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http://youtu.be/01-2pNCZiNk

“War”

By Norman Whitfield and Barret Strong

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y’all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y’all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain’t nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It’s an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y’all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y’all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it’s got one friend
That’s the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can’t give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y’all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there’s got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y’all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh
Good God y’all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing

     “War” was written in 1969 in protest to the Vietnam War.  It was recorded in 1970 by Edwin Starr and shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.  Its popularity was presumably because it echoed the sentiments of the general population at the time.  The song is still widely known today.

     The song is very strongly worded.  Its lyrics leave no room for debate about where the authors stand in their stance against war.  An example of the wording used is as follows:

War, it ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it’s got one friend
That’s the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can’t give life
It can only take it away

The lyrics chosen reflect anger and frustration about the Vietnam War.  It says that war shatters dreams, takes lives and its only friend in the undertaker.  There is nothing good about war.  The song contains phrases like “Good God, y’all” to illustrate frustration.  It begs that the listener listen and then say Starr’s overall belief about war – that it is good for nothing. 

     This anger that is so visible in words is just as apparent in the sound of this song.  Not only are words used, but grunts and screams.  Such sounds are the sounds of anger, frustration, and disappointment.  Sounds that we can all recognize as the emotion the song is out to portray.       

     The music is also in line with the words and sounds coming from the singer’s mouth.  It reflects strength and anger.  Its beat is not soothing, rather it resembles the sound of gunfire or fighting.  The heavy beats are placed as emphasis after the words.  It sounds of chaos and war.  It sounds as if the song is warring is against the war itself.