War
The Temptations Lyrics
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Say it again
There's got to be a better way-yeah
What is it good for? (war)
Man has a sense for the discovery of beauty
How rich is the world for one who makes you for us to show
Beauty must have power over man, war
After the end of the war I want to devote myself
To my thoughts for five to ten years and to writing them down
War has caused unrest among the younger generation
Induction then destruction, who wants to die?
Wars come and go what remains are only the values of culture
Then of course there is revolutionary love
Love of comrades fighting for the people and love of people
Not an abstract people but people one meets and works with
When Che Guevara taught of love being
At the center of revolutionary endeavor, he meant both
For people like Che or George Jackson or Malcolm X
Love was the prime mover of their struggle
That love cost them their lives, love coupled with a man's pride
Love coupled with a man's pride
Give it to you on top, now
War, I despise 'cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War, means tears to thousands of mothers how
When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives
I said, war, good god, now, what is it good for?
Absolutely, nothing
Say it again, war, what is it good for?
Absolutely, nothing, listen to me
War, it ain't nothing but a heart breaker
War, friend only to the undertaker, war
(War, war, war, war)
War, what is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, war, good god now, what is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it, (war)
Oh no, there's got to be a better way
Say it again, there's got to be a better way
Yeah, what is it good for?
War, what is it good for?
The Temptations' song "War" is a powerful statement against war and its senseless destruction. The song speaks of the need for a better way, for a world where war is not the solution to our problems. It questions what war is good for and emphasizes the cost of war in terms of innocent lives lost and grieving families left behind.
The song also highlights the importance of beauty and culture in our lives, suggesting that war destroys these values along with innocent lives. The lyrics talk about the unrest war causes among younger generations and the desire for a better world that does not depend on war for its solutions.
The song also touches upon the role of love and comradeship in revolutionary movements. For figures like Che Guevara, George Jackson, and Malcolm X, love was the driving force behind their struggles. The song suggests that this love, coupled with a man's pride, can create a powerful force for change.
Overall, the song "War" is a passionate plea for an end to war and a desire for a better way to solve our problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no-there's got to be a better way
We cannot accept war as the only solution to our problems
Say it again
We repeat our disbelief and frustration over war
There's got to be a better way-yeah
We know that there must be alternative means to achieve our goals
What is it good for? (war)
War has no real value or benefit to humanity
Man has a sense for the discovery of beauty
Humans are innately drawn to finding and creating beautiful things
How rich is the world for one who makes you for us to show
The world is made richer by those who create beautiful art to share with others
Beauty must have power over man, war
War disrupts and destroys the beauty that humanity is capable of creating
After the end of the war I want to devote myself
Many people have aspirations to create and contribute positively to society
To my thoughts for five to ten years and to writing them down
Individuals want to reflect on their experiences and create meaningful works to share with others
War has caused unrest among the younger generation
The impact of war affects the emotional and physical wellbeing of future generations
Induction then destruction, who wants to die?
Beginning with the draft and ending in death, war is a senseless waste of human life
Wars come and go what remains are only the values of culture
The values of culture persist beyond the temporary nature of war
Then of course there is revolutionary love
Passionate, altruistic love can inspire positive change in society
Love of comrades fighting for the people and love of people
Fellowship and a sense of shared humanity can drive revolutionary activity
Not an abstract people but people one meets and works with
Revolutionary love is grounded in the real, tangible experiences of people
When Che Guevara taught of love being
Che Guevara believed that love was at the core of revolutionary movements
At the center of revolutionary endeavor, he meant both
Guevara believed that love was crucial for both personal and societal change
For people like Che or George Jackson or Malcolm X
Revolutionary love was highly valued by influential activists
Love was the prime mover of their struggle
Revolutionary love was a driving force for activism and progress in society
That love cost them their lives, love coupled with a man's pride
Their passion and commitment to love and justice led to their tragic deaths
Give it to you on top, now
A call to attention and action
War, I despise 'cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War only serves to cause harm to innocent individuals
War, means tears to thousands of mothers how
War causes immense emotional trauma and pain for loved ones
When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives
The loss of life due to war is tragic and heartbreaking
War, good god, now, what is it good for?
We express our exasperation with the senseless nature of war
Absolutely, nothing
War has no value or benefit to humanity
War, friend only to the undertaker, war
The only beneficiaries of war are those who profit from death and destruction
War, war, war, war
Repetition of the word emphasizes the overwhelming presence of war
Oh no, there's got to be a better way
We need to actively seek out alternate solutions to our problems
Yeah, what is it good for?
We repeat our disbelief and query about the value of war
War, what is it good for?
We continue to question the utility and value of war
Say it, war, good god now, what is it good for?
We demand an answer for why war is seen as necessary
Say it, (war)
We urge others to join in our questioning and rejection of war
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barret Strong, Norman Whitfield, BARRETT STRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sebastian Gustavsson
While Edwin Star's version is fantastic, I wish more people knew of the original
Kenneth White
@jon jon Brasileiro LOL!!!
Rand Barrett
Record label couldn’t risk offending conservative listeners. Same reason this song was put on no-play lists after 9/11
Anthony love
Psychedelic soul temptations. Rare paul Williams lead vocal. Love those vocal arrangements in the background.
olstar18
@jon jon Brasileiro Not sure how hearing the song to footage of death from war could make you think it was pro war.
ChrisO
Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong....that says it all. They rotated all their sings. Check Undisputed Truth doing Papa was A Rollin Stone...J5/Temps did Hum Along & Dance...Gladys & Marvin did Heard It Through....etc. Norman was a beast!!! Barret sang Money (That's What I Want). On this album, I think they did "Friendship Train", which Gladys and Pips did also.
Chuck Kreinar
How can you not like anything The Temps do?? However, I like the Edwin Starr version a lot more. Never heard the Temps version before, so it is hard to get Edwin's version out of mind while listening to this. I may be slightly biased since my bro, Bob Babbitt, killed it on bass for Edwin's version.
Tim Howe
Yes he sure did.
Amazing single. This is great, but the Starr version is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard and it hit me as a 8 year old boy back then.
Your bro was amazing. "The Rubberband Man" indeed!
Michael England
This is great but Edwin Starr gave it the power it really lacked and added conviction to it.
lafkdjay
According to Wikipedia, Edwin Starr's version is more intense.
I agree.