101 Songs for the Resistance

In the wake of disaster, artists respond. In times of fear and confusion, many of us turn to music for comfort, solidarity, and strength. In response to Donald Trump’s fear-mongering campaign and now his terrifying, blatantly human-rights-violating presidency, musicians have put out songs and albums in direct defiance of him and all he represents, in many cases with a portion of the sales’ going to the ACLU and other worthy organizations fighting for justice. These songs join a long history of protest music in America and around the world, and like those tunes of the years and decades past, provide a worthy soundtrack to fighting the good fight.

The playlist compiled here combines songs old and new to create an inclusive soundtrack to the resistance. It features a little bit of everything, from riot grrrl feminist anthems to odes to black excellence; from folksy peaceful protest jams to tirades against the government; from songs for self-care to lamentations of impending doom.

The revolution takes all kinds of people, and all kinds of music. In the coming days we’ll need all the motivation we can muster, so crank up your speakers and get ready to fight.

1. “FDT (Fuck Donald Trump)” — YG and Nipsey Hussle
2. “Tiny Hands” — Fiona Apple*
3. “Mr. Tangerine Man” — Wesley Stace
4. “Million Dollar Loan” — Death Cab for Cutie
5. “The Donald” — A Tribe Called Quest
6. “Demagogue” — Franz Ferdinand
7. “The Internet” — Tacocat
8. “Nasty Grrls” — Childbirth
9. “None of Your Business” — Salt-N-Pepa
10. “Run The World (Girls)” — Beyonce
11. “We Won’t Go Back” — Love Always*
12. “Blood in the Boardroom” — Ani Difranco
13. “Baby I’m An Anarchist” — Against Me!
14. “Smile More” — Deap Valley
15. “You Don’t Own Me” — Leslie Gore
16. “Hwages” — Majedalesa*
17. “Hot Topic” — Le Tigre
18. “Q.U.E.E.N.” — Janelle Monáe ft. Erykah Badu
19. “Alright” — Kendrick Lamar
20. “My President” — Jeezy ft. Nas
21. “Keep Ya Head Up” — 2Pac
22. “We the People…” — A Tribe Called Quest
23. “U.N.I.T.Y.” — Queen Latifah
24. “Born this Way” — Lady Gaga
25. “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”  — R.E.M.
26. “The World (Is Going Up in Flames)” — Charles Bradley
27. “Eve of Destruction” — Barry McGuire
28. “This Is Not America” — David Bowie
29. “This Land is Your Land” — Woody Guthrie
30. “(What’s so Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” by Nick Lowe
31. “Blowin’ In the Wind” — Bob Dylan
32. “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
33. “Simple Song of Freedom” — Bobby Darin
34. “Give Peace A Chance” — John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
35. “Sic of Elephants” — Andrew Bird & Jim James
36. “Children of Privilege” — Joe Purdy
37. “Why Is It So Hard” — Charles Bradley
38. “Baltimore” — Prince ft. Eryn Allen Kane*
39. “Happy New Year (Prince Can’t Die Again)” — Mac McCaughan*
40. “Dear Mr. President” — 4 Non Blondes
41. “Killing in the Name” — Rage Against the Machine
42. “Despierta — Filthy Friends
43. “Face Up and Sing” — Ani Difranco
44. “Revolution 9.01” — Danbert Nobacon & The Axis of Dissent
45. “Smoke ‘Em Out” — CocoRosie ft. ANOHNI
46. “Movin Backwards” — A Tribe Called Quest
47. “Troubled Times” — Green Day
48. “Use Your Voice” — H20
49. “White People for Peace” — Against Me!
50. “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” — Eurythmics ft. Aretha Franklin
51. “Changes” — 2Pac
52. “Man in the Mirror” — Michael Jackson
53. “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song” — The Flaming Lips
54. “Democracy” — Leonard Cohen
55. “Land of the Free” — Joey Bada$$
56. “Before You Vote” — Thao Nguyen
57. “Gimme Some Truth” — John Lennon
58. “Hurricane” — Bob Dylan
59. “Strange Fruit” — Billie Holiday
60. “Quiet” — MILCK
61. “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution” — Tracy Chapman
62. “Standing in the Way of Control” — Gossip
63. “I Give You Power” —  Arcade Fire feat. Mavis Staples
64. “Power to the People” — John Lennon
65. “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” — Main Street Preachers
66. “Idioteque” — Radiohead
67. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” — Gil Scott-Heron
68. “Chicago” — Graham Nash
69. “What’s Goin’ On” — Marvin Gaye
70. “Brother What Happened?” — Muddy Magnolias
71. “Immigraniada” — Gogol Bordello
72. “Fuck Tha Police” — NWA
73. “Take the Power Back” — Rage Against the Machine
74. “Get Up Stand Up” — Bob Marley & the Wailers
75. “In Water We Trust – Mni Wiconi (#NoDAPL)” — Askultura ft. Kuyayky & Pedro ‘el criollito’ Erazo
76. “Power Of Love” — Loa McJungles*
77. “Fight the Power” — Public Enemy
78. “Beds Are Burning” — Midnight Oil
79. “Locker Room Talk” — Cold War Kids
80. “Hallelujah Money” — Gorillaz feat. Benjamin Clementine*
81. “Right Right Now Now” — Beastie Boys
82. “Pull Up the People” — M.I.A.
83. “2100” — Run the Jewels ft. BOOTS
84. “We Got The” — Beastie Boys
85. “Volunteers” — Jefferson Airplane
86. “Everyday People” — Sly & the Family Stone
87. “Free Enterprise” — Rick Ross ft. John Legend
88. “Mississippi Goddam” — Nina Simone
89. “We Shall Overcome” — Pete Seeger
90. “Don’t Ever Take Away My Freedom” — Peter Yarrow
91. “Freedom” — Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar*
92. “Robbin Hood Theory” — Gang Starr
93. “List of Demands (Reparations)” — Saul Williams
94. “Glory” — Common ft. John Legend
95. “Sad News” — Swizz Beatz ft. Scarface
96. “What It Means” — Drive-By Truckers
97. “Love Me, I’m a Liberal” — Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon
98. “The Charade” — D’Angelo
99. “Cry No More” — Rhiannon Giddens*
100. “Know Your Rights” — The Clash
101. “I’m Afraid of Americans” — David Bowie

• *not currently available on spotify; can be streamed elsewhere or purchased via links below

Looking to support or purchase good music for a good cause? Look here:

• https://www.songsforstandingrock.com/
• http://www.30days30songs.com/
• http://www.quasiband.com/
• https://barsuk.bandcamp.com/album/sad-a-barsuk-records-compilation-for-the-aclu

What songs would you add to this list? Comment or tweet us @litdarling with suggestions!