Da:Canzoniere del Progno
www.canzonieredelprogno.it

2005
Dall'album "Bala e fa balà "

a Carletto Giuliani

[1964]

"Una canzone-manifesto del movimento beat, che ruota attorno a due elementi ideali: la non violenza e la ripartenza, intesa come cancellazione del ricordo e della esperienza ed inizio di un mondo del tutto nuovo. Sul primo siamo d'accordo, sul secondo, come Musica & Memoria, un po' di meno.

La base musicale è curiosamente presa da un brano americano decisamente leggero dei Searchers, "Don't Throw Your Love Away", di argomento del tutto diverso e tradizionale ("Non gettare via il tuo amore") con le note festose del quale l'impegno esibito del "Manifesto" stride un poco." - Musica e Memoria

Dall'album "La casa di Alice"

[1966]
Testo e musica di Roberto Castiglione

Un notevole brano beat nello stile di P.F.Sloan (l'autore di Eve Of Destruction, il grande successo di Barry McGuire) scritto e interpretato da uno dei più significativi cantautori beat, Roby Crispiano (Roberto Castiglione). Programmato dalle radio all'epoca (a Bandiera gialla, dove vinse diventando "canzone regina" e a Per voi giovani), ebbe anche un buon successo, aiutato anche dalla particolare voce roca di Roby e dalla sua convinta interpretazione. Crispiano - Castiglione, che ebbe altri buoni successi come ade esempio Brennero '66, presentata al Festival delle Rose in coppia con la prima formazione dei Pooh (e con annessi guai da parte della censura RAI), abbandonò presto la carriera musicale per non scendere ai compromessi richiesti dall'ambiente e dai discografici dopo la fine dell'epoca d'oro del beat, abbracciando una carriera di venditore... (continua)

[1998]
Da/From "Before These Crowded Streets"

This song is about inhumanity, particularly in the context of war. The song contradicts the belief that war is necessary to eventually reach peace, as displayed in the lyrics "War, the only way to peace, well I don't fall for that." The song also talks about the way people kill others without even thinking about it, almost in a robotic fashion: "How is this hate so deep, lead us all so blindly killing killing, fools we are." The song also discusses the US government's lies concerning war and their idea of supremacy in the world: "Right is wrong now, shut up you big lie." The last topic discussed is the pain caused by war, especially towards the families of those killed: "Mother's cry is hate so deep, must a baby's bones this hungry fire feed." (thanks, Liz - Ridgewood, NJ)

*

This song is obviously about Jerusalem, "the last stop" on a migragtion... (continua)

[1970]
Da / From "Question Of Balance"



Band member Justin Hayward wrote this. It reflected the thoughts of many young people who were questioning the war in Vietnam.
This was the opening track on their Question Of Balance album. It was recorded several months earlier than the other tracks on the album and its title was shortened from "Question Of Balance" to "Question"
in the liner notes of the 1997 remastered CD, Hayward wrote: "Sometime before we taped the album, we (documented) 'Question,' which was a song that I didn't have on Friday night for a session (the next day). But, by the morning, I had it and it was recorded very quickly." Hayward adds that it was "Recorded live, with no overdubbing or double-tracking, just a bit of echo."
In The UK this became their second biggest hit, after their 1964 #1 hit "Go Now."
Fish, who is the ex-lead singer of the UK rock group Marillion,... (continua)

[2005]
From / Da "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning"

This song is about the Iraq war, which the band feels is completely unnecessary. Conor Oberst sings, "There are kids playing guns in the street/and one's pointing his tree branch at me, so I threw my hands up, I said enough is enough, if you walk away, I'll walk away, then he shot me dead." This song suggests that even the youth are marred with violence. (thanks, Robin - Huntertown, IN)

*

I agree. I think it's about many different things, not only the Irag War. It says a lot about running away from different situations, I think. One of my favorite verses in this is, "We made love on the living room floor With the noise in background of a televised war And in the deafening pleasure I thought I heard someone say 'If we walk away, they 32ll walk away'" I think that verse just speaks so much about how you can never be free of war and pain and... (continua)

[1971]
Da / From "The Yes Album"

This is an anti-war song: The term "I've seen all good people" is ALL the people, including the so-called enemy.
The line, "Don't surround yourself with yourself" refers to self-righteous behavior; "Move on back two squares" is a chess term meaning to retreat and rethink your position. The lyrics also refer to the queen, which is the most versatile and powerful chess piece. It talks about how news is captured for use by the queen, which uses forces to take control and manipulate troops against the enemy. War is like a game of chess.
This song references "Instant Karma" which was a song recorded by John Lennon a year earlier.
The lines: "Just remember that the gold is for us to capture all we want, anywhere, Yea, yea, yea" refers to the rich and powerful victimizing the weak and poor. The US was taken off the Gold standard by Richard Nixon August 15, 1971... (continua)

[1998]
Da / From " This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours"


Commento di Giacomo:

The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold

La frase-monito per l'attuale generazione, che non puo' combattere una guerra.

'So if I can shoot rabbits
Then I can shoot fascists'

Molti sostengono che questa sia la frase pronunciata da un allevatore che ando' a combattere la guerra...

Bullets for your brain today
But we'll forget it all again

La guerra civile spagnola fu "presto" dimenticata dall'inizio della seconda guerra mondiale

Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder

Gli eroi nazionali che compaiono sui giornali fanno sentire i giovani (di oggi) dei "codardi" (gutless)

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will... (continua)

Dal'album: Comunque contro

[2000]
Da/From "The State"

This is about Concentration Camps/Death Camps during World War II. The "Human Mile" refers to the Jews who will never come back. (thanks, Jay - Reading, England)

(From "Songfacts")

[1983]
Da / From "Piece Of Mind"

This song is based on the Crimean War, which was fought by the Russians and the Ottoman Empire (England, France, and Sardinia). There are several mentions of the Russians such as, "The mighty roar of the Russian guns" and "When a Russian gets me in his sights." (thanks, Michael Olsen - West Hills, CA)

*

As it mentions in the songfacts section this track is indeed about the Crimean War Between Russia and Britain.
- Steven, Penzance, England

(From "Songfacts")

[1990]
Da / From "No Prayer For The Dying"

A sequel to Maiden's 1984 song Aces High It depicts the battle from another perspective. It was co-written by Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris.
Contains the harshest profanity Iron Maiden has ever used in their song lyrics- the F-word.
Bruce Dickinson: "The title came from a porno movie about anal sex. Then I thought, well I can't write the lyrics about that, so I write it about real tailgunners. I had some words which began 'Trace your way back fifty years, to the glow of Dresden, blood and tears.' I know we shouldn't mention the war but it's about the attitude of bombing people. It was real death in the skies back then. But there aren't any tailgunners on planes anymore, it's all done by computers using missiles. At least it used to be man-on-man, but now it's machine-on-machine. Who uses bullets anymore?"
The first track off the album, it... (continua)

[2000]
Da / From "Bang Bang"



This song tells a story about a brilliant and battle-torn young general who has a dream in which he realizes the futility of war. He then attempts to persuade his men that they do not have to participate in the battle, but that he would fulfill the job he had sworn to do. He wants them to leave and live a full life, but none of his men will leave him. (thanks, Jim - Pittsburgh, PA)

*

When I first heard this song, it was at a service project program call Sierra Service Project, where a counselor sang it for us while accompanying himself on guitar. It seemed then, and it still seems now, that this song is religious in nature. The whole song to me seems like an extended metaphor for Jesus, or some other "savior"-type person. for the sake of simplicity, let's just say its Jesus. It seems to me that you could make the connection between Jesus and the General... (continua)

[1980]
Da / From "Real Aussies"



This is about the Vietnam War. The "Light Green" refers to the area on a map of Vietnam. Dark green was an area where there had been no defoliants ("Agent Orange," for instance) and where there was plenty of cover. Light green meant it had been cleared, but there were likely minefields and probably Vietnamese around (because it had been cleared).
The areas named in the first part of the song: Puckapunyal, Townsville, Shoal Water, Nui Dat and Vung Tau are all real places. Puckapunyal was a training center for army recruits. Townsville is a town in Queensland; Shoal Water was used for military training exercises, and Nui Dat and Vung Tau were Australian bases in Vietnam. The "SLR" is the Self Loading Rifle, the standard armament of Australian Infantry in Vietnam. "Greens" in the lyrics are simply camo uniforms. "Chinooks" are helicopters, or "Choppers,"... (continua)

[1988]
Da / from "...And Justice for All"

This is about the end of the world in Nuclear War. It also deals with pollution, deforestation and other social problems. (thanks, Ryan - Ireland)

This song is based on assorted social/political matters. Including different reasons for death. Disease, Famine, Hunger, War, Addictions, etc. And actually, Hetfield came from a very religious family.
- Jess, Milford, PA

no it's not about the end of world war 1. it's about the way the end of the world is written in the bible.
- Aaron, Des Moines, IA

no it's not about the end of in nuclear war. it's about the way the end of the world is written in the bible.
- Aaron, Des Moines, IA

ok that first guy doesnt no what hes talkin about i doubt Metallica ever read the bible let alone right a song about it(besides creeping death) buts it is the end of the world and the first song of the best alumb ever
-... (continua)

[1984]
From / da "Powerslave"

[The song] describes an air battle from the viewpoint of a flying ace. The lyrics and fast-paced style have made the song commonly associated with war, and it appeared in the 1986 film Incident at Channel Q, about a war between headbangers and conservative "straight people".

The first line is "There goes the siren that warns of the air raid." Lead singer Bruce Dickinson had earned the nickname "The Air Raid Siren" for his powerful, never-tiring vocals. He is also a licensed pilot, and since leaving the band in 1993, has flown many commercial flights.

Partially inspired by the 1976 war film of the same name starring Malcolm McDowell and Christopher Plummer.
The cover for the single was a close-up of Eddie (Iron Maiden's mascot) in a WWII jet. The back of the case showed the jet spiraling the ground, up in flames, smoke spewing from it. The B-side was "King... (continua)

1999
In tel vento sonà

La canzone parla della strage del 2 agosto 1980 alla stazione di Bologna e mi è stata segnalata direttamente da Guido Frezzato dei Marmaja, che ringrazio di cuore.

Vorrei dedicarla a Elia, il chitarrista dei Marmaja, scomparso il 18 giugno 2004.
Con nessun'altra parola, ma soltanto musica.

(Riccardo Venturi)

Joao Menezes è l'elettricista brasiliano ucciso a freddo da quattro uomini in borghese di Scotland Yard dopo gli attentati di Londra del 7 luglio 2005

La canzone fu scritta da Franco Battiato e arrangiata con lui dal fido Giusto Pio, ma nel 1981 e per l'album di canzoni interpretate (ed in parte anche scritte) da Giuni Russo intitolato "Energie". Fu reinterpretata da Battiato nell'album dal vivo "Giubbe rosse" del 1989

(Bartleby)

[1982]
Testo di Tommaso Tramonti (Henri Thomasson)
Musica di Franco Battiato
da "L'arca di Noè"

Da Ciulandari (1992)

Testo e musica di Davide Bernasconi
[Davide Van De Sfroos]

[1995]
Testo e musica di Davide Bernasconi
[Davide Van De Sfroos]
Dall'album "Manicomi"

[1974]
Testo e musica di Phil Ochs
Lyrics and Music by Phil Ochs

Mai pubblicata in album, ma solo in 45 giri, è una delle ultime canzoni scritte da Phil Ochs prima del tunnel finale della depressione che lo portò al suicidio due anni dopo. Si tratta di una riscrittura, o di una parodia, di una sua precedente canzone intitolata "Here's To The State Of Mississippi"; probabilmente, una delle più violente requisitorie contro Richard Nixon mai concepite.

E la cosa singolare, ma non troppo, è che basta sostituire "George W. Bush" a "Richard Nixon", senza cambiare una virgola (l'hanno anche fatto!).

Nella canzone si nomina il "reverendo" ultraconservatore Billy Graham, il cui seguito è stato larghissimo fino alla sua morte, avvenuta pochi mesi fa. Secondo unanimi giudizi, Billy Graham ha contribuito in modo decisivo alla rinascita della "nuova destra" ultrareligiosa americana. George W. Bush si è "convertito", su sua stessa ammissione, proprio ascoltando i suoi sermoni.

[1966]
Testo e musica di Phil Ochs
Lyris and Music by Phil Ochs
Album: "Phil Ochs in Concert"

[1964]
Testo e musica di Phil Ochs
Lyrics and Music by Phil Ochs
Album: "All The News That's Fit To Sing"

A song of longing and loss... the only real result of any war.

When our fearless leader taunts the world with ill-considered words like "Bring it on!"
-- perhaps it would be wise for the rest of us to ponder the price that we all pay for violence.

Dall'album "AL PUEBLO LO QUE ES DE CESAR"

(2003)

Ruggeri canta questa canzone insieme ad Andrea Mirò. La canzone è al dialogo tra un boia e un condannato a morte che dopo poco dovrà scontare la propria pena. Il brano non è propriamente contro la guerra, ma resta a mio parere una forte testimonianza contro uno dei tanti atti di violenza e barbarie ingiustificate e che la gente tende a non riconoscere come tali.

[1965]
Testo e musica di Phil Ochs
Lyrics and Music by Phil Ochs
Album: "Phil Ochs in Concert"
Pubblicato su Broadside #59 Giugno 1965

[1965]
Poesia di John Jerome Rooney [1866-1934]
Lyrics: Poem by John Jerome Rooney [1866-1934]
Musica di Phil Ochs
Music by Phil Ochs

(including Mirrors)

da "In The Court of The Crimson King" (1969)

Lyrics by Pete Sinfield
Music by Fripp/McDonald/Lake/Giles

L'album che si apriva con questa canzone rappresenta per molti la nascita del movimeto progressive (i temi sono stati ripresi da tanti gruppi progressive, a cominciare dai Genesis) ma definirlo solo come pietra miliare è sicuramente riduttivo.
Il Re Cremisi, per chi non ne fosse a consocenza, altro non era che Federico II di Svevia, il primo uomo moderno, il nemico della Chiesa (non per niente fu proprio quest'ultima a trovargli quell'affettuoso soprannome dal sapore mefistofelico).
La fusione sinergica fra musica e testi (di Pete Sinfield, a proposito date un'occhiata al sito www.songsouponsea.com) raggiunge in questo disco dei livelli sublimi.
La contapposizione fra un passato di armonia e felicità perduta (ma non era tanto vero visti gli esperimenti che l'uomo... (continua)