Edwin Starr: War "War" was one of the most powerful anti-war songs during the Vietnam War. Originally recorded by T he Temptations on their 1970 album, "War" was re-recorded by Edwin Starr to promote and fuel the anti-war protests that were happening all over the US. The lyrics are extremely obvious as to how Americans felt about the war, "What is it good for? Absolutely nothing".
"War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeahWhat 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"
Music is a prime way to express peoples’ opinions or feelings towards a certain subject, and that certainly was the case for the young generation at home during the Vietnam War. The twang-y guitar music of this time protested what they thought was a pointless war, and the rising amount of U.S. soldiers dying every day.
One of the most influential and renowned songs during the Vietnam anti-war era was I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag by Joe McDonald.
According to the song writer, Joe McDonald… “I wrote Fixin’-To-Die Rag in summer of 1965 after I had been discharged from the US Navy for several years. It just popped into my head one day and I finished it in about 30 minutes. I did not have a conscious purpose in mind although I had been working on another song about the Vietnam War called Who Am I for several days so I had the war on my mind. The Who Am I song was part of aplay I was writing songs for titled Change Over, written by Fred Hayden and directed by Nina Serrano. It was performed twice, once on the University of California Berkeley campus and once on the San Francisco State College campus. 1965 was the year that the Vietnam War became big news and a big protest issue with students. The song attempts to address the horror of going to war with a dark sarcastic form of humor called GI humor'. GI humor is a way people have of complaining about their situation so it will not get them in trouble and keep them from going insane in an insane environment: war.”
Famous Artists who Served Time
Johnny Cash
A very well known artist of the time was the famous Man In Black, also known as, Johnny R. Cash. Just after graduating high school at age 18, Cash joined the air force where he served for four years in Germany as a morse code intercept operator. During his time in the air force, he taught himself to play the guitar. Naturally, coming from a family with a musical background, Johnny could already sing pretty well. Once he learned to play his guitar, Cash spent a lot of his time writing music about the war and performing for his fellow soldiers. One of his most popular songs was "Drive On"
He was my boonierat buddy for a year in Nam
He said is my country just a little off track
Took 'em twenty-five years to welcome me back
But, it's better than not coming back at all.
Many a good man
I saw fall And even now,
every time I dream I hear the men
and the monkeys in the jungle scream
Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me , but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on
I remember one night,
Tex and me Rappelled in on a hot L.Z.
We had our 16's on rock and roll
But, with all that fire,
was scared and cold.
We were crazy, we were wild
And I have seen the tiger smile
I spit in a bamboo viper's face
And I'd be dead , but by God's grace
Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on
It was a real slow walk in a real sad rain
And nobody tried to be John Wayne
I came home, but Tex did not
And I can't talk about the hit he got
I got a little limp now when
I walk Got a little tremolo when
I talk But my letter read from Whiskey Sam
You're a walkin' talkin' miracle from Vietnam
Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on."
As you can see in the lyrics, Johnny Cash, was definitely effected by the war tremendously even though he wasn't in the front lines. Even being in the air force is enough to have a profound effect on someone. Though Cash passed on September 12, 2003 his music will always be reflective of the rough times he lived through.
Another musician that we all know very well is Elvis Presley. Elvis served in the Army for two years in the late 1950s. In 1960 he received his Sargent stripes and his platoon leader, William J. Taylor said "Elvis pulled his own weight, he used his head and did his job well. He was one of us. He cared for us. And he got back the respect and friendship he gave everyone else. In several instances, I saw sparks of leadership in Elvis that made me think he could induced men to follow him into combat, just as his music induced millions of young people to follow him"
Elvis-Military shot.jpg
Down By The Riverside
"I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
Well, I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside (Oh)
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
Well, I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (Where?) down by the riverside
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (A-ha) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more"
Elvis, serving in the Army in the 1950's wrote this song when he returned home. The lyrics throughout the song explain his feeling of the war he was in. " I'm gonna lay down my burden," he doesnt want anymore responsibility with the war. "I ain't gonna study the war no more" he doesnt want to be apart of the war anymore. " I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield" he is done fighting and killing.
Click back here for Music
Click here for Anti War Song List
Edwin Starr: War
"War" was one of the most powerful anti-war songs during the Vietnam War. Originally recorded by T
he Temptations on their 1970 album, "War" was re-recorded by Edwin Starr to promote and fuel the anti-war protests that were happening all over the US. The lyrics are extremely obvious as to how Americans felt about the war, "What is it good for? Absolutely nothing".
"War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeahWhat is it good for
Absolutely nothing
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"
Music is a prime way to express peoples’ opinions or feelings towards a certain subject, and that certainly was the case for the young generation at home during the Vietnam War. The twang-y guitar music of this time protested what they thought was a pointless war, and the rising amount of U.S. soldiers dying every day.
One of the most influential and renowned songs during the Vietnam anti-war era was I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag by Joe McDonald.
According to the song writer, Joe McDonald…
“I wrote Fixin’-To-Die Rag in summer of 1965 after I had been discharged from the US Navy for several years. It just popped into my head one day and I finished it in about 30 minutes. I did not have a conscious purpose in mind although I had been working on another song about the Vietnam War called Who Am I for several days so I had the war on my mind. The Who Am I song was part of aplay I was writing songs for titled Change Over, written by Fred Hayden and directed by Nina Serrano. It was performed twice, once on the University of California Berkeley campus and once on the San Francisco State College campus. 1965 was the year that the Vietnam War became big news and a big protest issue with students.
The song attempts to address the horror of going to war with a dark sarcastic form of humor called GI humor'. GI humor is a way people have of complaining about their situation so it will not get them in trouble and keep them from going insane in an insane environment: war.”
Famous Artists who Served Time
Johnny CashA very well known artist of the time was the famous Man In Black, also known as, Johnny R. Cash. Just after graduating high school at age 18, Cash joined the air force where he served for four years in Germany as a morse code intercept operator. During his time in the air force, he taught himself to play the guitar. Naturally, coming from a family with a musical background, Johnny could already sing pretty well. Once he learned to play his guitar, Cash spent a lot of his time writing music about the war and performing for his fellow soldiers.
One of his most popular songs was "Drive On"
Drive on - Johnny Cash
"I got a friend named Whiskey Sam
He was my boonierat buddy for a year in Nam
He said is my country just a little off track
Took 'em twenty-five years to welcome me back
But, it's better than not coming back at all.
Many a good man
I saw fall And even now,
every time I dream I hear the men
and the monkeys in the jungle scream
Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me , but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on
I remember one night,
Tex and me Rappelled in on a hot L.Z.
We had our 16's on rock and roll
But, with all that fire,
was scared and cold.
We were crazy, we were wild
And I have seen the tiger smile
I spit in a bamboo viper's face
And I'd be dead , but by God's grace
Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on
It was a real slow walk in a real sad rain
And nobody tried to be John Wayne
I came home, but Tex did not
And I can't talk about the hit he got
I got a little limp now when
I walk Got a little tremolo when
I talk But my letter read from Whiskey Sam
You're a walkin' talkin' miracle from Vietnam
Drive on, don't mean nothin'
My children love me, but they don't understand
And I got a woman who knows her man
Drive on, don't mean nothin', drive on."
As you can see in the lyrics, Johnny Cash, was definitely effected by the war tremendously even though he wasn't in the front lines. Even being in the air force is enough to have a profound effect on someone. Though Cash passed on September 12, 2003 his music will always be reflective of the rough times he lived through.
Another musician that we all know very well is Elvis Presley. Elvis served in the Army for two years in the late 1950s. In 1960 he received his Sargent stripes and his platoon leader, William J. Taylor said "Elvis pulled his own weight, he used his head and did his job well. He was one of us. He cared for us. And he got back the respect and friendship he gave everyone else. In several instances, I saw sparks of leadership in Elvis that made me think he could induced men to follow him into combat, just as his music induced millions of young people to follow him"
Down By The Riverside
"I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
Well, I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside (Oh)
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna put on my long white robe, (Where?) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
Well, I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (Where?) down by the riverside
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield, (A-ha) down by the riverside
I'm gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more
I ain't a gonna study war no more, I ain't a gonna study war no more"
Elvis, serving in the Army in the 1950's wrote this song when he returned home. The lyrics throughout the song explain his feeling of the war he was in. " I'm gonna lay down my burden," he doesnt want anymore responsibility with the war. "I ain't gonna study the war no more" he doesnt want to be apart of the war anymore. " I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield" he is done fighting and killing.
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