Songs_of_Freedom

While there is no shortage of freedom-oriented articles and essays and blogs and discussion groups available in print or online, artistic defenses of liberty continue to be a rarity. Indeed, the emotional component essential to art —whether a painting or sculpture or novel or movie — is frequently more effective at guiding individuals to a passion for freedom than any number of drier, more academic works explicating the principles and applications of individualism and capitalism.

In addition to my own fictional efforts and reviews of those by other authors (available on my home page), I have written about the importance of spreading the seeds of liberty via art. (For example, see “Tell Me a Story” and “Freedom Friendly Fiction.”) I am also heartened that the Mackinac Center for Public Policy is sponsoring a “Freedom in Fiction Prize” (see here) that will hopefully result in more authors focused on instilling an appreciation for liberty in their work.

Here, though, I would like to focus on another facet of art: music. More specifically, I want to share with you some songs that I believe encourage either liberty or its attendant values and virtues. As most of us can attest to from experience, music can elicit powerful responses and transport us to important moments in our lives. Ayn Rand noted in The Romantic Manifesto that music “evokes man’s sense-of-life emotions” (p. 46) and “is experienced as if it had the power to reach man’s emotions directly.” (p. 50) How we respond to any particular piece of music — favorably or unfavorably — reflects our most fundamental values and views of how life is and should be.

At present, this list of “songs of freedom” is short, but I ask readers to send me their suggestions for additions. (Send me email.) I present the songs by title in alphabetical order followed by the artist and album. Given my personal history, many (though not all) of these songs are from the Sixties or Seventies. Listening to the lyrics, however, many could just as easily have been written about our current national situation. (Most are available in the iTunes store.) (Brian Byars alerted me to a list posted by the Libertarian Party [here]. I have added some of those songs to the list, as well.)

“America,” Neil Diamond, The Jazz Singer
“Blowin’ in the Wind,” Peter, Paul, and Mary, The Very Best of Peter, Paul, & Mary
“Capitalism,” Oingo Boingo, Only a Lad
“The Coalition to Ban Coalitions,” Hank Williams, Jr., America (The Way I See It)
“Compared to What,” Roberta Flack, First Take
“Copperhead Road,” Steve Earle, Essential Steve Earle
“Dialogue (Part I and II),” Chicago, Very Best of Chicago
“Find the Cost of Freedom,” Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, So Far

“Firefly, Main Title,” Joss Whedon and Greg Edmonson, Firefly Soundtrack

“Free,” Chicago, Very Best of Chicago
“Freedom,” Jimi Hendrix, First Rays of the New Rising Sun
“Garden Party,” Rick Nelson, Garden Party
“Get Up, Stand Up,” Bob Marley and the Wailers, Talkin’ Blues (suggested by Brian Byars)
“Greatest Love of All,” Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
“I Feel Free,” Eric Clapton, The Cream of Clapton
“I’m Free,” The Who, Tommy
“I Won’t Back Down,” Tom Betty and the Heartbreakers, Greatest Hits
“If I Had a Hammer,” Peter, Paul, and Mary, The Very Best of Peter, Paul, & Mary
“If Six was Nine,” Jimi Hendrix, Axis: Bold as Love
“It’s My Life,” The Animals, Retrospective
“Justice Day,” Rockne Van Meter and Opium War, Rebelfire: Out of the Gray Zone
“Let’s Work,” Mick Jagger, Primitive Cool
“Lives in the Balance,” Jackson Browne, The Next Voice You Hear
“March of Cambreadth,” Heather Alexander, Midsummer (suggested by Joseph Hodge)
“Mal’s Song,” Michelle Dockrey, Basement Sessions (suggested by Joseph Hodge)
“Monster/Suicide/America,” Steppenwolf, Monster
“My Life,” Billy Joel, Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
“My Way,” Frank Sinatra, My Way
“1%,” Jane’s Addiction, Jane’s Addiction
“People Got to Be Free,” The Rascals, Essentials
“Redemption Song,” Bob Marley and the Wailers, Uprising (suggested by Brian Byars)
“Simple Song of Freedom,” Bobby Darin, Aces Back to Back
“Something for Nothing,” Rush, 2112
“Sunshine,” Jonathan Edwards, Jonathan Edwards
“Taxman,” The Beatles, Revolver
“Two Hangmen,” Mason Profitt, Wanted! Mason Proffitt
“Viva la Guantanamera,” Hip Hop Hoodios, Viva la Guantanamera
“War,” Edwin Starr, Motown Legends: War: Twenty-Five Miles
“When,” Shania Twain, Come on Over
“Won’t Get Fooled Again,” The Who, Who’s Next


DEATH IS EASY by *Russell Madden* *Softcover, $14.95* *Hardcover, $24.95* *(Preview. Also available in a digital edition, $4.81.)*	FREEDOM, As If It Mattered by *Russell Madden* *Softcover, $24.95* *Hardcover, $34.95* *(Preview. Also available in a digital edition, $5.63.)*