One of my favorite parts of Swords into Plowshares is the quote from an anti-war song to lead off each chapter.
Campaign for Liberty Director of Legislation Tim Shoemaker has put together a Swords into Plowshares playlist, which we will share with you over the next few weeks. The songs will be presented in the order in which they appear in the book.
You can purchase a copy of Dr. Paul's Swords into Plowshares here.
Chapter One: "Growing Up With War"
Song: Elvis Presley, "If I Can Dream"
Dr. Paul kicks off his book with a quote from the King of Rock and Roll. "If I Can Dream," was written for Elvis's 1968 "comeback" TV special. Songwriter Walter Edward Brown wrote the song after a conversation with Elvis about the assassination of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.
Listen to "If I Can Dream" here.
Chapter Two: "Our Peaceful Nature"
Song: The Farm, "All Together Now"
I had not heard of this song, or The Farm, until Swords Into Plowshares, even though I am a fan of this type of "new wave" 80s/90s British pop. So thank you Dr. Paul for introducing me to this band!
"All Together Now" is about the famous "Christmas Truce" of 1914 when soldiers from the two sides came together to exchange food, tobacco, alcohol, and even souvenirs. The two sides even played soccer.
Listen to "All Together Now" here.
Chapter Three: "Opposing War in Congress"
Song: Don McLean, "The Grave"
A moving song about the death of one young solider written by the author of the classics "American Pie" and "Starry Starry Night."
Listen to "The Grave" here.
Chapter Four: "Peace is the Answer"
Song: The Byrds, "Turn, Turn, Turn"
"A time for peace, I swear it's not late"
One of my favorites and a certified folk-rock classic. The lyrics of the song are taking directly from the Bible, specifically the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Listen to "Turn, Turn, Turn" here.
Chapter Five: "Why do People Support the Wars"
Song: Bob Dylan, "Masters of War"
One of the most blistering attacks on the military-industrial complex ever penned, and a highlight of Bob Dylan's early sixties "political" phase.
Listen to "Masters of War" here.
Chapter Six: "Pursuing US Empire"
Song: Willie Nelson, "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth"
An anti-war country song? That makes as much sense as anti-war, anti-ObamaCare, pro-Second Amendment, Republican Congressman from Texas... oh, wait.
Country legend Willie Nelson wrote this song following a conversation with his wife about the Iraq war.
Listen to "Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth" here.
Chapter Seven: "The War Issue"
Song: Edwin Star, "War"
"War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing"
Well, that pretty much sums it up.
Listen to "War" here.
Chapter Eight: "Foreign Policy and War"
Song: Peter, Paul, and Mary, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone"
Another classic folk song that again looks at how war affects the average person.
Listen to "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" here.
Chapter Nine: "Foreign Policy and Economics"
Song: Rolling Stones, "Highwire"
Taking a break from the folk songs with a little blues-based rock and roll. A rare political song from the legendary band. It seems appropriate that this song introduces the chapter on how our hyper-interventionist policy affects our economic well-being, since Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger studied at the London School of Economics.
Listen to "Highwire" here.
Chapter Ten: "Central Banking and War"
Song: Suzanne Vega, "The Queen and the Solider"
The song, about a soldier who rebels against killing to enrich the queen, is the perfect opening for the chapter on the relationship between the warfare state and central banking.
Listen to "The Queen and the Solider" here.
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PDFTags: Swords into Plowshares