War
The Jam Lyrics

Oh no-there's got to be a better way
We cannot afford to have war and its destruction. We should seek alternatives to it.

Say it again
We need to repeat this sentiment to bring attention to the issue and raise awareness.

There's got to be a better way-yeah
We need to constantly remind ourselves that there are alternatives to war and that we should strive towards them.

What is it good for? (war)
War serves no purpose and only leads to devastation and heartbreak.

Man has a sense for the discovery of beauty
Humans have an innate appreciation for beauty and should seek to create beauty and harmony, not destruction.

How rich is the world for one who makes you for us to show
The world is a better and richer place when one creates and shares beauty with others.

Beauty must have power over man, war
Beauty should inspire us to create and appreciate life, and therefore have the power to halt or avoid war altogether.

After the end of the war I want to devote myself
Once the destruction of war has ended, one can then focus on rebuilding and creating a better future for all.

To my thoughts for five to ten years and to writing them down
Devoting oneself to reflection and writing can help bring about change and understanding, and prevent future conflict.

War has caused unrest among the younger generation
The younger generation has been robbed of their future due to wars fought by their predecessors, leading to resentment and unrest.

Induction then destruction, who wants to die?
The cycle of induction into the military and subsequent destruction of life is a tragic and unnecessary one, and creates more harm than good for all involved.

Wars come and go what remains are only the values of culture
Wars may come and go, but what truly matters in the long run are the values and legacies of cultures and societies.

Then of course there is revolutionary love
Love can be a unifying force that inspires revolutions and brings about positive change.

Love of comrades fighting for the people and love of people
Love should be directed towards fellow human beings, and should inspire individuals to fight for the common good.

Not an abstract people but people one meets and works with
Love should be based on concrete relationships and experiences, and inspire us to work together for a better future.

When Che Guevara taught of love being
Che believed strongly in the power of love as a revolutionary force.

At the center of revolutionary endeavor, he meant both
Che believed that love should be at the center of any revolutionary endeavor, both in terms of love for the people and love of comrades fighting for justice.

For people like Che or George Jackson or Malcolm X
Revolutionaries such as Che, Jackson, and Malcolm X were willing to die for their beliefs and their love for the cause.

Love was the prime mover of their struggle
These revolutionaries were driven by their love for their people and their belief in a better future.

That love cost them their lives, love coupled with a man's pride
The love and pride that drove these revolutionaries ultimately led to their tragic deaths.

Love coupled with a man's pride
Love can be a powerful force, but it can also be dangerous when coupled with pride and zealotry.

Give it to you on top, now
This line is unclear in meaning and could be interpreted in different ways, but may suggest a desire to emphasize the importance of the above sentiments.

War, I despise 'cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War is unacceptable because it results in the unnecessary harm and death of innocent people.

War, means tears to thousands of mothers how
War makes countless mothers and families suffer and grieve for the loss of their loved ones.

When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives
The tragedy of war is felt most acutely by families who lose their sons and loved ones to fighting and conflict.

I said, war, good god, now, what is it good for?
The line repeats the sentiment that war is not good and serves no purpose.

Absolutely, nothing
War is completely unnecessary and harmful to all involved.

Say it again, war, what is it good for?
Repeating the question emphasizes that the answer is the same: war is not good for anything.

War, it ain't nothing but a heart breaker
War destroys lives and breaks the hearts of countless people, leading to irreparable harm and sadness.

War, friend only to the undertaker, war
The only ones who benefit from war are those who profit from it monetarily, such as those who provide services for funerals and burials.

(War, war, war, war)
Repeating the word 'war' emphasizes the word's harsh and negative connotations.

Absolutely nothing
Again emphasizing that war is absolutely unnecessary and harmful.

Say it, war, good god now, what is it good for?
Repeating the question again and using 'good god' as an exclamation underscores the stupidity and futility of war.

Oh no, there's got to be a better way
Reiterating the belief that there must be a better way to deal with conflicts and problems than through war.

Say it again, there's got to be a better way
Repeating the sentiment is necessary to drive home the importance of finding better solutions than war.

War, what is it good for?
The song's repeated question is a rhetorical one, because the answer is always 'absolutely nothing.'