Music That Tells History

Songs that tell us history.
Songs that recount events that happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRE9vMBBe10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jBbCQwJ0g

 

Go on then I'll Have a go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqqQcjK2phU&feature=youtu.be

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_duPtoJgWP4&feature=youtu.be

 

http://youtu.be/4L4pwslI7gM

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Vz_Sk8gZ8&feature=youtu.be

 

One of my favs

Songinfo on http://www.sinclairgenealogy.info/sinclairs-ballad: This a Norwegian song about the massacre of Scots mercenaries hired by the Swedish king in a war with Norway and Denmark. Colonel Alexander Ramsay and his men landed at Isfjorden, on the coast of Romsdal and Møre, and were ambushed by Norwegian farmers at Kringen in the Gudbrandsdalen valley on 26 August 1612.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSJ2bWS1Jnw

edit: well I posted both the original lyrics as the english translation but felt like it took an awful lot of space. While for the ones who actually care about them, both lyrics are very handy next to each other here: http://lyricstranslate.com/nl/sinclair-vise-sinclair%E2%80%99s-ballad.html

I recommend to read them with the song! Awesome song and fairly unknown piece of history

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O2qJ0JXjug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjX2ztmjLk4

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2eO65BqxBE

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KecIdlEAKhU

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aywDT6yHMmo

 

dont like u2 so im posting this other version


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeK2PWqyGLQ

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

 

titanic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pScXxX2f3AM

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Lk0DZDaL8

 

Most of these songs seem to be downers of varying degree. Here are a couple of happier history songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIF5wJgXagc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrWNTqbLFFE

 

I only heard the Steve Earle version, but I love this song! Earle sings it with some great attitude, really makes it sound it's his own story.

 

I don't think I can link the whole album but The Meads of Asphodel usually do some interesting historic music, but, it's a little of bad taste pending your perception. There's added humor involved but eh, it's history so I post the albums here.

The Meads of Asphodel - The Murder of Jesus the Jew
The Meads of Asphodel - Sonderkommando

 

We could drown this thread in Woody, but I want to post this an answer to the Nebraska song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJZZ0AbzBCo

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxD2N-Dd7pw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGS6bRXDuIM

Lyrics (original):

Åretak hørtes,
vakre langskip fosset frem
Som en vind fra nord,
kom våre fedre i land
Horder, Ryger og Egder,
samlet til felles strid
Staute menn ten frykt
Sverdslag knuste kristmanns skalle

Lenge hersket vi, Nordens konger
Mange slag vi vant ved Midgards strender
Men, sveket av våre egne,
ble vi tvunget net i kne
Når vinden nå igjen jager,
vender tankene omsider hjem
Vi skal reise oss i vår prakt
Sannelig skal kvitehorden skjelve

"Vi falt som menn
Derfor døde vi ei hen
Veik er den som fiender elsker
Svik ei ditt opphav"

----------

Lyrics in english:

Strokes from oars could be heard,
beautiful ships gushed through the sea
Like a wind from the north,
our ancestors reached the shore
Men from Hordaland, Rogaland and Adger
gathered for battle in common
Proud men with no fear
Strokes from the sword crushed the skull of the christian

A long time we ruled, kings of the north
Many battles we won, at the shores of Midgard
But, betrayed by our own brothers
we were forced down on our knees
Now when the wind once again is howling
the thoughts finally goes towards home
We shall rise in our glory
The white horde will for sure shiver

"We died like men
Therefore we never vanished
Weak is the one the enemy loves
Never betray your origin"