Peace Train Essay

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"Peace Train" by: Cat Stevens "Peace Train" is the title of a 1971 hit song by Cat Stevens, taken from his album Teaser and the Firecat. This was a chaotic time in history. The U.S. was still grinding through the Vietnam War, McGovern was running against Nixon for the presidency, and the draft was extended even though it was supposed to end that June. Also, the controversy issues of civil rights and women's rights also demanded attention. As the ’60s came and went, war protesters were still looking to the politicians to right wrongs, fix social issues, and bring the boys home. The Watergate scandal was on the horizon and Richard Nixon would later be impeached. The mid ’70s were looking to be a continuation of the 10,000-day war, and this was unacceptable for the public. When “Peace Train” made it into the many homes of a country overwhelmed in never-ending commotion, a British-born activist was ready to speak to the American audience about ending social unrest and the ever-important need for change. Cat Stevens was a superstar in the ‘70s. His messages were pure and clear. And as with many of his songs, meaning was to outlast the song itself. Of all his masterpieces to broadcast on the airwaves, “Peace Train” lent the most memorable meaning and fit the sign of the times. There is no hidden significance in the lyrics. The message is so powerful: “Climb aboard and give peace a chance.” In the second verse, the lyrics, "dreaming about the world as one, and I believe it could be, some day it's going to come" is Steven's expression of his hope for people to live in harmony. Also, it gives the message to look forward to a promising future. As Stevens belts out “Oh peace train sounding louder/Glide on the peace train” and the claps jump in, the song turns electrifying and the ride towards peace has truly begun. The influential message grabs people's attention,
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