4 Rock Songs That Were Written About Real-Life Tragedies

Many songs through the years have been written about particularly interesting subjects outside of love, lust, and loss. In particular, these four songs by famous rock bands were written about real-life tragedies that happened in history. Let’s dive in, shall we?

1. “The Ballad Of The Beaconsfield Miners” by Foo Fighters

When it comes to rock songs written about real-life tragedies, this Foo Fighters track is quite heartwarming. 

The Beaconsfield Mine collapse occurred in Australia in 2006. It was a tragedy because one miner was killed, but the 16 other miners involved were eventually rescued or escaped. While trapped in the mineshaft, one of the miners asked for an iPod with Foo Fighters songs on it. Dave Grohl was touched and decided to pen an instrumental track dedicated to the miners, including the one who passed away.

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2. “Uprising” by Muse

The G20 protests in early-aughts London were prompted by the country’s frustration with billionaire greed and the government’s refusal to deal with climate change. The protests were mostly peaceful, but that didn’t stop the police from clashing aggressively with protestors and even killing a bystander. Muse wrote the anthem “Uprising” about the protests.

3. “The Little Things Give You Away” by Linkin Park

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most horrific natural disasters in the country’s history. Linkin Park penned this song as a tribute to those who were affected or killed during the hurricane. It was released two years after the national tragedy occurred, and it both honors the victims and criticizes the way the U.S. government handled relief efforts.

4. “New York Mining Disaster 1941” by The Bee Gees 

The Bee Gees were known for their ability to produce some killer rock and roll tunes as well as disco tracks. “New York Mining Disaster 1941” leans more towards rock and folk, and it was inspired by a real-life mining disaster that occurred in Wales in 1966. The disaster killed 144 people, and The Bee Gees were inspired to write this track about how fragile life can be.

Photo by Kevin Winter

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