Volunteers by Jefferson Airplane

Album: Volunteers (1970)

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Written by Jefferson Airplane guitarist Paul Kantner and vocalist Marty Balin, this song is a call to take a stand against the US government and the war in Vietnam. In a 1993 interview with Relix, Balin explained: "It became political but it didn't start out that way. I had woken up to the sound of garbage cans crashing outside the mansion and looked out, and there was this Volunteers of America truck, so I wrote that down and gave it to Paul and he wrote the song. Bang. People put all kinds of meaning into it."
The B-side was "We can be Together," which is the track that kicks off the album.
Volunteers was the last album the band recorded before massive personnel changes altered their original sound, which was psychedelic rock.
A big part of the San Francisco protest scene in the '60s, Jefferson Airplane played a spirited version at Woodstock six months before the song came out. This performance is included on the original soundtrack and in the movie.
This was released as a single, but never charted. The album, though, was a relative success for the group, peaking at #38 in the UK (their highest-charting album there until 1972's Long John Silver) and reaching #13 in the US.
This appears on the Forrest Gump soundtrack. Tom Hanks was in a movie called Volunteers, but this song was not part of it.
When the Disney company sends their employees to do public service, they call them "Volunt-Ears."
Tommy Hilfiger used this in a commercial television advertisement campaign in the US market. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 15

Bcook1014 from Foley, Al, Usa@Lucy from Nowheresville, TN, contrary to what you think & write, the song wasn't about a garbage truck but one owned by the Volunteers of America (VOA) organization, a social welfare group founded in 1896 & was probably either picking up donated furniture or dropping some off to a needy household; considering the neighborhood, probably the former.
Bcook1014 from Foley, Al, Usa@Jim from Des Moines IA, contrary to your insane remarks about hypocritical rock musicians, all the Airplane were living together in a, yes, sprawling "mansion" but not the type you probably envision. In 1968, psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane — started by Marty Balin and Paul Kantner and fronted by icon Grace Slick — bought the sprawling pad in LA. Previously, the rockers had lived in several apartments, but with two No. 1 hits (“White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love”) and lots more money under their belts, they splurged on this palace.
Every band member’s name was on the deed, and they scored it for $70K. So, does this sound like some ego-fieled rock star showing off his own personal wealth & ostentatious lifestyle?
Adam from York, PaJefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship
was the most successful multistage band of all time.
Jim from Des Moines, IaDid anybody else catch the irony of Balin's statment that he wrote a song calling for leftist revolution while looking out the window of his mansion? Typical liberal hypocrisy. Oh well. They were ok musicians and broke some ground, but like most leftists, when they get money the egalitarian non-materialist crap goes right out the window.
Dalinda from Cresskill, NjJorma and Jack are so cool. Look at them play at Altamont with the Airplane and the song "Hesitation Blues" in 1970. Do you guys think these rock star legends read this website? if so;
You're the best Marty,Paul,Jorma,Jack and Grace.
David from Youngstown, OhVolunteers of America is an organization similar to the Salvation Army. Balin probably saw it on a truck, but not on a garbage one unless it was a public service announcement for the organization on the side of a garbage truck (highly unlikely). From the VOA Web site: VOA is "one the nation's largest and most comprehensive human services organizations, serving more than 2 million people each year, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions."
Adelina from Tromso, NorwayActualy, it'a a song from 1969, not 1970. And it was performed at Woodstock.
Lucy from Nowhereland, TnYes, I was going to say, it's written about a Garbage Truck...
And.. VoluntEars? How.. Creative?
Kyle from Loveland, CoBelieve it or not, the idea was inspired by a garbage truck. Marty Balin stated, "One morning somebody was banging the garbage cans outside my window. I looked out and it said on the truck, 'Volunteers of America.' I leaned over and wrote, "Hey, what's happening on the street, da-da-da...' Paul put some music to it, and it became kind of an anthemic thing for us. I say it's about a truck picking up some garbage and people don't believe me."
Fyodor from Denver, Co"Got to revolution" sounds like a larger goal than just ending US military involvement in Viet Nam (the North's victory actually ended the war). I was disappointed at how wimpy the studio version of this song is compared to the Woodstock version, which is pretty rad. Dave, are you or Jorma in the Hocking Hills region? That's some pretty country!
Max from Parma, OhThis song is now featured on a Tommy Hilfiger commercial. Oh, the humanity...
Barry from New York, NcThe Jefferson Airplane was not featured in the Woodstock movie, but in the director's cut you can see their performances of SATURURDAY AFTERNOON/WON'T YOU TRY and UNCLE SAM BLUES(featuring Jorma and Jack). Also the Airplane do OTHER SIDE OF THIS LIFE, their opening number, but it is cut short by a fadeout (an extremely poor choice in the director's cut I'd say).
Erik from Oc, CaThis isn't in the Woodstock movie
Claire from Oak Ridge, Tn"VoluntEars?" How clever! Executives of Disney, cheapeners of romance, happy-ending makers out of noting, quit with the corny puns! You can all get sick from sugar coating and bad reviews for your lousy new movies!
Dave from Pomeroy, OhFormer lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen now lives in Southeastern Ohio and has a camp where you can learn to play music from some of the masters in the business, It's called the Fur Peace Ranch. He alos tours with former Airplane member jack Cassady as Hot Tuna.

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