If you’re a Gen X fan of heartland or arena rock, you’ve got to enjoy an amazing era for the genre in the 1980s and even earlier. And some of those songs are poignant and emotional tunes about the tolls of war. Let’s look at just a few chilling examples, shall we?
“Born In The U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen from ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ (1984)
This Bruce Springsteen classic is less about war and more about the aftermath of it. It’s one of the most famous pro-veteran songs of its era. “Born In The U.S.A.” explores the struggles of Vietnam War veterans who returned home, unable to find work and struggling with PTSD. The song remains one of Springsteen’s biggest and most memorable heartland rock hits, and it peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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“2 + 2 = ?” by The Bob Seger System from ‘Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man’ (1968)
This song by Bob Seger leans more toward garage rock and hard rock, predating the glory days of heartland rock. But one could consider it a bit of a “proto-heartland rock” tune. It’s one that remains one of the most direct anti-Vietnam War songs of all time. Many Gen Xers were just little kids when the Vietnam War was raging. And this song might have been a part of your childhood.
“2 + 2 = ?” was written by Seger about the young men who were killed during the conflict, as well as how endless the war seemed at the time. Shockingly, this song was only a local hit in Detroit and was more or less ignored by mainstream audiences.
“Walking On A Thin Line” by Huey Lewis And The News from ‘Sports’ (1984)
Huey Lewis And The News makes it to our list of heartland and arena rock tunes that still resonate with Gen X listeners with “Walking On A Thin Line”. This surprisingly serious but hard-hitting arena rock song was written by Andre Pessis and Kevin Wells. It’s about Vietnam War veterans who had to return to “normal” life after experiencing atrocities overseas. Lyrics like “Taught me how to shoot to kill / A specialist with a deadly skill / A skill I needed to have to be a survivor” are still a punch to the gut. Thankfully, those funky synths soften the blow.
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More The List
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The Bee Gees, who had multiple massive hit songs in 1978 -
Lynyrd Skynyrd, who recorded some of the best classic rock songs for the Fourth of July -
British singer-songwriter and musician Robert Palmer (1949-2003) performing on US talk show 'Nightlife' in New York City, New York, September 1986. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) -
Alanis Morissette, Torhout/Werchter Festival, Werchter, Belgium, 7th July 1996. (Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images) -
Alice Cooper, whose hit song was popular among teens in 1972 -
American country and western singer and musician Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003) performs on stage at the Painters Mill Music Far in Owing Mills, Maryland, September 29, 1977. He is strumming a guitar and standing in front of a microphone. Bassist Marshall Grant (1928 – 2011) of Cashs backing band The Tennessee Three plays behind him on the right. (Photo by Leffler/Library of Congress/Interim Archives/Getty Images) -
Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees performs during Lollapalooza at Winnebago County Fairgrounds on June 30, 1996 in Rockford, Illinois. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) -
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Grand Ole Opry