What song, made no later than 1979, is the most relevant today?

Question

It can be any song from before 1980, but please explain why you think it's the most relevant. And please name one song only.

Answer 1

Goodbye, Cruel World

Pink Floyd

Answer 2

I dont think theres only one, there are many, and one of them is
F the CC on Revolution Starts Now also Rich Mans War
by Steve Earle
This is especially relevant today in the good 'ol USA


Jimmy joined the army ‘cause he had no place to go
There ain’t nobody hirin’
‘round here since all the jobs went
down to Mexico
Reckoned that he’d learn himself a trade maybe see the world
Move to the city someday and marry a black haired girl
Somebody somewhere had another plan
Now he’s got a rifle in his hand
Rollin’ into Baghdad wonderin’ how he got this far
Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war
Bobby had an eagle and a flag tattooed on his arm
Red white and blue to the bone when he landed in Kandahar
Left behind a pretty young wife and a baby girl
A stack of overdue bills and went off to save the world
Been a year now and he’s still there
Chasin’ ghosts in the thin dry air
Meanwhile back at home the finance company took his car
Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war

When will we ever learn
When will we ever see
We stand up and take our turn
And keep tellin’ ourselves we’re free

Ali was the second son of a second son
Grew up in Gaza throwing bottles and rocks when the tanks would come
Ain’t nothin’ else to do around here just a game children play
Somethin’ ‘bout livin’ in fear all your life makes you hard that way

He answered when he got the call
Wrapped himself in death and praised Allah
A fat man in a new Mercedes drove him to the door
Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war

Answer 3

The Sex Pistols' song God Save The Queen (from their 1977 album "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols") is very relevant in the modern age due to its acerbic diagnosis that there is "no future" and, the title itself being a sarcastic and scathing comment toward the symbolic leaderships of figureheads (The Queen by this point made no political decisions, just as it is heavily speculated and nearly concrete that American President George W. Bush takes instructions from Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney), it is reminiscent of the current landscape. Bombs are dropping, wars are being waged under false pretenses, and innocents are dying for an economy boost. No future, indeed.

Answer 4

Have to agree with many of the answers here as to the social comment/political statement songs of the 60s...
another is "Eve Of Destruction" - performed by Barry McGuire

(believe 'riversconflu' has mixed two songs performed by Peter, Paul & Mary:
Blowin' In the Wind - Bob Dylan
Where Have All The Flowers Gone - Pete Seeger)

Answer 5

Without a doubt, John Lennon's classic, "Imagine".
Released in the year 1971, it was recorded after his band The Beatles decided to go their separate ways.
For obvious reasons, this song is timeless for its positive message & is possibly THE most beautiful song ever written IMO.
The British band Oasis self-proclaimed Beatle fans covered the songs' intro on opening to their 90s hit, "Don't Look Back in Anger."

Answer 6

"Blowin' in the Wind," sung by Peter, Paul and Mary." Where have all the soldier's gone, long time passing...gone to graveyards everyone. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?"
I loved the song then, I still do. It speaks about the death that war brings, and asks if we will ever learn not to make war.
Obviously, with war looming in the middle east, again, the answer is still blowin' in the wind.

Answer 7

For What Its Worth by Buffalo Springfield. It pertained to Vietnam War and kind of fits our current situation today!

Answer 8

Mercy, Mercy, Me-the Ecology, by Marvin Gaye where did all the blue skies go? poison is the rain that blows from the north west south and east. oil wasted on the oceans and our seas, fish full of mercury. radiation underground and in the sky, animals and birds who live nearby all die. what about this crowded land, how much more abuse from man can she stand O Mercy, Mercy, Me! oh things ain't what they used to be!!

Answer 9

Jimi Hendrix version of the national anthem

Answer 10

What's Goin On? by Marvin Gaye. The whole What's Goin On album speaks today. He sings about war, drug abuse, and love.