3 Non-Punk Songs That Are Actually Punk as Hell

Punk didn’t really emerge until the late 1970s, but long before that there have been songs that exemplify punk sensibilities. Things like supporting communities and upholding anti-fascism, to name a few. Here are three songs from before the emergence of punk rock that are prime examples of punk beliefs.

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“All You Fascists” — Woody Guthrie

Folk legend Woody Guthrie was a lifelong anti-fascist, most notable for emblazoning the phrase “This Machine Kills Fascists” on his guitars. Through his music, he highlighted the plight of the working class and brought attention to the harm that fascist ideology causes. Essentially, Woody Guthrie personified punk before punk was even really a thing.

In 2000, Billy Bragg and Wilco did a cover of Guthrie’s song “All You Fascists” which opens with the lines “I’m gonna tell all you fascists, you may be surprised / People all over this world are getting organized.”

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” — Gil Scott-Heron

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” started out as a poem by Gil Scott-Heron, which he then turned into a song. He first recorded it in 1970, then re-released it as a B-side in 1971, accompanied by a three-piece band. Both recorded versions feature Scott-Heron reciting the poem backed by sparse instrumentation.

This piece was influential not only for its poetic content but also for its instrumentation. Essentially, it was a precursor to hip-hop. It included jazz flute, funk rhythms, unconventional bass, and Scott-Heron’s strong vocal delivery. Musically, it was a foreshadowing of hip-hop, but lyrically, it was full of punk sensibilities.

“Bella Ciao”

“Bella Ciao” is an Italian resistance song that has been performed and recorded by many artists over the years. Originally, it’s allegedly based on a 19th-century folk song that female workers would sing in protest of terrible working conditions in Northern Italian rice fields. The first verse of the song features the lines “One fine morning I woke up early / To find the fascist at my door.” That sets the overall punk-leaning tone.

Last July, singer-songwriter Mitski posted a short cover of “Bella Ciao” on YouTube. She urged fans to share versions of the song in their own language, while her translation was based on the Marc Ribot version with Tom Waits.

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