Help me build my “woke” Fourth of July playlist

There’s a couple classics that are designed to be ironic, but that just seems to be ignored by the F150s with confederate flags blasting them down the highways. Namely “Born in the USA” by Springsteen. I’ve also seen “Fortunate Son” by Credence Clearwater Revival played in similar circumstance, which is especially funny because that song is just outright angry rather than hiding anything behind irony.

Punk:
Kill the Poor and Stars and Stripes of Corruption Dead Kennedys
Fuck the Flag Anti-Flag
Franco Un-American and The Idiots Are Taking Over NOFX
Fuck America Choking Victim
And one more that isn't punk:
Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore John Prine

"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

"American Idiot" by Green Day (2004)

"Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen (1984)

"Masters of War" by Bob Dylan (1963)

"Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)

"Fight the Power" by Public Enemy (1989)

And within the last decade?

"Formation" by Beyoncé (2016)

"Alright" by Kendrick Lamar (2015)

"Glory" by Common and John Legend (2014)

"American Oxygen" by Rihanna (2015)

All these songs are critical of America.

I've run into rather a lot of stuff that's on topic for this while cratedigging. Musicians have been getting generally more pissed off every year since 2018 and it's glorious. I think we've dropped the concept of a 'protest song' though, because that makes people think of whiny folk music from the 60s. Now it's 'socon' or socially conscious music.

• D/troit - The 45
• The Redwalls - Colorful Revolution
• Fitz & The Tantrums - Break The Walls
• Ren - Crucify Your Culture (I dare anyone to top this)
• Mellah - Easy Breezy
• Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - Tryin' So Hard Not To Know
• D Fine Us - Post Truth Era Blues
• Little River Band - Statue of Liberty
• Foy Vance - Noam Chomsky Is A Soft Revolution
• Ezra Furman - Body Was Made (in fact anything by Ezra)
• Pokey LaFarge - Fuck Me Up
• Hanni El Khatib - Dead Wrong
• Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band - Why Is It So Hard and/or The World
• Vintage Trouble - Not Alright By Me
• Muddy Magnolias - Brother, What Happened?
• Monophonics - There's A Riot Going On
• Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - I'm Broke
• Izaak Opatz - Not Yet
• Will Varley - To Build A Wall
• Cam Cole - New Age Blues
• Clutch - Fortunate Son and/or Willie Nelson and/or Son of Virginia.

Franco un-american NOFX

Don’t forget

• David Bowie - I’m afraid of Americans
• Tom Petty - American Girl
• Oak Ridge Boys - American Made

A few years ago, I made a 25-song “America” playlist as part of a group challenge. I really liked where I got with it:

This Is America - Childish Gambino
Bolt Cutter - Doomtree
Close Your Eyes (And count to fuck)- Run The Jewels
Cold Cash and Colder Hearts - Thrice
American Jesus - Bad Religion
Bleed American - Jimmy Eat World
Do-Re-Mi - Woody Guthrie
The Happiest Place on Earth - Desaparecidos
Welcome to the Terrordome - Public Enemy
Americans - Janelle Monae
Superstitious - Stevie Wonder
I’m Afraid of Americans - David Bowie
A More Perfect Union - Titus Andronicus
Breakdance Beach - Hail Mary Mallon
We Shall Not Be Moved - Mavis Staples
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron
We The People… - A Tribe Called Quest
Fuck Tha Police - NWA
American Hearts - AA Bondy
When The President Talks to God - Bright Eyes
Pussygrabber - Genital Panic
Nazi Punks Fuck Off - Dead Kennedys
Song #1 - Fugazi
yankee and the brave - Run The Jewels
I’m So Bored With the USA - The Clash

In this order, it’s a pretty solid flow (I think). Am I allowed to share Spotify links here? If yes, I’m happy to do so, save you some time…

We The People... by a Tribe Called Quest

Lift Yourself 2

Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)

JU$T - Run The Jewels
Long Violent History - Tyler Childers
This Land - Gary Clark Jr

I don't think this belongs on your playlist sound-wise as it's slow tempo and morose and frankly nobody would want to listen to it at any sort of gathering, but I'm sharing it for the thematic fit.

Father John Misty - Bored In The USA

I always enjoyed this live performance in particular.

Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - Winter In America
Public Enemy - By The Time I Get To Arizona
Living Colour - Which Way To America?
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes
Frank Zappa and the Mothers - Trouble Every Day

A few ideas (I've already voted on a bunch up top that are great! Gary Clark, RTJ, Zappa)

USA by Jeff Rosenstock

This is Not America, by Residente. Warning...the video is intense.

A section that pinpoints the reason for the title:

América no es solo USA, papá
Esto es desde Tierra del Fuego hasta Canadá
Hay que ser bien bruto, bien hueco
Es como decir que África e' solo Marrueco'

My rough translation (not word for word, but this is me trying to get the tone across):

America isn't just the USA, papa

It goes from Tierra del Fuego to Canada

You'd have to be really brutal, really hollow

It's like saying "Africa is just Morocco"

Finally, John Brown's Body fits the playlist the least, because it's the most patriotic sounding, but it's about John Brown, so I think it's at least conceptually adjacent.

Amerika by Rammstein is a good one.

America, FUCK YEAH; theme from Team America.

Walking in the Snow by Run The Jewels
Reagan by Killer Mike

Neither is ironic or subtle haha

This list is going to be all over the place, but let's see.

• Mississippi Goddamn - Nina Simone: An oldie, but a good one that holds the same frustrations that are still relevant today.

Lord have mercy on this land of mine
We all gonna get it in due time
I don't belong here
I don't belong there
I've even stopped believing in prayer

• The Bigger Picture - Lil Baby: Written and released during the height of the BLM protests in 2020, it perfectly captures all the rage and swirling emotions of that time. The whole Album it is from is incredible.

Stare in the mirror whenever you drive

• Okie from Muskogee - Merle Haggard: This one is an odd one and has taken on a new life. Originally Haggard wrote it as an Anti-Vietnam War Protest song that criticized hippies and their ways. Haggard in his older age came out against the song stating that he was dumb and brainwashed during that time. His song is a lense into that old mindset and hits differently with his change of heart.

Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear
Beads and Roman sandals won't be seen
Football's still the roughest thing on campus
And the kids here still respect the college dean
Overprotective, go crazy for mine
You gotta pay attention to the signs
Seem like the blind following the blind
Thinking 'bout everything that's going on

• Capitol G - Nine Inch Nails: This one is ripe with anti-war in Iraq and the sentiments from that time about Bush. I ate it up as an angsty teenager coming of age with already felt like a too long war. Year Zero, the album it's from, is worth an end-to-end listen due to how relevant it is now more than ever.

Don't try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person
You haven't had enough to know what it's like
You're only angry 'cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head because you know that I'm right, all right!

• Alice's Restaurant - Arlington Guthrie: An Anti-Vietnam song that tells of a wayward adventure and their encounters with the law, and well you all might just be best taking a listen yourselves.

You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant

Hero of War by Rise Against.

Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day. (American Idiot is more overt, of course, but that goes past ironic into just regular criticism)

One that I haven’t seen elsewhere in the thread yet is “Land of the Free” by The Killers.

So how many daughters, tell me how many sons
Do we have to put in the ground
Before we just break down and face it
We got a problem with guns
In the land of the free

Then on a more uplifting note there’s “Blueneck” by Chris Housman.

Can a country kid wanna see the glass ceiling shatter?
Wanna see a world where Black Lives Matter
Liberty and Justice for just some of us
Ain't how the heartland brought me up

For a relaxed party atmosphere, the entire album "I'm wide awake, it's morning" from Bright Eyes is a great choice. It was written in the Bush era and the Iraq war, and draws on the folk protest traditions of Woody Guthrie. Every song is easy to have on in the background, and is still a beautiful lyrical protest that remains relevant.

I'd swap Know Your Enemy with Take the Power Back, and add add Eyeless by Skipknot. And I second everything @zhanteimi said.

Ghost of Tom Joad, Coal miners Daughter, Ballad of John Henry, 16 tons, Erie Canal, Bread and Roses,Brother Can you Spare a Dime, King of the Road,Check out the song Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out. There are many many versions of the song!

I’m particularly partial to the 1929 Bessie Smith Version.

But really love the Nina Simone version also.

Joywave - “Buy American”

Don't care, buy American
Think less, if it hurts more, baby
Live, laugh, like I always say
When it breaks, we'll get the whole thing replaced

Origami Angel - “My PG County Summer”

They come from out east, they come from out west
They come from up north, they come from down south
With gas in their cars, stones in their hand
Hate in their heart, their head in their mouth

MARINA - “New America”

America, America
You can't bury the truth
It's time to pay your dues
America
This is a new America
Stars are shining for you
Sparkling red and blue

MAN ON MAN - “I Feel Good”

I feel good, I feel great
In these United States
What's the purpose of hiding
And wasting away
If they say that got something
To tone us all down
Step it up make it loud
And just get fucking proud

Americans are living like troglodytes by David Byrne

Woodie Guthrie - This Land Is Your Land
Public Enemy - 911 Is A Joke
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
The Beatles - Back in the USSR

The Coup definitely deserves to be included. "My Favorite Mutiny" is my favorite of theirs: Spotify YouTube Lyrics

You'd be remiss to forget about Asshole by Denis Leary!

For the RATM lovers, make sure not to miss Prophets of Rage.

Prophets Of Rage combines the sonic firepower of Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy and Cypress Hill

Their self-titled album is one of my top 5 albums.

You like Metal? Probably not, but here goes

Warbringer - Off With Their Heads
Off with their heads!
Those who have lied

To us about the past
They lied about tomorrow
They promised us a future
Brought only pain and sorrow
Liars!

Metallica - ...And Justice for All
Lady Justice has been raped
Truth assassin
Rolls of red tape seal your lips
Now you’re done in
Their money tips her scales again
Make your deal
Just what is truth? I cannot tell
Cannot feel

Testament - Greenhouse Effect
Fools the ones who stray, the rain forest burns away
Know what to believe, this is the air we breathe
So the world we know is dying slow in south america
Flames are burning down, all the trees to the ground

Time is running low, we can't stay no more
Wealth these people see, fight for eternity
Lies they televise paid by the government
There on! it lingers on
And they don't even care if they...

Plenty more, but I'll leave it there for now.

Some of these might work -

• Rage Against the Machine - Sleep Now in the Fire (Rap-Metal, Hard Rock)

• dead prez - I'm a African (Alt Rap)

• Quetzal - Migra (Latin Pop/Rock)

• Antibalas - War Hero (Afro-Beat)

• Sones de Mexico Ensemble - Esta Tierra Es Tuya (Woody Guthrie's folk 'This Land is Your Land' in Spanish and set to a Norteño sound)

• A Tribe Called Red, feat. Buffy Sainte-Marie - Working for the Government (Progressive Folk)

• G.L.O.S.S. - Give Violence a Chance (Punk)

• Xenia Rubinos - Mexican Chef (Indie Rock, Pop Rock)

• Ani DiFranco - Play God (Alt Folk)

• Azam Ali - Hope (New Age)

• Sade - When Am I Going to Make a Living (Pop Rock)

• Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (Folk Rock)

• System of the Down - Boom! (Nu Metal)

• Johnny Cash - The Man in Black (Country)

• Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Progressive Soul)

• Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a-Changin' (Folk)

Party in the CIA by Weird Al

Another classic in the same mode as "Born in the USA" - in other words, a criticism so subtle that conservatives often mistake it for praise - Pink Houses by John Mellencamp.

Beast by Nico Vega

I Should Be Proud by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Wavin' Flag by K'naan -- technically about Somalia, but counts for your use case because K'naan had to C&D Mitt Romney's presidential campaign for using it without permission, just like every other republican presidential campaign that tries to use popular music. You think they'd ask themselves why they keep being told they're misrepresenting the artists by doing that.

American Attraction by Anti-Flag
And this version of Digital Blackout by Anti-Flag. Definitely worth the watch.

Adam Freeland - We want your soul

If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next

Phil Ochs - Love Me, I'm a Liberal

Love Me, I'm a Liberal, 2022, new words by Ben Grosscup

Immigraniada - Gogol Bodello

America - Neil diamond

They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson (Spotify)

Baltimore - Prince (Spotify)

The Fugs - Wide Wide River

IDLES - Danny Nedelko

Written by a British band about the UK, but I think the message applies to America as well. It's also an absolute banger.

Fuck the FCC by Steve Earle

A bunch of Anaïs Mitchell songs would fit, but Young Man in America and Why We Build the Wall are the first two that come to mind. The former is subtler than the latter, but the latter doesn't mention America by name if that matters to you.

On a very very different note, Rammstein's Amerika. Most of the lyrics are in German, though.

Obligatory “American Jesus” by Bad Religion, since I somehow haven’t seen that one mentioned.

The Keepers - Santigold

... almost any rap song from the 90s, 00s.

Untitled - Nas

Off the top of my head...

Gil Scott-Heron - Winter in America
Gil Scott-Heron - H2ogate blues
Gil Scott-Heron - Whitey on the Moon
Gil Scott-Heron - Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues

Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (or the more modern cover by Bahghi)

Donny Hathaway - Someday We'll All Be Free (or one of the many, many covers)

Eddie Kendricks - My People... Hold On

Marlena Shaw - Woman of the Ghetto

Esperanza Spalding - Land of the Free

And maybe Carl Bean - I Was Born This Way

Feel like I know a lot more that could maybe fit, but my mind isn't in the right place right now.

ETA: How could I not mention "Curtis Mayfield - (Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go"?

Blink - Blue Scholars