What is a song that deals with Existentialism?

Question

and Also Humanism if you know one?

Answer 1

For existentialism, which looks for subjective meaning in life, I would say Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds:

To every thing, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

Pete Seeger is credited with the writing of this song, but the words were lifted for the most part from Ecclisiastes, written by Solomon, the ultimate existentialist.

For humanism, which affirms the dignity and worth of a humans, I like One Tin Soldier; the theme song to the Legend of Billie Jack, the ultimate humanist flick:

ONE TIN SOLDIER
(The Legend of Billy Jack)
words and music by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter
Copyright © 1969 by ABC / Dunhill Music, Inc.

Listen children to a story that was written long ago
'bout a kingdom on a mountain and the valley folk below.
On the mountain was a treasure buried deep beneath a stone,
and the valley people swore they'd have it for their very own.


Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of heaven, justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowin' come the judgment day
on the bloody morning after one tin soldier rides away.


So the people of the valley sent a message up the hill
asking for the buried treasure, tons of gold for which they'd kill.
Came an answer from the kingdom: "With our brothers we will share
all the secrets of our mountain, all the riches buried there."


Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of heaven, justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowin' come the judgment day
on the bloody morning after one tin soldier rides away.


Now the valley cried with anger; mount your horses, draw your sword,
and they killed the mountain people, so they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure on the mountain, dark and red,
turned the stone and looked beneath it. "Peace on earth" was all it said.


Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of heaven, justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowin' come the judgment day
on the bloody morning after one tin soldier rides away.

Answer 2

The most famous existenstialist song is Killing An Arab, by The Cure. It's based on a short story by existentialist writer Robert Camus, where the main charactor shoots and kills an Arab man on a beach who was trying to attack him. He wouldnt have gotten in any trouble because it was self defense, but because he simply doesnt care what happens to him, and about what has happened, the police decide it was a malicious attack, and put him in jail to await execution.

Answer 3

Eye in the Sky by the Alan Parsons Project.

Answer 4

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Answer 5

Sounds of silence by Simon and Garfunkel

Answer 6

Anything by the Boss.