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Quiz about Tragedy In Songs 6 The Futility of War
Quiz about Tragedy In Songs 6 The Futility of War

Tragedy In Songs 6: The Futility of War Quiz


"Boys keep marching off to war," sayeth Sonny and Cher. Can you name these songs about the futility and general hopelessness of war?

A multiple-choice quiz by czolgolz. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
czolgolz
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
215,620
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
532
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. (World War I) In what song does an aging veteran of Gallipoli reflect on how he misses his youth, his innocence, and his legs? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. (World War II) Woody Guthrie sings about an American ship torpedoed by a German U-boat. What was the name of both the ship and the song? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. (Vietnam) In 'Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town,' a paralyzed veteran begs his woman not to cheat on him. Kenny Rogers sang it, but who wrote this heart-breaking song? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. (World War I) On Garth Brooks' album 'Sevens,' he records a song about soldiers from two warring countries declaring a Christmas Day truce and singing hymns together. What was the name of the song? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. (The American Revolution) In the musical '1776', Washington's courier sings a sad song about a dying soldier. What was the name of the song? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. (The Cold War) In 1963, Bob Dylan recorded an anti-war song. The title reflects how many wars are justified. What is the song? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. (The Indian Wars) Neil Young sings a song about the massacre of the Indians and their current poverty. What is the name of the song? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. (General) Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods recorded a disco song about a young man who dies in a non-specific war. The song was called '_____, Don't be a Hero.' What name goes in the blank? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. (World War II) Johnny Cash recorded the sad song 'The Ballad of Ira Hayes.' Hayes was an American Indian who distinguished himself in World War II, only to freeze to death in a drunken stupor in 1955. At which battle did Hayes achieve notoriety? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. (World War III) In 1983 Nena released a song in Germany about how something bought at a toystore triggered a nuclear war. What was it? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. (World War I) In what song does an aging veteran of Gallipoli reflect on how he misses his youth, his innocence, and his legs?

Answer: And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

"And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay/ I looked at the place where me legs used to be/ and thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me/ to grieve and to mourn and to pity."

By Eric Bogle, a Karaoke classic!
2. (World War II) Woody Guthrie sings about an American ship torpedoed by a German U-boat. What was the name of both the ship and the song?

Answer: The Sinking of the Ruben James

"What were their names? Tell me, what were their names? Did you have a friend on the good Ruben James?"

The USS Ruben James was torpedoed on Halloween, 1941, off of Newfoundland. It was the first US ship lost to a U-boat in World War II.

http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/thesongs/SinkingOfTheR.htm
3. (Vietnam) In 'Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town,' a paralyzed veteran begs his woman not to cheat on him. Kenny Rogers sang it, but who wrote this heart-breaking song?

Answer: Mel Tillis

'It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed/ and the wants and the needs of a woman your age, Ruby I realize/ but it won't be long, I heard them say, until I'm not around/ oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.'

Though most people remember Kenny Rogers' 1968 recording of this song, it was actually written by Mel Tillis.
4. (World War I) On Garth Brooks' album 'Sevens,' he records a song about soldiers from two warring countries declaring a Christmas Day truce and singing hymns together. What was the name of the song?

Answer: Belleau Wood

The odd thing was, the event did happen in 1914. Not only did the soldiers sing together, but they played soccer, showed each other pictures of home, and shared their Christmas meals.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/10/98/world_war_i/197627.stm
5. (The American Revolution) In the musical '1776', Washington's courier sings a sad song about a dying soldier. What was the name of the song?

Answer: Mamma, Look Sharp

Though the musical was a comedy, it had a couple of sad songs.
6. (The Cold War) In 1963, Bob Dylan recorded an anti-war song. The title reflects how many wars are justified. What is the song?

Answer: With God on Our Side

"If God's on our side, He'll stop the next war."
7. (The Indian Wars) Neil Young sings a song about the massacre of the Indians and their current poverty. What is the name of the song?

Answer: Pocahontas

From the album 'Rust Never Sleeps' (1973). Also recorded by Everclear.
8. (General) Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods recorded a disco song about a young man who dies in a non-specific war. The song was called '_____, Don't be a Hero.' What name goes in the blank?

Answer: Billy

1974. I'll give you a million dollars if you can name another song this band recorded.
9. (World War II) Johnny Cash recorded the sad song 'The Ballad of Ira Hayes.' Hayes was an American Indian who distinguished himself in World War II, only to freeze to death in a drunken stupor in 1955. At which battle did Hayes achieve notoriety?

Answer: Iwo Jima

Ira Hayes was one of the US Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima in the famous photograph. He died ten years later on the Pima Reservation, a broken alchoholic.

http://www.lilesnet.com/patriotic/Hero/Hayes.htm
10. (World War III) In 1983 Nena released a song in Germany about how something bought at a toystore triggered a nuclear war. What was it?

Answer: Some balloons

99 Luftballoons ('99 Red Balloons' when the song was released in English) was one of many nuclear paranoia songs from the 1980's.

http://www.inthe80s.com/nuclearwar/index.shtml

Thanks for playing and see you in the bunker!
Source: Author czolgolz

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