There isn’t an exact count because “songs with deeper meaning” is a subjective term.  Still, many 1960s and 1970s tracks were written during times of social change, war, and cultural revolution, so a large portion carried strong messages about:

• Civil rights and equality (e.g., Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come)
• Anti-war and peace movements (e.g., Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind, John Lennon’s Imagine)
• Counterculture and freedom (e.g., The Beatles’ Revolution, Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit)
• Personal introspection and existential themes (e.g., Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence)

If you want a rough estimate, music historians often cite that hundreds of songs from those decades—especially in a wide array of genres including folk, rock, soul, and protest—had layered meanings beyond entertainment.

1960s

1.       Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan (1963) – Civil rights & anti-war anthem

2.       The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan (1964) – Social change call

3.       A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke (1964) – Civil rights hope

4.       Respect – Aretha Franklin (1967) – Women’s empowerment

5.       Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud – James Brown (1968) – Black pride

6.       We Shall Overcome – Pete Seeger (1959, popularized in the 60s) – Civil rights hymn

7.       Give Peace a Chance – John Lennon (1969) – Anti-war anthem

8.       Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969) – Vietnam War critique

9.       White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane (1967) – Psychedelic & anti-conformity

10.   Turn!  Turn!  Turn! – The Byrds (1965) – Biblical wisdom & peace

11.   People Got to Be Free – The Rascals (1968) – Freedom & equality

12.   Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire (1965) – Protest against war & injustice

13.   For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield (1966) – Protest & awareness

14.   My Generation – The Who (1965) – Youth rebellion

15.   Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones (1966) – Existential darkness

16.   Sounds of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel (1965) – Isolation & modernity

17.   California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas (1965) – Yearning & change

18.   All You Need Is Love – The Beatles (1967) – Universal love

19.   Imagine – John Lennon (1971, written in the late 60s) – Peace & unity

20.   Masters of War – Bob Dylan (1963) – Anti-war condemnation

21.   Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan (1965) – Counterculture manifesto

22.   I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye (1968) – Social undertones

23.   Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin (1968) – Emotional vulnerability

24.   Stand By Me – Ben E. King (1961) – Solidarity & support

25.   You’ve Got a Friend – Carole King (1971, written in the late 60s) – Compassion

1970s

26.   Imagine – John Lennon (1971) – Global peace vision

27.   What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye (1971) – Social injustice & war critique

28.   Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel (1970) – Comfort & hope

29.   American Pie – Don McLean (1971) – Cultural commentary

30.   Lean on Me – Bill Withers (1972) – Community & support

31.   Let It Be – The Beatles (1970) – Spiritual reassurance

32.   Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin (1971) – Spiritual quest

33.   Hotel California – Eagles (1976) – Excess & disillusionment

34.   Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen (1975) – Escape & freedom

35.   Redemption Song – Bob Marley (1980, written late 70s) – Liberation

36.   No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley (1974) – Resilience & hope

37.   I Am Woman – Helen Reddy (1972) – Feminist anthem

38.   War – Edwin Starr (1970) – Anti-war protest

39.   Get Up, Stand Up – Bob Marley (1973) – Human rights

40.   The Needle and the Damage Done – Neil Young (1972) – Drug abuse warning

41.   Southern Man – Neil Young (1970) – Racism critique

42.   Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970) – Kent State shootings protest

43.   Imagine – John Lennon (1971) – Peace & unity (worth repeating for Impact)

44.   Dream On – Aerosmith (1973) – Aspirations & struggle

45.   Cats in the Cradle – Harry Chapin (1974) – Family & regret

46.   Father and Son – Cat Stevens (1970) – Generational conflict

47.   Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd (1975) – Absence & alienation

48.   Money – Pink Floyd (1973) – Materialism critique

49.   Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac (1977) – Independence & heartbreak

50.   Landslide – Fleetwood Mac (1975) – Reflection & change

What’s inside (3 sample rows)

(No lyric text; concise interpretive notes.)

• “A Change Is Gonna Come” – Sam Cooke (1964)
  Theme: Civil rights; hope and perseverance
  Key message: Despite hardship, justice and dignity will prevail.
  Analysis: Gospel roots and orchestral pop convey weary determination and faith in a just future; the combination of these musical elements creates a powerful and uplifting sound that has become an unofficial movement anthem.
• “What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye (1971)
  Theme: War; social injustice; environment
  Key message: Empathy and community are antidotes to brutality and alienation.
  Analysis: Conversational vocals over lush, jazz-tinged soul connect policing, war, and ecology into a unified moral frame—redefining mainstream soul’s subject matter.
• “Hotel California” – Eagles (1976)
  Theme: Excess; entanglement
  Key message: Glamour can mask entrapment; escape is more complicated than arrival.
  Analysis: Cinematic guitars create a mirage of luxury that curdles into unease; symbol-rich storytelling captures the decade’s decadence.