I love protest songs that aren’t obvious or dogmatic. That sneak up on you with their power. That are great to listen to whether or not they had a message. Songs that bring us together, tell about our shared experiences and struggles. Songs that tie us to one another and force us to reckon with our common connectedness. That’s a good protest song. Here are 22 of my favorites.

Photo of Buffy Sainte-Marie from Ovation magazine, 1960.

Collage by Minna.

Sarah Sophie Flicker is a performer with and the creative director of the avant-garde political cabaret troupe the Citizens Band. She is also a film director, a writer, an activist, a mother, and an editor-at-large for Violet Magazine. Her political/film work can be seen at Lady Parts Justice and Maximilla.com.