“Let's take the people who have latent thoughts about maybe the United States isn't always right. They hear a song like "Give a Damn" and maybe it'll awaken them. If it makes you cross that bridge between apathy and effective participation, that's great. There's so much talk about the Drug Generation and songs about drugs. That's stupid. They aren't songs about drugs; they're about life. Music can play a huge part, because it's the international communicative force.”

— Cass Elliot

The reference to "Give a Damn" could be to a song by Spanky & Our Gang or a subsequent song of the same title http://www.noelpaulstookey.com/01-06.html by Paul Stookey.
Rolling Stone interview (1968)

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Cass Elliot 21

American singer 1941–1974

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Cass Elliot 21

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