Contributor: Brian Anthony. Lesson ID: 11087
Music isn't just for entertainment or profit; it's a great, memorable way to make a point or preserve history! Examine the raw power of the blues and listen to the lessons this American genre teaches!
It can be surprising, shocking, or disappointing to know what was on an artist's mind when they composed our favorite songs!
In the centuries before history textbooks were ever imagined, before people could read and write like they do today, music was an important way to communicate past events and their impact on real human communities.
We have carried that tradition into the present.
Browse through these Songs about historical events. Click on a song, and the factsheet for that song will open.
Read the historical connection for your selected songs. Then, choose two or three that you thought were especially interesting.
Write a reflection and include answers to the following questions.
Share your reflections and discuss them with someone. Ask them about a song they can remember that had a historical connection and why they felt it was so meaningful.
Boogie on over to the Got It? section to listen to and interpret some classic songs!