Ten Songs That Helped Change America

Sometimes in our lives we get the melancholy to revisit some things from our past. Growing up during the last part of the hippie generation, I tend to listen to music from that era. I chose these 10 songs to share with anyone who wants to understand what it was like growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Please enjoy them during your free time. These timeless classics may help anyone who wants to understand.

This song, recorded by Melanie Safka in 1969, was her version of Mr. Tambourine Man, originally sung by Bob Dylan. Her voice sends me back into clouds of freedom and uncertainty (http://tiny.cc/leya3). She had a unique voice that transcends a generation.

Some of the old hippies will recall the group, Spirit, with Randy California. Nature’s Way, released in 1970, still stands as a testament today to problems in the country (http://tiny.cc/xw69n). The song explains that weather has its own mind.

And who from the era can forget Bob Dylan who recorded the song Like a Rolling Stone in 1965. The song told us what we were going through with a revolution in America (http://tiny.cc/gdp3h). Long hair, rock music, the influence of marijuana and pills were on the stage of the hippie generation.

The original and raspy voice of Janis Joplin singing Me and Bobby Mcgee, released in 1971, was an anthem when we were traveling on the open road, “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.”

Another folk singer was prominent during the era of peace and love. In 1971, Joan Baez recorded, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, about the civil war, (http://tiny.cc/y11uo). She was a true original ballad singer who also had many other hit songs.

Arlo Guthrie was known at the time as a folk singer as he sang the City of New Orleans, released in 1972. The song became an instant classic (http://tiny.cc/0btag). Guthrie was also famous for the song, "Alice's Restaurant."

The Animals recorded the House of the Rising Sun in 1964. The song became another New Orleans ballad in the day -- "Mothers, tell your children, not to do what I have done.")

Who can forget the Jefferson Airplane, featuring Gracie Slick, singing White Rabbit, released in 1967, (http://tiny.cc/22z13). Her voice is unreal in this song! Alice in Wonderland would never be the same. Neither will the rest of the cast of characters.

Freedom, love and peace were the buzz words spread freely with those you met giving the peace sign. The Youngbloods came out with a subtle anthem to bring everyone together in 1967 with Get Together. (http://tiny.cc/knvtw). For the most part, this song brought a lot of people together.

The Rascals united people in no other way that music groups could. People Got To Be Free, released 1969 (http://tiny.cc/h04dl), was an anthem during the hippie movement that brought thoughts of freedom to our hearts. Maybe we should go back to that era and relive it again. Peace, love and Freedom to all.