Embrace Social Change: Our Resist Song List Brings The Music to the Movement.
Songs have a way of changing your entire mood. During these times of resistance, it is vital that our playlists are ready at all times. Embrace social change with the resist song list. 'Tis the season for protest rallies, marches, volunteering, and donating. It is on us to do everything we can to let the world know that as Americans, we are not okay with this. We want you to listen, absorb, and then get off your butt and do something. Check out The Campaign Workshop’s Resist Song List while you check out our resist list of organizations resisting Trump.
1. A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke
Best Lyric: “Its been a long time coming but I know a change gone come”
When to Listen: When you’ve reached your wits end you wonder if there is light at the end of the tunnel.
2. Alright by Kendrick Lamar
Best Lyric: “Do you hear, do feel me, we gone be alright”
When to Listen: When something happens that hits a little too close to home and you need a good advocacy strategy to channel the anger.
3. American Idiot by Green Day
Best Lyric: “Don’t want to be an American Idiot”
When to Listen: When you are sick of watching Fox News.
4. Fight Song by Rachel Platten
Best Lyric: “My power’s turned on. Starting right now, I’ll be strong”
When to Listen: When you need to give yourself an extra boost to keep fighting.
5. Fight the Power by Public Enemy
Best Lyric: “What we need is awareness, we can’t get careless”
When to Listen: When the man has stepped on you for the last time and you are ready to do something about it.
6. Freedom by Beyonce ft. Kendrick Lamar
Best Lyric: “I’ma keep running cause a winner don’t quit on themselves”
When to Listen: When you need motivation to keep on keeping on.
7. Get Up Stand Up by Bob Marley and the Wailers
Best Lyric: “Don’t give up the fight”
When to Listen: When you want a good tune to donate to progressive organizations on the Resist List.
8. Gives You Hell by All American Rejects
Best Lyric: “When you see my face, hope it gives hell”
When to listen: When you want to pretend you are speaking to a certain someone.
9. Glory by Common and John Legend
Best Lyric: "One day when the glory comes it will be ours”
When to Listen: When you're preparing for the 2018 elections, and you're gearing up for the new year.
10. Headstrong by Trapt
Best Lyric: “I know that you are wrong and this is not where you belong”
When to Listen: When you read a tweet by a certain someone that makes you want to hit a punching bag.
11. Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder
Best Lyric: “Powers keep on lyin' while your people keep on dyin'”
When to Listen: When heading to The Hill to hold your congressperson accountable.
12. I am Woman by Helen Reddy
Best Lyric: “I am woman hear me roar, in numbers too big to ignore”
When to Listen: When developing advocacy strategies before the next Women’s March.
13. I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty
Best Lyric: “No I'll stand my ground, won't be turned around”
When to Listen: When asking your city council to close the wage gap.
14. Keep Ya Head Up by Tupac
Best Lyric: “I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up”
When to Listen: Right before attending a training to run for office.
15. Where Is The Love by The Black Eyed Peas
Best Lyric: “But if you only have love for your own race / Then you only leave space to discriminate”
When to Listen: When kneeling in solidarity with Kaepernick.
16. Lose Yourself by Eminem
Best Lyric: “Do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime”
When to Listen: Before you start recruiting your friends to canvass for a progressive candidate.
17. Not Ready to Make Nice by Dixie Chicks
Best Lyric: “I'm still mad as hell, and I don't have time to go 'round and 'round and 'round”
When to Listen: When a Trump supporter tries to mansplain for the umpteenth time and you need a good advocacy strategy.
18. Redbone by Childish Gambino
Best Lyric: “Gon' catch you sleepin' (oh) Now stay woke”
When to Listen: When you’re home for the holidays and your uncle says something racist, sexist, or inappropriate and you stand up to him.
19. Resistance by Muse
Best Lyric: “Love is our resistance”
When to Listen: Before asking your school or workplace to switch to non-gender bathrooms.
20. Revolution by The Beatles
Best Lyric: “You say you'll change the constitution / Well, you know / We all want to change your head”
When to Listen: When you want to calm down after learning about the latest presidential appointment.
21. Revolution by Nina Simone
Best Lyric: “I see the face of things to come” “All the evil it will have to end”
When to Listen: When you want the perfect song for a resistance rally of all ages.
22. Ride Up by Andra Day
Best Lyric: “I'll rise unafraid / I'll rise up / And I'll do it a thousand times again”
When to Listen: When you witness or are the victim of discrimination.
23. Say it Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud by James Brown
Best Lyric: “I say we won't quit movin' until we get what we deserve”
When to Listen: When someone says that “all lives matter” and you need creative advocacy strategies to explain why that is insensitive.
24. Sisters are Doin It for Themselves by The Eurythmics ft. Aretha Franklin
Best Lyric: “Now this is a song to celebrate / The conscious liberation of the female state!”
When to Listen: When rockin’ your P hat this winter.
25. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott Heron
Best Lyric: “You will not be able to stay home, brother / You will not be able to plug in, turn on and drop out”
When to Listen: When talking to your apathetic friends.
26. The Times They are A Changin by Bob Dylan
Best Lyric: “Then you better start swimmin' / Or you'll sink like a stone / For the times they are a-changin'”
When to Listen: When you're starting to feel a bit down about the current Presidency, and you need motivation to get you through the rest of it.
27. We Shall Overcome by Mahalia Jackson
Best Lyric: “Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome someday.”
When to Listen: When developing advocacy strategies for speaking to baby boomers about joining the resistance.
28. We the People by A Tribe Called Quest
Best Lyric: “Muslims and gays / Boy, we hate your ways / So all you bad folks, you must go
When to Listen: When riding to the airport to protest the Muslim Ban.
29. What’s Goin On by Marvin Gaye
Best Lyric: “For only love can conquer hate”
When to Listen: When combatting hate speech on social media.
30. Born This Way By Lady Gaga
Best Lyric: “Don't hide yourself in regret / Just love yourself and you're set”
When to Listen: Right before increasing your efforts as an LGBT ally.
Have a positive social change song to add to our resist song list? Drop us a note.