Our National Anthem

Annotation — 1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs

Abbie Hoffman, born 30 November 1936 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, died 12 April 1989 in New Hope, Pennsylvania, USA, an American political activist in the 1960s/70s, who helped found the Youth International Party (Yippies), took an active interest in the Vietnam War during the period. Hoffman faced trial in 1969 for inciting riots, as one of the eight people arrested outside the Democratic Convention in Chicago in August 1968 (The Chicago Eight) The album Wake Up, America (Big Toe Records # 1) contained several references to Vietnam, such as the tracks "Our National Anthem" and "Texas Tweezers" (which referenced My Lai). The song "The Drug Company" contained the line "we came to Chicago...there isn't a court in this country where we could have put Mayor Richard Daley, and LBJ". It also included the song "Chicago", a 7-minute spoken-word / comedy sketch, with elements of song, about the 1968 demonstration and subsequent trial.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs

Abbie Hoffman (30 November 1936 - 12 April 12 1989), an American political activist in the 1960s/70s, who helped found the Youth International Party (Yippies), took an active interest in the Vietnam War during the period. Hoffman faced trial in 1969 for inciting riots, as one of the eight people arrested outside the Democratic Convention in Chicago in August 1968 (The Chicago Eight), all high profile activists - Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin from the hippie movement, the Black Panther leader Bobby Seale, political activists Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, and Tom Hayden (married to Jane Fonda - together they released a documentary in 1973 about their visit to North Vietnam, called Introduction to the Enemy). The trial began on 24 September 1969, but soon after the Judge, Julius Hoffman, ordered Bobby Seale to be bound and gagged for contempt of court. The court tried him separately, and thus the eight became the Chicago Seven (see the 1970 album Gagged and Chained: The Sentencing of Bobby Seale for Contempt). (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) This is referenced in the Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson song H20 Gate Blues and in the Memphis Slim song Chicago Seven. The album Wake Up, America (Big…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Born 30 November 1936, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Political and social activist, co-founder of the Youth International Party (Yippies) and Chicago Seven defendant. Died 12 April 1989, Solebury Township, Pennsylvania, USA. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Anti-War

In collections

1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs · My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs