1. Unraveling American History
Exploring Song Choices

2. 213
Hailing from my home state, Dahmer brought us great shame.He was a serial killer and cannibal of 17 boys. He didnt live to see a later life.
3. 5 marchers were shot and killed by members of the KKK and American Nazi PartyThe shady part is that police watched the event and didnt do much to prevent it. 88 Seconds in Greensboro
4. American Skin or 41 Shots
A Bruce Springsteen song about the 1999 murder of AmadouDiallo.
An unarmed immigrant killedsetting off a tirade about racial profiling in America
5. Angel of Harlem
Billie Holiday wasjazz singer whose performances often moved people to tears. Shebattled much in her liferacism, drug addiction, and relationships. She died too early.
6. April 29, 1992
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.
7. ATWA
Charles Mansonthe man who got me banned from 6th grade book reports
Air, Tree, Waters, Animals or All the Way Alive is what ATWA stands forwhat was the philosophy Manson was trying to promote?
8. Ballad of Ira Hayes
One of five marines who raised the flag at Iwo Jima
His death was a horrible oneone all too common for our veterans
9. Black Day in July
Police raided an African-American drinking clubto find a party welcoming home Vietnam vets. A racial riot ensued. The numbers were startlingover 7000 were arrested; many were injured; a multitude were dead.
10. Blowin in the Wind
The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind. It is a protest song, but what is Dylan protesting? Civil rights? War?
11. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Systematic destruction of the Native Americans by our governmentgo figure, the destruction still continues today
12. Campaigner
If you love corrupt politicians, then this is the song for you. It is a song highlighting Americas finestliar that isRichard Nixon
13. Candle in the Wind
The song has gone through several versions, but you would be researching the initial inspirationMarilyn Monroeher life and death
14. Cassie
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 drugsshe found her faith and supposedly tried to defend it on that infamous day in Littleton, Colorado.
15. Demolition Lovers
Can there be a COOLER story than that of the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde? I think not.
16. Enola Gay
Dropped Little Boy on Hiroshimaforever changing the world.
Named after the mother of the pilot.
17. For What it is Worth
Stop, children. Whats that sound? Everybody look whats going down.
The song takes on a true generational problemits real inspiration came from the Sunset Strip riots
18. Freedom by Rage
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!
19. Gemini
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.
20. Heaven Runs on Oil
Interested in the war with Iraq and our worlds reliance on black gold? Pick this song.
21. Helter Skelter
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
22. Hey Man, Nice Shot
Be prepared to be disturbed, really disturbed about this on-air suicide which was shown in classrooms throughout our nation.
23. Hurricane
Dont ignore this songone 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 didnot commit. He spent 20 years in jaila wrongfully convicted man.
24. I Dont Like Mondays
I know you hate Mondays. The songs origin is truly fascinating.A crazy woman opened up fire on a bunch of young kids at a playgroundthe 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
25. Jeremy
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.
26. John Wayne Gacy
Truly disturbing
Not for the weak of heart
Beyond SICK serial killer
27. Jonestown
One of the most fascinating stories on the list.Dont Drink the Kool-Aid takes on new meaning.
GREAT documentaries on this historical event
28. Lonesome Death of Hattie Caroll
One of the stories on this list that makes me ashamed of my American ancestorsher SENSELESS death and the nations reaction to it REPULSES me
29. Man on the Moon
Dead? Alive? Who Knows?
This story is for the ECCENTRIC.
30. Mary Kay
Most twisted love story I have ever heard ofyou 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?
31. Midnight Rambler
Reaction to the confession of the Boston Strangler murders.
32. Miracle Man by OzzyOsbourne
Disgruntled with corrupt religious figures?
Jimmy Swaggart took a pretty big religious FALL, and Ozzy discusses Swaggarts disgrace.
33. Mississippi Goddam
A civil rights leader who was gunned down outside his homehis kids found him dead. It took 31 years for his killer to be brought to justice.
34. Nothing to Gein
Squeamish? Cant handle a story about a man who skinned his victims and then wore their flesh? Dont pick this topic.
35. Ohio
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.
36. Papers Please
Recent Arizona legislation which is our nations most stringent law on the books for anti-immigration. There is great controversy over this bill.
37. Polly
Great songnot-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.
38. Pretty Boy Floyd
American bank robber romanticized by the American media.
39. Pride in the Name of Love
MLKs assassinationa safe topic with a wealth of research. A great song to dissect.
40. Roulette
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).
41. Scarecrow
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.
42. Sister Rosa
Safe songgreat storya ton of research
Tale of Rosa Parks and what she so bravely accomplished with one simple gesture.
43. Someday
A political convention having controversy and protests? No way. This event was a big one.
44. Talking Cuban Crisis
Safe one about the Cuban Missile Crisisa truly frightening event for our nation.
45. Tearjerker
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
46. Ted, Just Admit It
Nice guy with a not so-nice obsession.Girls about to go off to collegedont pick the topic. Ted Bundy is the source for much disconcerting information.
47. The Big Three Killed my Baby
In this song, the White Stripes attack GM, Chrysler, Ford and unions for killing off part of America.
48. The Last Resort
Calling fellow environmentalistsa look at how the government takes away what little natural resources we have left.
49. The Manhattan Project
Science gurus unite
Our first attempt to develop a nuclear weaponshame shameshame
Tons of research to help here
50. The Wreck of the Edmund
Mystery abounds with this ship that sank with NO distress calls.
51. Tie My Hands
Lil Weezycritizes my favorite president of all time about his quick response with Hurricane Katrina (I do miss George W.)
52. Trouble Every Day
Why do rappers sing about Watts?It has a storythen and now.
53. When This is Over
Dont like your kids? Why dont 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.
54. Whitey on the Moon
A biting social commentary on our race to the moon at the expense of more pressing social issues.
55. Who Will Stop the Rain
This song details Vietnam and the EMPTY promises of politicians.
It is a great Creedence Clearwater Revival song.
56. Wide Awake
Kanye West wasnt 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.
57. Without Chains
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.
58. World Wide Suicide
Pearl Jams stance on Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lets just say they are not fans of the war or the government who sent our troops into Iraq.
Vedderclaims 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).