History in Music

We pay tribute to the immortalizers

About the show

Music and lyrics have always been an important tool in passing momentous events from generation to generation. The bards of the past filled an important role: to immortalize these important historical events and figures. Believe it or not this tradition is still alive and strong today, and we've taken it upon ourselves to discover, dissect, and pay homage to the bards of our day. And maybe give them a little taste of their own medicine.

History in Music on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 10: Wir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen (Scott, Sean, & New Mexico Supremacist)

    November 25th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 13 mins
    folk song, german peasants war, interwar germany, volk

    The HiMsters are back with another German volk song from the Interwar Period. Wir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen (We are Geyer's Black Company) recounts a legendary heavy cavalry regiment who fought for the people in the German Peasants' War 1524-1525.

  •

    Episode 9: Wind of Change (Scott, Sean, & Beta Pvnk)

    November 10th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 14 mins
    scorpions, soviet union, ussr, wind of change

    The guys are joined by the talented Beta Pvnk to discuss the Scorpions' 1990 single Wind of Change and its inspiration from and effect on the former Soviet Union just prior to its collapse.

  •

    Episode 8: And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Scott, Sean, & Andrew)

    November 1st, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 16 mins
    anzac, gallipoli, the pogues, wwi

    Andrew joins Scott and Sean to discuss The Pogues' cover of And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda. A moving account of the Battle of Gallipoli (1915) ensues.

  •

    Episode 7: Garands (Scott, Sean, & Derek)

    October 12th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 27 mins
    germany, history, normandy, ww2, wwii

    Scott, Sean and Derek discuss Young the Giant's song Garands and the larger idea of the everyman placed in extraordinary situations

  •

    Episode 6: Die Grenzwacht hielt im Osten (Scott, Sean, & Nim)

    September 29th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 3 mins
    baltic germans, courland, deutschland, freikorps

    Scott, Sean, and Nim discuss the historical events and larger historical context expressed in the German Interwar folk song Die Grenzwacht hielt im Osten.

  •

    Episode 5: El Mozote (Scott, Sean, & Matt)

    September 13th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 14 mins
    el mozote, el salvador, punk rock, screeching weasel

    Matt joins us in 3rd chair while we discuss the Screeching Weasel song "El Mozote."

  •

    Episode 4: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Scott, Sean, & Brett)

    September 6th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 3 mins
    edmund fitzgerald, gordon lightfoot, great lakes, history, music

    Brett joins us in 3rd chair to discuss Gordon Lightfoot's The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

  •

    Episode 3: Fields of Athenry (Scott & Sean)

    August 26th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  54 mins 59 secs
    celtic punk, dropkick murphys, irish, potato famine

    In this episode Scott and Sean discuss the historical background and context of the Dropkick Murphys song “Fields of Athenry.”

  •

    Episode 2: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (Scott & Sean)

    August 15th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  51 mins 12 secs
    70s, congo, folk, history, music, rock, war, warren zevon

    Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner written by Warren Zevon and David Lindell is a song about a fictional mercenary hired by The Congo to help fight their war

  •

    Episode 1: American Pie (Scott & Troy)

    August 12th, 2022  |  Season 1  |  1 hr 27 mins
    60s, american pie, buddy holly, don mclean, history, music, oldies, rock

    American Pie by Don McLean