Vietnam Song-Country Joe and the Fish

Coming from a house full of hippies that are obsessed with music, naturally I know a couple good protest songs. I’ve heard many, but none of them can compare with “Vietnam Song” by Country Joe and the Fish. The “Vietnam Song” is full of sardonic humor and allusions to set a funny yet realistic tone of the war in Vietnam.
The war in Vietnam was a very touchy subject. The country was divided between those who supported it and those who were completely against it. Country Joe and the Fish performed “Vietnam Song” at Woodstock protesting against the war. The song uses a lot of allusions. It makes references to Uncle Sam, Wall Street, Vietcong, and commies. This song is also full of sardonic humor “now come on wall street don't be slow, why man this is war a-go-go, there's plenty good money to be made, supplyin' the army with the tools of the trade, just hope and pray that when they drop the bomb, they drop it on the Vietcong.” This chorus is another good example of how they made fun of the war “and its 1,2,3 what are we fightin’ for? Don't ask me I don't give a dam, the next stop is Vietnam, and its 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. Well there ain’t no time to wonder why...WHOPEE we're all gunna die.” There is also a little situational irony towards the end when he says “come on fathers don't hesitate, send your sons off before its too late, be the first one on your block, to have your boy come home in a box.”
I love this song because it makes its point through humor of how pointless and sad the Vietnam war was. I recommend this song to every person who claim they went to Woodstock even though they didn’t to and to everyone else who loves a good protest song.