Much of how we remember the ’60s today is through song.

 Music played a significant role in the social and cultural changes that took place during the 1960s. The songs of the time reflected the political and social movements of the era, including the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and the counterculture movement. Many of the songs from the 1960s have become anthems of the era and are remembered and celebrated today. Some examples of songs that symbolize the 1960s include “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan, “We Shall Overcome” by Pete Seeger, “Imagine” by John Lennon, and “The Times They Are a-Changin’” by Bob Dylan. These songs and many others helped to shape the political and cultural landscape of the 1960s and continue to be remembered and celebrated today.

The 1960s were a tumultuous and transformative decade, marked by significant social and cultural changes. The music of the 1960s reflected these changes and played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of the time.

Rock and roll, which had emerged in the 1950s, continued to be a major influence on popular music in the 1960s. Artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys helped to define the sound of the decade and became some of the most influential and popular musicians of all time.

The 1960s also saw the emergence of other important musical genres, such as soul, funk, and psychedelic rock. Motown records were a major force in the music industry, producing hits by artists like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, and The Temptations. Funk bands like James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic also became popular in the 1960s, and psychedelic rock bands like The Grateful Dead and The Jimi Hendrix Experience introduced fresh sounds and experimental techniques to popular music.

Besides music, significant cultural and social changes also marked the 1960s. The civil rights movement, the counterculture movement, and the Vietnam War all played a role in shaping the social and political climate of the time. The 1960s were a time of significant change and upheaval, and the music and culture of the decade reflected these changes.

Here are some lyrics that came to define this singular decade.

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows — “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” Bob Dylan

Why don't you all f-fade away / And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say / I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation / I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation — ”My Generation,” The Who

All the lonely people / Where do they all come from? / All the lonely people / Where do they all belong? — “Eleanor Rigby,” the Beatles

What's your name? / Who's your daddy? / Is he rich like me? / Has he taken / Any time / To show you what you need to live? — “Time of the Season,” the Zombies

Please allow me to introduce myself / I'm a man of wealth and taste / I've been around for a long, long year / Stole many a man's soul and faith — “Sympathy for the Devil,” the Rolling Stones

I fell into a burning ring of fire / I went down, down, down / And the flames went higher / And it burns, burns, burns / The ring of fire — “Ring of Fire,” Johnny Cash

I ain't no psychiatrist, I ain't no doctor with degrees / But it don't take too much high IQ to see what you're doing to me — “Think,” Aretha Franklin

I've known of your, your secluded nights / I've even seen her, maybe once or twice / But is her sweet expression / Worth more than my love and affection? — “Stop! In the Name of Love,” the Supremes

I found a dream that I could speak to / A dream that I can call my own / I found a thrill to press my cheek to / A thrill that I've never known — “At Last,” Etta James

Different strokes for different folks / And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee / Ooh, sha sha / We got to live together — “Everyday People,” Sly and the Family Stone

How well I remember the look that was in his eyes / Stealin' kisses from me on the sly / Takin' time to make time / Tellin' me that he's all mine — “Son of a Preacher Man,” Dusty Springfield

Here am I floating 'round my tin can / Far above the moon / Planet Earth is blue / And there's nothing I can do — “Space Oddity,” David Bowie

All the leaves are brown / And the sky is gray / I've been for a walk  / On a winter's day — “California Dreamin’,” the Mamas and the Papas