# Songs of Nuclear Terror **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176 "2015-08-18T14:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/61 "2015-08-21T11:15:01Z")
(I actually have an iPod playlist fulla this stuff. Be prepared!) A little ditty I first heard on PBS as a sprat…[Atomic Cocktail.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6492gMX0tAY) Also, [Protect and Survive—Runrig](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rb84r-F5N4) [Winner: None—Arthur Rubinstein](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Q5DemEn34) [Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima—Penderecki](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPtP2gGGBCw) [Chitlins, Whiskey, and Skirt—Increased Chances](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uny-UwwtD3c) [Downtown (Vietnam Version)—Irvine Levine](http://www.woolyfsh.com/seasongs/Downtown.mp3). (Plenty of other neat Air Force “folk”—filk?—songs on [that page](http://www.woolyfsh.com/seasongs/), too. I’m rather fond of “Sandy Cannonball,” myself.) [Drop Da Bomb—Doctor Steel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28htktcco_s) [Sputniks & Mutniks—Ray Anderson & The Home Folks](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tTXu6hkCm0) [Atom Bomb Baby—The Five Stars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWRCnzCiFPE) …and those are just the ones that are _explicitly_ linked with nuclear combat (toe to toe with the Ruskies). ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/62 "2015-08-21T11:43:54Z")
**Gary Moore** , probably best known as a **Thin Lizzy** guitarist, had a solo hit in the UK with **Nuclear Attack**. Included the lyric ‘There ain’t no coming back… From a nuclear attack.’ TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/63 "2015-08-21T11:52:51Z")
[quote=“Banquet\_Bear, post:60, topic:728176”] …after a change of pace? Both these songs don’t quite fit the thread, but are close enough IMHO, and I’ll probably never get another chance to share a couple of my favourite songs. Kiwi classic reggae band Herbs with “Nuclear Waste.” A song about the chemical spill at Bhopal by Tim Finn. [/QUOTE] You left out [French Letter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZD8dA678ss)! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/64 "2015-08-25T07:38:27Z")
I saw this thread a couple days ago, and I knew there was a song I was forgetting. Tonight, inspired (quite indirectly) by another thread, I remembered what it was, [I Melt With You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls) by Modern English. ---
**Author:** ![scoots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@scoots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scoots)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/65 "2015-08-25T07:50:47Z")
Back in the 80s the UK government came out with a leaflet called “Protect and Survive” which was full of completely inadequate advice about what to do in the event of a nuclear war (like hide under a desk - as if that’s going to help). The Dubliners came out with a great piss take song about it:- [The Dubliners - Protect and Survive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOvkWZ4-cf8) ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/66 "2015-08-25T08:41:26Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > You left out [French Letter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZD8dA678ss)! …of course! Another one of my favourites. Beautiful song! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/67 "2015-08-29T09:46:08Z")
I’m thinking of _Handsome Johnny_, by Richie Havens, in the opening set of the movie “Woodstock”. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/68 "2015-08-29T09:50:41Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Christmas classic “[Do You Hear What I Hear?](http://www.cracked.com/article_20104_6-popular-songs-you-didnt-know-have-dark-hidden-messages_p2.html).” Among other things, the “star dancing in the night/with a tail as big as a kite” refers to a nuclear missile. I can’t swallow this…I also can’t get the cracked article. Do you/they have a cite? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/69 "2015-08-29T10:53:14Z")
Asia’s “[Countdown to Zero](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0XNZHuCt58)” is very blatant. Eurythmics’ “[Adrian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooRX9GB9vTU)” less blatant, but of the period. The lyric sheet with my copy of the album says they sing, “new clear morning,” but it sure sounds like “nuclear morning.” ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/70 "2015-08-29T11:43:33Z")
[California](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oA-1IUIegc) by Aussie band [Flash and the Pan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_and_the_Pan) featuring Malcolm and Angus Young’s older brother George with Harry Vanda. It’s about the accidental destruction of California by an angry US officer. > [@](#): > > A rocket from China, a Russian plane > He pushed the wrong button and soon there’ll be no place called > California ---
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/71 "2015-08-29T12:19:25Z")
nuclear attack by Greg Lake, a rather cheesy song but with some great guitar work by Gary Moore ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/72 "2015-08-29T12:37:25Z")
Did You Have To Wait Till Doomsday To Say I Love You. A funny song by Dr. Elmo. My favorite line is “or your best man will be an ICBM.” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/73 "2015-08-31T15:49:26Z")
There’s a little-known Canadian contribution: _Shades of 45_ by Gary O: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2kurlAEpegw/hqdefault.jpg "Gary O' - Shades of '45 (Album Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kurlAEpegw) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/74 "2015-09-01T22:20:57Z")
[quote=“Banquet\_Bear, post:60, topic:728176”] …after a change of pace? Both these songs don’t quite fit the thread, but are close enough IMHO, and I’ll probably never get another chance to share a couple of my favourite songs. Kiwi classic reggae band Herbs with “Nuclear Waste.” A song about the chemical spill at Bhopal by Tim Finn. [/QUOTE] Tom Paxton’s [All Clear in Harrisburg](http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/tom-paxton/all-clear-in-harrisburg-tom-paxton.htm) and [Buy A Gun for Your Song](http://www.mydfz.com/Paxton/lyrics/bagfys.htm) \*Pound that kid into submission 'Till he’s mastered Nuclear Fission Buy him plastic warheads by the score, Once he’s got the taste of blood, He’s gonna sneak up on his buddies Starting his own thermo-nuclear war. - ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/75 "2015-09-02T00:27:25Z")
Does “I’ll Melt With You” by Modern English count? It is about being with the person you love while a nuclear attack is occurring, or something to that effect? Maybe “Russians” by Sting", at least indirectly? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/76 "2015-09-02T13:02:21Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > The imagery was all over the place, but U2’s “Bullet the Blue Sky” may have been about a nuclear war. [Nope:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullet_the_Blue_Sky) > [@Wikipedia](#): > > The song was originally written about the United States’ military intervention during the 1980s in the Salvadoran Civil War. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176/77 "2015-09-02T18:01:34Z")
[New Frontier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBruAooXPNU) by Donald Fagen. [Let’s Drop the Big One](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCim7mmLWRA) by Tom Lehrer [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-nuclear-terror/728176.md?page=3)