Music Library
Explore our collection of songs that champion human rights, equality, and justice.
Black Uhuru - Leaving to Zion
✨ A reggae call for liberation, cultural identity, and freedom from systems that divide and exploit. “Leaving to Zion” by Black Uhuru is a roots reggae song that reflects themes of spiritual freedom, social injustice, and the search for a more just society. Released in the late 1970s/early 1980s period of Black Uhuru’s influential work, the song draws on Rastafari traditions, using the idea of “Zion” as a symbol of liberation, dignity, and a return to cultural and spiritual roots.
Björk and Rosalía - Oral
✨ A collaboration celebrating female creativity while defending the relationship between people and the natural world. “Oral” by Björk and Rosalía is a genre-defying collaboration that blends electronic, experimental, and flamenco-inspired sounds. Originally recorded by Björk in 1997 but released decades later, the song gained renewed significance through its connection to environmental activism and the protection of Iceland’s ecosystems.
Arcade Fire - We Exist
✨ A declaration of identity, visibility, and the right to exist without discrimination. “We Exist” by Arcade Fire is a powerful song about recognition, acceptance, and the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality. Released in 2013 on the album Reflektor, the song explores the experiences of people whose identities are marginalised or rejected, particularly focusing on transgender and queer visibility.
The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
✨ A haunting warning about war, violence, and the fragility of peace. “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones is one of the most powerful songs of the late 1960s, capturing a world marked by conflict, fear, and social upheaval. Released in 1969 as the opening track of Let It Bleed, the song reflects the anxiety of an era shaped by the Vietnam War, political violence, and images of destruction broadcast into people’s homes.
Naseebo Lal and Abida Parveen - Tu Jhoom (Coke Studio)
✨ A celebration of resilience, self-acceptance, and the freedom to embrace life’s journey. “Tu Jhoom” by Naseebo Lal and Abida Parveen, released as part of Coke Studio Pakistan Season 14, is a soulful fusion of Pakistani folk and Sufi traditions. The song combines the powerful voices of two generations of female artists to deliver a message of acceptance, perseverance, and inner freedom.
Zwe Thet Paing - Human Rights
✨ A direct call for recognition, dignity, and the universal protection of human rights. “Human Rights” by Zwe Thet Paing is a song that places the idea of human rights at the centre of artistic expression. Emerging from Myanmar’s contemporary music scene, the song reflects a desire for justice, freedom, and respect for human dignity in a context where fundamental rights and democratic freedoms have faced serious challenges.
McCoy - Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit
✨ A spiritual journey exploring dignity, resilience, and the connection between music and human expression. “Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit” by McCoy Tyner is an instrumental jazz composition that reflects themes of spirituality, inner strength, and human connection. Through the power of improvisation and collective performance, Tyner creates a piece that expresses ideas that are difficult to capture in words: hope, struggle, transcendence, and the search for meaning.
Cat Power - Free
✨ A quiet meditation on freedom, identity, and the search for liberation. “Free” by Cat Power (Chan Marshall) is an introspective song that explores the meaning of freedom, emotional independence, and the desire to escape limitations. Through her minimalist and deeply personal style, Cat Power reflects on the complexity of being free—not simply as the absence of restrictions, but as the ability to live authentically and define one’s own path.
Chico César - Palavras da Fé
✨ A song of hope, dignity, and resistance rooted in faith, identity, and social justice. “Palavras da Fé” by Chico César is a reflective song that explores the relationship between belief, humanity, and the search for justice. Through poetic lyrics and the rich musical traditions of Brazil, Chico César uses faith not as passive acceptance, but as a source of strength, resilience, and commitment to a more humane world.
U2 - Raised by Wolves
✨ A song confronting the legacy of violence, trauma, and the human cost of political conflict. “Raised by Wolves” by U2 is a powerful reflection on the impact of the conflict in Northern Ireland, particularly the violence and trauma experienced during The Troubles. Released in 2014 on the album Songs of Innocence, the song draws from real events and explores the lasting consequences of political violence on individuals and communities.
The Rolling Tav Revue - No Privatisation, Irish Water, Irish Nation!
✨ A protest song defending access to water, public services, and the idea that essential resources belong to everyone. “No Privatisation, Irish Water, Irish Nation” by The Rolling Tav Revue is a grassroots protest song that emerged during the 2014 Irish water charges protests. Combining traditional Irish musical influences with elements of rap and contemporary protest music, the song became an online anthem for opposition to the introduction of water charges and fears around the privatisation of Ireland’s water services.
José Afonso - Grândola, Vila Morena
✨ A song of solidarity, equality, and the power of ordinary people to reclaim their freedom. “Grândola, Vila Morena” by José Afonso (also known as Zeca Afonso) is one of the most important protest songs in European history. Written in 1971 and released on the album Cantigas do Maio, the song became a symbol of resistance against Portugal’s authoritarian Estado Novo regime and played a historic role in the country’s transition to democracy.