The Vietnam War and Counterculture Essay Example

In an era of oppression and government suppression, one constant still remained; the sounds and expression of music. In the early parts of American history, wars were fought to the tunes of Patriotic marches and victory odes that inspired soldiers. Because of this, war was always portrayed as being noble and heroic, but the Vietnam War was the first time this portrayal was challenged. Cries for peace were more loudly heard and movements to end the war ran throughout the United States. These newfound sentiments were also reflected in the music during the 1960s and 1970s. As demonstrated by The Animals’ 1965 Vietnam peace cry, “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place”,  its musical and lyrical content demonstrates sentiments of the Vietnam war. 

The Vietnam war was a very controversial war for Americans. This war had very little public support and it divided the country between people who supported it and people who did not. The unfortunate soldiers in the war did not feel any different than the public. Many did not want to be there and they did not feel like they were well enough supported to fight in the first place. One thing that kept the soldiers unified and motivated was music. One song, as mentioned before that was a stepping stone, was “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.” Although this song was not specifically made for the war, its elements related to the soldiers feelings and situation substantially. One such element that is present in the song is its functionality. So many of the soldiers were going through the same struggles and the lyrics within relate to every soldier, not just one. One such line includes, “We gotta get out of this place. Girl, there's a better life for me and you.” This line proves to be functional because a majority of the soldiers were leaving family, wives, girlfriends, etc. Those people that they left were a huge part of why they needed to get out of the war alive. Since the song was so functional, it unified everyone. It did not matter your background, social status or race, everybody loved this song. It, in turn, became the unofficial anthem for U.S. Soldiers in the Vietnam War. 

Another element that is present in the song is polyrhythm. Throughout the song, you can hear a drum and guitar playing in the background which blends the song better and makes it catchier. This is most likely one big reason that this song was so popular - because it was catchy. Its inspiring rhythm and powerful instruments creates an almost dreaming sense of a larger world and causes people to dream big. This is the power of rock and roll. The third element that is present in this song is call and response. The verse, “He's been workin' and slavin' his life away” shows a call because the singer is singing about how he watched his father on his deathbed after a lifetime of work. The response to this verse is, “We gotta get out of this place. If it's the last thing we ever do.” This line is responding to the call because the singer is implying that he does not want to like his father. He needs to get out of his work place and live a better life before he ends up on his deathbed. 

The impulse of this song is very obvious, it is a gospel impulse. The gospel impulse gives the listener a sense of hope. The burden is recognized when the singer is saying that soldiers could end up on their deathbed if they work their whole life away. The redemption to this is saying that they need to get out of there for a better life for the soldier and their “girl.” At times when the soldiers feel hopeless, this song brings them a sense of hope and comfort.

The decades of the 1960s and 1970s will be remembered as an era of social protest and swirling change, with music at its core. Especially evident by rock and roll music such as, “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” by The Animals in 1965, music was a medium that kept everyone connected and helped cultivate a social revolution and spoke for the ideals of young people.