Protest Song

War by Edwin Starr

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

This is a protest song about the Vietnam War. It's more of a DIATRIBE towards war than an ENCOMIUM. This song is so significant because it was the 1st Motown song to make a political statement. I find this song very touching  because war is prideful but he targets it as INSANE by saying "War means tears.. to thousands of mothers eyes...When their sons go to fight...and lose their lives." I can see this song leading anti war protest because he EVINCED his ideas about the MURKY Vietnam War. This song makes me think of wars in general. What do we fight for? Compromise should be the 1st move in any disagreement in my eyes. Compromise can tie into the time he said "They say we must fight to keep our freedom...but lord knows there must be a better way."  The NEFARIOUS War that he sees can bring out true feelings from a parent of someone in the military. He EMBELLISHED the Ideas of anti war by giving examples and results of war. I feel like Edwin Starr hit it on the head by saying "Who wants to die" because that's basically the sum of war. There has never been a war involving fighting that ended death free. People join the military to serve and protect and by doing so their life is on the line. I think Edwin Starr supported the soldier but he just felt like what they were doing is useless.

Word Count-244