Neil Young’s 'Living With War': A timeless protest album

Neil Young's 29th studio album, ‘Living With War,’ released on May 2, 2006, stands as a powerful critique of the George W. Bush administration and its policies, particularly concerning the Iraq War. This album, written and recorded over just nine days in March and April 2006, is noted for its raw, urgent sound and politically charged lyrics.


The album's creation stemmed from Young's frustration with the absence of politically active voices among younger musicians. In interviews, Young expressed his hope that a younger artist would take up the mantle of protest, but when none emerged, he felt compelled to voice his dissent through his music. Drawing inspiration from the protest songs of the early 1960s by folk legends like Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan, Young infused ‘Living With War’ with what he describes as "metal folk protest music." This genre-blending approach earned the album descriptors like "anti-Bush folk-metal tirade" from Time Out London, emphasizing its hybrid nature and its defiant spirit.


In addition to Neil Young's "Living With War," the history of music is rich with powerful anti-war songs that have inspired generations to question and resist conflict. Here’s a curated playlist of 60 anti-war songs, featuring classics and contemporary pieces that continue to resonate.