Rolling Stone Names Best Protest Songs

Protest songs have been prevalent in music for many, many years but it wasn't until the mid-60's that they became widely heard in the world of rock and pop music. Writers like Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan recorded classics of protests and had many of their composition performed by others who would make them radio staples.

This week, Rolling Stone's editors and readers put their collective heads together to make a list of the 25 best protest songs and, in a sign that the protest song may be a bit of a lost art, 22 of the 25 songs are from classic era artists.

1. Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
   
2. Masters of War - Bob Dylan
   
3. Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
   
4. I-Feel-Like-I'm-a-Fixin'-to-Die-Rag - Country Joe & the Fish
   
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
   
6. Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan
   
7. What's Goin' On? - Marvin Gaye
   
8. Anarchy in the U.K. - Sex Pistols
   
9. Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
   
10. War - Edwin Starr
    
11. Won't Get Fooled Again - Who
    
12. Gimme Some Truth - John Lennon
    
13. For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
    
14. Fight the Power - Public Enemy
    
15. Let's Impeach the President - Neil Young
    
16. Civil War - Guns n' Roses
    
17. Redemption Song - Bob Marley
    
18. Working Class Hero - John Lennon
    
19. Revolution - Beatles
20. Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
    
21. Street Fighting Man - Rolling Stones
    
22. When the President Talks to God - Brite Eyes
    
23. Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley
    
24. A Change is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
    
25. Ignoreland - R.E.M.