Masters of War

Critical Evaluation
“Masters of War” By Bob Dylan & “Born in the U.S.A” By Bruce Springsteen
Introduction
During the early 1960’s, America was going through difficult and frightening times. Our Nation was then deeply involved with the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the United States and the USSR to the verge of nuclear disaster. Even former President at the time, Eisenhower, warned of the dangers our country could embark. There were many student movements and protests that started movements that showed Americans wanting to create a new America. Citizens challenged the normal lifestyles and institutions, in hoping to change America, in hopes what would lead to withdrawal from the war in Vietnam. These protesters showed their views on materialism, lifestyles, and the path to success in society, and what they wanted to change. The idealism our country had during this time, showed that dramatic challenges and obstacles had taken place. America’s most popular and iconic citizens stepped up a lot during this time, in hopes of having a strong impact of inspiration for Americans. The Cold War was one of the most devastated times for our country due to the fact that it led people to think that this was the start of the failure of the American Dream. The nation needed something that showed rebellion against the country, other than just the words spoken from the government. Along with all the student movements and protests that were taken into account of normal citizens, they were not the only ones who wanted to make statements on how they felt about the war and what our country was becoming. This was a time of the Civil Rights Movement along with the Anti-War Movement and students strived to become active members of society. One huge impact a movement can have is the influence from a nation’s most iconic and loveable characters, of which is looked up to. In 1963, Bob Dylan released his song, “Masters of War” which was an anti-war protest song that was directed to circumstances America was going through and the damage that was done. Another song that impacted the idealization of America was Bruce Springsteen’s song, “Born in the U.S.A.” Though this song was not released post-Vietnam War, it described what the war did and why it was a pointless act. The lyrics explain how the country once, and because of the war, America was starting to portray itself as something they are not. Both songs equally gave an act of protest and encouragement that led to America feeling the way they did through songs. The rhetorical devices the singers used in the songs, led to success with the correct usage of repetitiveness, imagery, biblical references, and realism.
Context
Robert Zimmerman, also known as Bob Dylan, is a famous American singer-songwriter, musician, poet and painter. He is best known for being chronicler and well-known figurehead of social unrest. Many of his songs are anthems for the US Civil Rights and Anti-War movements. The songs had a variety of political, social, philosophical, and literacy influences. He generalized many genres of music and his music has explored many aspects of being an “American.” (Dunlap 560) In 1963, he released his song “Masters of War” on the album “The Freewheelin.” His lyrics were about political social, philosophical, and literacy influences. Dylan was only in his early twenties at the time, which was shocking that someone so young wrote a song that is so powerful. The song was written because he wanted a realization of the times, what the war was coming to, and why it became a pointless act rather than means of defense. (Dunlap 550) Dylan was criticizing the fact that Eisenhower warned America about what the war would do and industrial complex. He wanted to carry out the message and get hope to speak on behalf of the citizens of America, along with singing about the values of peace. Listeners were persuaded that Dylan expressed that he felt this war was basically pumping money into a war that couldn’t be won, and killing for reason. He wanted peace. “You play with my world like it’s your little toy.” Just like you play with my world, because the student army would easily kill by the enemy in a few seconds with the destructing weapons. They were became the toy of the general. The final goal is victory. The draft of army was mandatory, once if students were drafted to war, they must go for it. Lower class would only have to go to war, and he sang about how that wasn’t fair. Bob Dylan attracts the listeners by creating songs that give promise meaning and expressing how America feels via music. (Everman 450) Bruce Springsteen, aka THE BOSS, was raised in a working-class environment in Long Branch, New Jersey. His single, “Born in the U.S.A,” was released in 1984. Bruce Springsteen was known for writing songs that linked to not only his life, but also structured the lyrics in ways that linked to everyone’s lives with any situation. Lyrically, this song, “Born in the U.S.A,” portrayed the negatives and the demolishing effects the Vietnam War had on American citizens. (Cowie 360) Though this song was released years after the war in Vietnam was over, Springsteen wanted to express that this war described the failure of what America strived to be. The song is mistaken to be patriotic and a nationalistic anthem, but it was originally written about a solider Springsteen was friends with who had experienced the Vietnam War. (Powers 206) It also protests the hardships that veterans of the Vietnam War faced after returning to America from the war. “Born in the U.S.A” expresses the protagonist’s working-class origins, induction into the armed forced, and disaffected return to America. The song, which people think is about having nationalism due to the repeated lyrics of “BORN IN THE U.S.A,” really was referring to “This is not the American Dream? This must not be my country, because I WAS BORN IN THE USA.” (Powers 205) Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan both are seen as iconic legends due to making songs that reflected in ways that gave a voice to the nation. They expressed on behalf of the entire country, in a technique that gave a better understanding and reminder of what was taken place then. Being so famous and popular gave a larger impact on the anti-war movements by giving stronger support to these movements in hopes of changing America. Shaking the nation, these songs provide persuasion with fierce and angry tones of voice that rebelled against “military industrial complex.” Both artists expressed that the war was out of control by declaring a useless war and disappointed in the actions of the government by not owning up to the problems that had to be faced. The views of music’s role in society provided the background against which many members of a new generation defined their ideas. This led to making a new America. Knowing the history of the individual artists, the songs were very successful and unmistakable on reaching out to the hope of the country. And because of these songs, abstract concepts that tended to dominate society’s attention, reflected different worldview that expanded to future, and still remembered. The rhetorical devices used in the songs succeeded the goal of the artists of which expressing and promoting Anti-War movements.
Analysis
Bruce Springsteen added so much meaning, promise, and empowerment by successfully using repetitiveness realism in this song. Revealing history, pain, and sorrow, is unforgettable. Springsteen makes a valid point by singing about the soldiers who return from sacrificing themselves for their country, to only be screwed over by their own country. (Cowie 353) Because the song’s goal was to make sure our nation did not forget who they truly were, the release date of the song linked to ethos. Giving credit that though it happened post-war, we must not go back to that state of mind for the future. The audience of this song was put towards Americans, and used ethos again by identifying himself as a born U.S citizen and singing about how this is not the country he was raised in.
“Born down in a dead man town, the first kick I took was when I hit the ground. You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much, till you spend your life just covering it up.” (Springsteen)
This was the beginning of the song and immediately showed imagery. Describing that he was born in working class, and because of his class he was punished for it. A war had begun for our nation, and depending on social class, they were told to serve the country, with no choosing. Following these lyrics, was the repetitiveness of “Born in the U.S.A, I was born in the U.S.A,” making it clear that this was NOT the U.S.A he was born in. This syntax was made clear, and with the way it was phrased gave a stronger and influential understanding on how the country is being looked at. As the song continued, Springsteen expressed how the men who sacrificed their lives for America, were not treated with respect once they returned to their country. This was my favorite part of the song because it made a clear statement that our country should be ashamed of how they acted at the time. Especially towards the men who risked their lives for a country that basically treated them like dirt for fighting for peace. The irony showed here baffles the listeners and is hard to believe. The passion and the physical deliverance Springsteen showed won the audience over with emotion and praised his song. Springsteen’s rhetorical devices allowed the audience to identify and comprehend what he saw from our country, and how the meaning of his lyrics had a exquisite deep meaning. The meaning behind the song by Bob Dylan regarding the Vietnam War has deep and powerful structure that easily won his audience over. Though this comes off as an anti-war song, it was more towards against the government and what was being done to our country. The irony he used in his lyrics when talked about the weapons that solider would used to kill people and gain victory by those weapons.
“You build all the guns, you build weapons, you hide behind walls.” (Dylan)
This was the beginning of the song where Dylan described how the people who wanted the war for peace, were letting our citizens fight and sacrifice themselves for a fight that is not worth fighting for. (Everman 449) The song had a repetitive use of “You” which was referred to the government. Singing about how the government is making the country go against what they stand for and killing a country that should not be involved. When he sang about “build to destroy” he wanted to express how America was building armies to destroy OUR OWN ARMIES. “You fasten the triggers for others to fire.” (Dylan)
This again shows how he used syntax to phrase that they were making our citizens fight a war that was not ours. While these rhetorical devices can give a more meaningful description of what is seen, the use of his biblical terms gave more credit with the use of pathos as well. He sings about how Jesus would never forgive you and how though Dylan does not have the power the government entitled, yet the nation would turn their backs on the government which gave a message with a large impact. Pathos showed credit when Dylan sang about how he feared to bring children into a world that he thought was once safe. To threaten his child and the future generation of America played with the citizens emotions. Ending the song with terms of death, Dylan phrased his song to deliever the message of hoping the war would be “dead” and America needs to keep the hope of waiting for the death of this war.
Conclusion
The empowerment and rhetoric usage of both these songs persuaded the audiences to gain a better understanding and clearer view of what the entire nation is feeling. Using biblical imagery to describe how the choices of our country are going against our religion views, effectively defends the argument of what the country is doing to cause destruction. All of the multiple rhetorical devices gave proof of what the artist wanted to enact to the audience and see through their eyes. These songs are without a doubt to some of the reasons anti-war movements achieved what they did. The songs gave hope and encouragement in a way that can never be forgotten. And because they had such a huge impact and meaning, they are well known to this day, which is exactly was meant to happen.