Pete Seeger: A protester against war

Once again wars have raged across the world—war is devastating Russia and Ukraine, Palestine and Gaza. Nearly the entire Gaza now lies in ruins. Before these two wars, there was the Iran-Iraq war. The US-Afghanistan war, the Vietnam war. The list of wars seems endless. Now, renewed fears of conflict have surfaced between arch-rivals Pakistan and India. Everywhere there are only corpses, everywhere there is only the smell of blood. In the East as in the West, in the North as in the South.

Amid the global wars of the 20th century, one of the most vocal voices against them was American folk music legend Pete Seeger. A passionate singer devoted to folk music, Pete was a tireless advocate for peace.

This humble man, who believed in a simple way of life and carried no pride, faced repeated attacks from the state. He was blacklisted in radio and television for 17 years—but no one succeeded silencing his voice. The ordinary people of America, and of the world, cherished him like a precious gem.

He used to sing at street corners, in stadiums, in front of barricades, and while marching with thousands in protests—not for joy, but as a form of protest and for rights. Pete Seeger carried the melodies of folk music in his voice. Song was his weapon. He sang to bring others to support his cause, making his music a shared voice for justice.

Birth and upbringing with music:
Pete Seeger was born on May 3, 1919, in Manhattan, New York City, into a musical family. From childhood, he grew up surrounded by melodies. His father, Charles Seeger, taught music at the University of California, and his mother, Constance Seeger, was a skilled violinist who taught at the Juilliard School. Pete was the youngest of three siblings. His older brother Mike was a member of the folk band “The New Lost City Ramblers,” and his sister Peggy was a folk singer as well.

Pete was a gifted child and quite attentive in his studies. However, during his early years, he wasn’t particularly interested in singing. He didn’t train by following any formal musical notation. As a child of a musical family, he was introduced to various instruments from an early age. Due to the family’s musical tradition, he had to take music lessons daily with his parents and siblings. Observing the family's enthusiasm for folk music—especially from his father, brother, and sister—Pete gradually developed an interest in it himself. He passed through childhood into adolescence with this exposure, though his deep emotional connection to music would take a bit more time to fully blossom.

As Pete grew older, he began traveling across various parts of America—sometimes with his father, and sometimes with his brother Mike. During these journeys, they collected lyrics and melodies of folk songs scattered across rural communities. At times, they even took part in local music programmes. When Pete was 16, he accompanied his father on a summer trip to a folk fair in Asheville, North Carolina. The fair featured a variety of musical instruments, and there, one instrument in particular caught Pete’s eye. That was the first time he fell in love—with the banjo. This five-stringed instrument was deeply rooted in American folk traditions.

That banjo would later become his main companion, the tool that carried his melodies far and wide. With the banjo by his side, Pete's passion for music was reignited in a new and profound way.

In 1940, Pete Seeger began focusing seriously on songwriting. During this time, he joined forces with Millard Lampell and Lee Hays to form his first folk music group, the Almanac Singers. One of their early songs, The Talking Union Blues, stirred great interest among workers. Later, their anti-fascist peace anthem The Ballad of October 16 introduced a new language of protest through song in American society.

In 1942, the Almanac Singers were preparing to record a collection of folk songs, but everything came to a halt with the outbreak of World War II. Under a military directive, all members of the band—like many young Americans—were required to join the US armed forces and undergo military training.

After the war ended, Pete took on the role of editor for a magazine called Sing Out. Alongside writing, he began performing solo at various events. One of his most well-known albums “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” was released featuring his popular protest songs. The 1960s marked the peak of Pete Seeger's rise to prominence.

During this time, Pete Seeger began performing solo on stage. Songs like "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and "Turn, Turn, Turn" gained immense popularity. From the 1960s through the 1990s, several of his albums received widespread acclaim. Pete Seeger didn’t become a legend solely through his protest songs—his deep love for folk music elevated him to another level. He didn’t just write and compose songs for audiences; he also played a vital role in reviving forgotten folk songs from various regions of America.

Themes of labour movements and the struggle for social rights in 1940s–1950s America repeatedly surfaced in Pete’s lyrics and melodies. His music also played a leading role in anti-war rallies during the 1960s Vietnam War and in environmental and peace campaigns in the 1970s. In 1961, a warrant was issued against him, and he was summoned before the House Un-American Activities Committee. But the administration failed to suppress Pete Seeger’s political beliefs, spiritual outlook, and ideals. Instead, Pete boldly declared that, as an American citizen, no one had the right to interfere with his convictions or political consciousness.

Role in the anti-war movement
During the 1960s, Pete Seeger was one of the leading figures in America’s Civil Rights Movement. He stood firmly against the US government's oppressive, reckless policies and institutional discrimination. When the American government took a leading role in the Vietnam War, it was met with widespread public disapproval. Pete Seeger—the voice of freedom-loving people—remained staunchly anti-war throughout.

As the Vietnam War devastated both lives and spirits, Pete gave the American people a new language of protest. He chose the stage as his battleground—not with weapons, but with songs. From Manhattan schoolyards to the bustling streets of New York, his unique melodies began to stir emotions. Thus began the banjo’s defiance against bullets, and the chant of love against the noise of conflict.

One of his powerful anti-Vietnam war songs included these unforgettable lines:

“If you love your Uncle Sam
Bring them home, bring them home
Support our boys in Vietnam
Bring them home, bring them home”

Through lyrics like these, Pete Seeger awakened a generation to the power of peaceful resistance.

Always speaking out against war
Pete Seeger was consistently vocal in every anti-war movement—whether it was against the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, the campaign for nuclear disarmament, the Occupy Wall Street movement, or the effort to save the Hudson River. In all these causes, peace-loving, nonviolent people found refuge in his songs and discovered new slogans for resistance.

The magic of his banjo came to an end on January 27, 2014, when he passed away at the age of 94. Over his lifetime, he received numerous honors. In 1954, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of the Arts and the Kennedy Centre Award. In 1996, for his extraordinary contributions to music, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, he also received the Harvard Arts Medal.

But perhaps the greatest honor he ever received was the lifelong love of countless people. Pete Seeger, a fearless artist, stood up for millions of oppressed people across the globe. He sang for ordinary people, and through his voice, a new horizon opened to American folk music. Pete Seeger showed the world the true power of music. He showed that music not only brings inner peace, but can also make people think, resist injustice, and become a tool for protest.

Happy birthday to the great leader of the anti-war movement.

Author: Journalist