Did you vote today? And, more importantly, can a song actually change anything?

On this episode of The New Dad Rock takes on the protest song: that curious musical form that has been trying to change the world, rally the troops, and occasionally get people to pay attention. From Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Ohio" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son," we look at songs that captured a moment in history—and wonder whether they ever changed anybody's mind.

Then things get a little louder. Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth prove that political commentary isn't limited to folk singers with acoustic guitars. Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." reminds us that a great chorus can completely overwhelm a song's message, while The Clash, Dead Kennedys, Pavement and Rage Against the Machine offer rather different approaches to getting their point across. And naturally, Public Enemy gets a turn.

But what actually makes a protest song effective? Does it persuade, provoke, unite people who already agree, or simply make a difficult situation feel a little less lonely? And if a song can be a protest against war, injustice or the government, what about a love song? Isn't that sometimes just a protest against somebody not loving you enough—or loving you too much?

Along the way, we discuss Devo, Bono, Morrissey, N.W.A., and the possibility that pretty much every song is a complaint about something.

So, can a song change the world? Maybe. But first, you might want to check your voter registration—and actually listen to the lyrics.

Let us know what’s up.

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