Chance” went to heaven with Lennon
And we are left with no voice and no song to strengthen
We are polluting our air and poisoning our streams
Cutting down trees, there will soon be no bees.

Children, women: raped, murdered on African shores
And infants pleading “Please No More”
The U.N. sits on its manacled hands
As dictators sneer at the toothless demands.

We watch ‘The National’ and hug our daughters
As more blasts occur; and more senseless slaughters
Yet we are told the debt crisis in Greece
Is more of a problem than world peace.

“Where have all the flowers gone?”
Where have all the singers gone?
I feel alone and unheard
Without the power of the protest song.