5 of Johnny Cash’s Greatest Protest Songs

Johnny Cash might best be known as an outlaw country singer who changed the mold, but he’s also known as an accomplished protest songwriter. Many of his songs have held poignant political and cultural messages. While big songs like “San Quentin” are the most well-known of that bunch, Johnny Cash also wrote and/or recorded quite a few other solid protest songs. Let’s take a look at just a few, shall we?

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“Don’t Take Your Guns To Town”

Johnny Cash put this sad little ballad together back in 1958. “Don’t Take Your Guns To Town” tells the story of a cowboy, still wet behind the ears, who opts not to listen to the advice of his mother. That advice is the title of the song, and, as one might expect, the cowboy meets his end in an avoidable gunfight in town.

This song isn’t exactly a direct sort of protest song, but it’s a cautionary tale that very intelligently and subtly critiques violence.

“Apache Tears”

Cash’s album Bitter Tears had quite a few protest songs, or at the very least culturally critical tunes. “Apache Tears” is one song from this 1964 album that hits hard. The song explores the traumatic and violent past of American colonialism and how the massacres that Native American communities experienced have continued to impact those communities today. Cash’s voice is quite emotional on this track.

“White Girl”

This little-known track from 1964 was originally written by Peter La Farge. Another great song from Bitter Tears, this track is about the stigma that surrounded interracial relationships at the time. Unsurprisingly, radio stations were afraid to play it. The song caused a rift between Cash and his label at the time, too. But he was always a man who stuck to his guns. And this once polarizing song is held with more reverence nowadays.

“San Quentin”

“San Quentin” was released in 1969 and might just be the most well-known song on this list. Cash performed it for the first time at a concert held quite literally at San Quentin Prison. The subsequent album based on that concert, At San Quentin, was a hit. This song is sung from the perspective of a prisoner whose dignity is constantly challenged while incarcerated. Considering Johnny Cash was a loud and proud supporter of prison reformation, this song is one of his boldest political songs of his career.

“Singing In Vietnam Talking Blues”

Released in 1971, “Singing In Vietnam Talking Blues” is one of Johnny Cash’s most direct protest songs. This track from Man In Black is about Cash’s experience performing in front of Vietnam War troops. He critiques the senselessness of the war and offers words of hope for the future, particularly for the soldiers who just want to return to their families.

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