Great Neck Library is having a lecture titled “Can a Song Change the World? Songs of Change, Protest, and Affirmation presented by Robert Cohen” on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2:00 p.m. at the Great Neck Main Library, 159 Bayview Ave. in Great Neck.

This lecture explores the history of songs that affected and changed the world. Robert Cohen, the lecturer, brings us to the topic: Do songs have the power to change the world? Or do people “—from people in power to participate in social change movements”—believe they can?

We’ll consider these questions while listening to songs from Colonial America, songs from the Abolition movement and, later, the Civil Rights struggle, anti- (and pro-) war songs, and songs from the Labor and environmental movements—and, perhaps, songs from a few unexpected sources as well.

Along the way, we’ll reflect on what counts as a “protest” song and on whether those who composed and sang such songs intended or expected that they would have an impact on their world. And we’ll discuss what makes a protest or “movement” song “effective”—and what we mean by that.

Robert Cohen has spoken numerous times at the Library, and has taught at the New School and the 92nd St. Y., the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Cantors Assembly, Hebrew College in Boston, and Boston College’s Center for Christian-Jewish Learning.

He also spoke for many years under the New York Council for the Humanities Speakers in the Humanities and Speakers in the Schools programs. He produced and hosted over 100 radio programs in New York on Jewish culture and identity.

He wrote the NPR documentary, narrated by Theodore Bikel, “One People, Many Voices: American-Jewish Music.”

For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.