Unraveling American
History
Exploring Song Choices

 The West Memphis Three Case—this truly is an intriguing
and super cool topic. Three kids (who dressed in black and
did not fit in with others in the town) were accused and
convicted of killing young boys. For years, Hollywood
celebs like Johnny Depp and Eddie Vedder fought for the
release of the West Memphis Three. Who really killed the
young boys if these 3 did not? Pick this and you will be
investigating a modern-day witch hunt.
“3”

 Hailing from my home state, Dahmer
brought us great shame. He was a serial
killer and cannibal of 17 boys. He didn’t
live to see a later life.
“213”

5 marchers were shot and killed
by members of the KKK and
American Nazi Party
The shady part is that police
watched the event and didn’t do
much to prevent it.
“88 Seconds in Greensboro”

 A Bruce Springsteen song about the 1999
murder of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed
immigrant, which set off a tirade about
racial profiling in America
“American Skin” or “41 Shots”

Billie Holiday was jazz singer whose
performances often moved people to
tears. She battled much in her life—
racism, drug addiction, and relationships.
She died too early.
“Angel of Harlem”

 Rodney King, a black motorist, was
beaten in a routine traffic stop. His
attackers (the police) were acquitted and
the world rioted for 6 straight days. 53
people died.
“April 29, 1992”

 Tale of one of five marines who raised the
flag at Iwo Jima
 His death was a horrible one—one all too
common for our veterans
“Ballad of Ira Hayes”

 Police raided an African-American drinking
club…to find a party welcoming home
Vietnam vets. A racial riot ensued. The
numbers were startling…over 7000 were
arrested; many were injured; a multitude
were dead.
“Black Day in July”

 ―The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the
wind.‖ It is a protest song, but what is
Dylan protesting? Civil rights? War?
“Blowin’ in the Wind”

 Systematic destruction of the Native
Americans by our government—go figure,
the destruction still continues today
“Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”

 If you love corrupt politicians, then this is
the song for you. It is a song highlighting
America’s finest—liar that is…Richard
Nixon
“Campaigner”

 The song has gone through several
versions, but you would be researching
the initial inspiration—Marilyn Monroe—
her life and death
“Candle in the Wind”

 Some question the ―legend‖ of her being
the one asked/killed because she said she
did believe in God.
 Typical teenage girl who once was
consumed in a life of drugs…she found her
faith and supposedly tried to defend it on
that infamous day in Littleton, Colorado.
“Cassie”

 You will be researching the Green River
killer Gary Ridgway. He was convicted of
48 separate murders. He admitted to
killing twice that amount of people.
“Deep Red Bells”

 Can there be a COOLER story than that of
the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde? I
think not.
“Demolition Lovers”

 Dropped ―Little Boy‖ on Hiroshima—
forever changing the world.
 Named after the mother of the pilot.
“Enola Gay”

 ―Stop, children. What’s that sound?
Everybody look what’s going down.‖
 The song takes on a true generational
problem—its real inspiration came from
the Sunset Strip riots
“For What it is Worth”

The song recounts the wrongful conviction
of Leonard Peltier (a Native American
whose tribe had been annihilated in drive-
by shootings by our government). The
tribe fought back and Peltier was
wrongfully convicted. He rots in jail
because the legal system is too weak to
admit it is WRONG!
“Freedom” by Rage

 Want to learn more about one of the most
famous killers to exact revenge on his
victims and the police? Then enter the of
this Slayer song about the Zodiac Killer.
“Gemini”

 A scathing look at President George W.
Bush and FEMA’s slow rescue of those
stranded in New Orleans due to Hurricane
Katrina.
“Georgia Bush”

 Remember Trayvon Martin…the kid we
studied on the first day of school? The
African-American kid who was shot by a
Hispanic man…thinking Trayvon was up to
no good. All Trayvon had in his pocket
was Skittles. It will be the TRIAL of the
year.
“God Don’t Love Me”

 A song about how much our Vietnam
veterans went through and how little they
were supported while at war/when they
returned.
“Goodnight Saigon”

 Interested in the war with Iraq and our
world’s reliance on black gold (oil that is)?
Pick this song.
“Heaven Runs on Oil”

 Had its own life before Charles Manson
hijacked the song. It was a prophetic
song of racial tensions destroying our
nation.
You can also study its relation to my
favorite freakazoid, Charles Manson
“Helter Skelter”

 Be prepared to be disturbed, really
disturbed about this on-air suicide which
was shown in classrooms throughout our
nation. The man is from our local area.
“Hey Man, Nice Shot”

 Don’t ignore this song…one of the coolest
topics to research. Have you seen the
movie with Denzel Washington? Rubin
Carter was a black boxer who, in my
opinion, was FRAMED for murders he did
not commit. He spent 20 years in jail—a
wrongfully convicted man.
“Hurricane”

 I know you hate Mondays. The song’s origin
is truly fascinating. A crazy woman opened
up fire on a bunch of young kids at a
playground…the end result? Fascinating.
 Remember the House episode with Dave
Matthews? This song was a crucial part of
the episode.
 *Did I fail to mention that Hugh Laurie is my
biggest celebrity crush? I know he is old and
that is creepy…
“I Don’t Like Mondays”

 A look into the day John Lennon, famed
singer of the Beatles, was murdered by a
slightly crazed man (who carried a copy of
Catcher in the Rye—which is a story of its
own—literally and figuratively).
“I Just Shot Lennon”

 Eddie Vedder tried to give life to a small
story of a boy who committed suicide in
his English class; it has a second story as
well. In my opinion, it is the best SONG
on the list.
“Jeremy”

 Truly disturbing…
 Not for the weak of heart
 Beyond SICK serial killer who dressed as
Pogo the clown to lure boys to their
death.
“John Wayne Gacy”

 One of the most fascinating stories on the
list. ―Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid‖ takes on
new meaning. A cult leader who led young
children and others to mass suicide.
 GREAT documentaries on this historical
event
“Jonestown”

 Just added this one this year…I would love
someone to pick this topic. Latimer killed
his son who was in pain and suffering (he
had multiple crippling diseases). Latimer
went to prison while many think what he
did was humane. Peer into the dark tale…
“Latimer’s Mercy”

 While 9-11 was a dark, dark day, Flight 93
was a slight ray of light in the midst of the
utter despair. This song was written about
Todd Beamer and the others who overtook
the plane and crashed it. Ultimately, they
saved many lives on that day.
“Let’s Roll”

 One of the stories on this list that makes
me ashamed of my American
ancestors…her SENSELESS death and the
nation’s reaction to it REPULSES me
“Lonesome Death of Hattie Caroll”

 Most twisted love story I have ever heard
of…you know Mary Kay, the elementary
teacher, who fell in love with her young
student. She had kids with him, went to
jail, and then still went after him.
 What is wrong with the world today?
“Mary Kay”

 Reaction to the confession of the Boston
Strangler murders.
“Midnight Rambler”

 Disgruntled with corrupt religious figures?
 Jimmy Swaggart took a pretty big
religious FALL, and Ozzy discusses
Swaggart’s disgrace.
“Miracle Man” by Ozzy Osbourne

 A civil rights leader who was gunned down
outside his home…his kids found him
dead. It took 31 years for his killer to be
brought to justice.
“Mississippi Goddam”

 Squeamish? Can’t handle a story about a
man who skinned his victims and then
wore their flesh? Don’t pick this topic.
“Nothing to Gein”

 Anti-war? Choose this song about the
Kent State Riots. You will have a wealth of
research. ―Innocent?‖ college kids were
gunned down for their beliefs on war.
“Ohio”

 Recent Arizona legislation which is our
nation’s most stringent law on the books
for anti-immigration. There is great
controversy over this bill.
“Papers Please”

 Great song…not-so-great story that
inspired the event. This song is the
HARDEST one on the list to research. You
would have to dig REALLY deep and have
a whole lot of Nirvana books to find the
answers.
“Polly”

 American bank robber romanticized by
the American media.
“Pretty Boy Floyd”

 MLK’s assassination—a safe topic with a
wealth of research. A great song to
dissect.
“Pride in the Name of Love”

 Too many gay, lesbian, queer, and
transgender kids seem to be turning to
suicide after terrible bullying. Tyler
Clementi (the boy who jumped off a
bridge after his college roommate secretly
filmed him) and others are profiled in the
song.
“Make it Stop”

 A song recounting the nuclear Power Plant
accident and Three Mile Island. Our
government reported no deaths or
injuries. They lied. Lung cancer and
leukemia rates in the area spiked (as did
infant mortality rates).
“Roulette”

 I would love to have a group cover this
song about the senseless murder of
Matthew Shepard. He was a homosexual
who was brutally beaten, tied to a fence,
and left for dead. Why? That is where the
mystery starts.
“Scarecrow”

 Safe song…great story…a ton of research
 Tale of Rosa Parks and what she so
bravely accomplished with one simple
gesture.
“Sister Rosa”

 A political convention having controversy
and protests? No way. This event was a
big one.
“Someday”

 Safe topic about the Cuban Missile
Crisis…a truly frightening event for our
nation.
“Talking Cuban Crisis”

 A song written in memory of Caylee
Anthony whose mom got away with
murder (my opinion). Obviously, the
courts feel differently. Such an injustice
this young girl is dead.
“She’s Going Places”

 A look into our nation’s dark past when it
comes to slavery.
“Southern Man”

 There was a time where our nation got
eerily close to war with Cuba…It was a
tense time and a shameful one for our
government.
“Talking Cuban Crisis”

 This song was written as a memorial to
Kurt Cobain after his tragic ―suicide?‖
 You would be looking at the death and
life/legacy of Kurt Cobain
“Tearjerker”

 Nice guy with a not –so-nice obsession.
Girls about to go off to college…don’t pick
the topic. Ted Bundy is the source for
much disconcerting information.
“Ted, Just Admit It”

 In this song, the White Stripes attack GM,
Chrysler, Ford and unions for killing off
part of America.
“The Big Three Killed my Baby”

 Calling fellow environmentalists—a look at
how the government takes away what
little natural resources we have left.
“The Last Resort”

 Science gurus unite
 Our first attempt to develop a nuclear
weapon…shame …shame…shame
 Tons of research to help here
“The Manhattan Project”

 Mystery abounds with this ship that sank
with NO distress calls.
“The Wreck of the Edmund…”

 Lil Weezy critizes my favorite president of
all time about his ―quick‖ response with
Hurricane Katrina (I do miss George W.)
“Tie My Hands”

 Prom is about fun and dancing, right?
Well, for one young teen it was a place to
birth a baby in the bathroom and then
throw it away in the trash. Truly a
sobering tale.
“Throw Yourself Away”

 Why do rappers sing about Watts? It has
a story—then and now.
“Trouble Every Day”

 Valentine’s Day isn’t all love and roses.
For Chicago, it is the day of one of the
worst mob massacres ever.
“Valentine’s Day”

 Don’t like your kids? Why don’t you put
them in a car, roll them into a lake, and
blame it all on an innocent African-
American man.
 This is the messed-up world of convicted
mother/murderer Susan Smith.
“When This is Over”

 A biting social commentary on our race to
the moon at the expense of more pressing
social issues.
“Whitey on the Moon”

 This song details Vietnam and the EMPTY
promises of politicians.
 It is a great Creedence Clearwater Revival
song.
“Who Will Stop the Rain”

 Kanye West wasn’t the only artist to
criticize the SLOW response time of our
government when it came to Hurricane
Katrina. Audioslave took on the issue as
well.
“Wide Awake”

 So, there is a little government secret
known as Guantanamo Bay, and there are
some not-so-nice things which happened
there. Patti Smith recalls the story of
Murat Kurnaz, a man who rotted away
there for 4 years without any real
evidence against him.
“Without Chains”

 Pearl Jam’s stance on Operation Iraqi
Freedom. Let’s just say they are not fans
of the war or the government who sent
our troops into Iraq.
 Vedder claims the song was written to
honor Pat Tillman (the American football
player who left his team to join the Army.
He later died in the war).
“World Wide Suicide”