El Salvador (Peter, Paul and Mary)
Encyclopedia
"El Salvador" is a 1982
protest song
about United States
involvement in the Salvadoran Civil War, written by Noel Paul Stookey and performed by Peter, Paul and Mary
. The song appeared on the 1999 compilation album
Songs of Conscience and Concern
and also was included in a 25th anniversary concert in New York's Greenwich Village
at The Bitter End.
Stookey wrote the song on Mother's Day
, 1982, inspired by an article in a Roman Catholic magazine, and has related that the song was controversial even with the group's fans. In a 1997 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Stookey commented, "The most recent surprise we had was in the mid- to late-'80s, when we were singing a song called 'El Salvador.' The last line was, 'Don't you think it's time we leave El Salvador?' We actually got booed at our concerts, which was something we hadn't heard since the civil rights movement
or the anti-war movement." Segments of the lyrics often were quoted in articles of the period, including this verse:
Group member Mary Travers
traveled to El Salvador
in January 1983 with Rep.
Ed Feighan
in the early years of the war and subsequently was highly vocal in protest of U.S. support of "the terrorism, the rapes, and the murders," noting that as an American taxpayer, "I'm paying these murderers' salaries."
1982 in music
This is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
about United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
involvement in the Salvadoran Civil War, written by Noel Paul Stookey and performed by Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career began with their rise to become a paradigm for 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers...
. The song appeared on the 1999 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Songs of Conscience and Concern
Songs of Conscience and Concern
Songs of Conscience and Concern: A Retrospective Collection is a 1999 compilation album by folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. It was the group's second compilation, following 1970's Ten Years Together: The Best of Peter, Paul & Mary. Drawn primarily from the trio's '80s and '90s material, it's a...
and also was included in a 25th anniversary concert in New York's Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
at The Bitter End.
Stookey wrote the song on Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
, 1982, inspired by an article in a Roman Catholic magazine, and has related that the song was controversial even with the group's fans. In a 1997 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Stookey commented, "The most recent surprise we had was in the mid- to late-'80s, when we were singing a song called 'El Salvador.' The last line was, 'Don't you think it's time we leave El Salvador?' We actually got booed at our concerts, which was something we hadn't heard since the civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
or the anti-war movement." Segments of the lyrics often were quoted in articles of the period, including this verse:
Group member Mary Travers
Mary Travers
Mary Travers , American singer-songwriter; member of the folk, pop group, Peter, Paul and Mary.Mary Travers may also refer to:* Mary Rose-Anna Travers , Québécoise singer known as Madame Bolduc or La Bolduc...
traveled to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
in January 1983 with Rep.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Ed Feighan
Ed Feighan
Edward Farrell "Ed" Feighan is a former American politician. He served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, and as a Democratic Party U.S. Representative from 1983 to 1993, serving Ohio's 19th congressional district.-Early life and education:Feighan graduated in 1965 from St...
in the early years of the war and subsequently was highly vocal in protest of U.S. support of "the terrorism, the rapes, and the murders," noting that as an American taxpayer, "I'm paying these murderers' salaries."