Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.
The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.
The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.
We Ain't Gonna Party No More
The Turtles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who said
That he found a plan
To end
All the wars of man
But nobody cared
He asked them
To come home
And love someone
Watch corn
In the morning sun
Plan children
To bear
Since
I was just
A little boy
I've been hearing
Tales of war
How if
We don't make men
Destroy every land
Outside our shore
How will they know
We mean to fight?
For what is worth
Fighting for
I'll never hold a gun
For them against
My brothers
Cross the sea
There's so much work
To do at home
When the mind and soul
Are free
When will they send
My brothers home
So they can be free
With me
You better end
The war
As quick as you can
There's hunger
In America
We need every man
We've got ignorance,
Pollution
And so much more
If there's one thing
We don't need
It's your damn war
We ain't gonna party
No more
You went to war
And you didn't even
Tell us
We ain't gonna party
No more
We ain't gonna party
No more,
You can't hold up
The flag
And try to lie
Behind it
We ain't gonna party
No more
Oh spacious skies
For waves of grain
Once I pledge
Myself to you
I pledge
To textbooks
Dates and names
And the dreams
I thought came true
How can my daughter
Do the same?
For your red
White and blue
We ain't gonna party
No more
We ain't gonna party
No more
We ain't gonna party
No more
We ain't gonna party
No more
The Turtles' song "We Ain't Gonna Party No More" is a protest song that is critical of America's involvement in the Vietnam War. The lyrics speak to the futility of the war and the damage it has done to American society. The lyrics are split between two voices: one that speaks to the need to end war altogether, and another that talks about the specific problems that America is facing as a result of war, such as hunger, pollution, and ignorance.
The first verse tells the story of a man who has found a way to end all wars, but nobody cares. He asks people to drop their guns, come home, and love someone, but his words fall on deaf ears. The second and third verses are sung from the perspective of a boy who has grown up hearing about wars and the destruction they bring. He pledges to never hold a gun against his brothers and begs for their return home so they can be free with him.
The fourth verse is the most critical of American society, listing all the problems that the nation is facing, such as poverty, pollution, and ignorance. It concludes with the line "If there's one thing we don't need, it's your damn war," making it clear that the singer sees the war as a cause of these problems. The final verse asks how future generations can be expected to pledge themselves to the country when it has caused so much destruction and misery. In the end, the song is a plea for peace and an end to the war.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard about a man
I have heard of a man who claims to have a plan for ending all wars.
Who said
The man mentioned earlier claimed.
That he found a plan
The man found a way to end all wars.
To end
To bring to an end.
All the wars of man
All conflicts among people.
But nobody cared
However, no one paid attention to him.
He asked them
He then requested of them.
To drop their guns
To lay down their weapons.
To come home
To return to their homes.
And love someone
To love another person.
Watch corn
To observe the growth of corn.
In the morning sun
During the early hours of the day.
Plan children
To think of bearing children.
To bear
To produce offspring.
Since
Because.
I was just
When I was young.
A little boy
A young child.
I've been hearing
I have heard.
Tales of war
Stories of battles and conflict.
How if
If we don't.
We don't make men
We do not force men or people.
Destroy every land
To ruin every place.
Outside our shore
Beyond our country.
How will they know
How will others be aware.
We mean to fight?
That we intend to go to war.
For what is worth
For what reason.
Fighting for
Engaging in war.
I'll never hold a gun
I will never carry a weapon.
For them against
Against my own people.
My brothers cross the sea
Those who are fighting overseas.
There's so much work
There is plenty of work to do.
To do at home
At home, within my own country.
When the mind and soul
When we can focus our thoughts and emotions.
Are free
When we have true freedom.
When will they send
When can those people return?
My brothers home
The soldiers fighting abroad.
So they can be free
So they can also have true freedom.
With me
And be beside me.
You better end
The war should be stopped.
The war as quick as you can
Bring the war to an end rapidly.
There's hunger
People are starving.
In America
In our own country.
We need every man
Everyone is required to assist.
We've got ignorance, pollution
We have many issues to address.
And so much more
There are countless other problems.
If there's one thing
If there's only one thing that is certain.
We don't need
We do not require.
Your damn war
Your war, get it out of here!
We ain't gonna party
We are not going to celebrate.
No more
Any longer.
You went to war
You chose to fight.
And you didn't even tell us
You didn't bother informing us.
You can't hold up
You cannot raise.
The flag
Our nation's flag.
And try to lie
And attempt to deceive.
Behind it
While still representing our nation.
Oh spacious skies
The wide-open skies.
For waves of grain
Amidst a field of grain.
Once I pledge
When I commit myself.
Myself to you
To our nation.
I pledge
I promise.
To textbooks, dates and names
To studying and learning.
And the dreams
My hopes.
I thought came true
That I thought had been realized.
How can my daughter
How will my child.
Do the same?
Live by the same values?
For your red, white and blue
For our nation's flag.
Contributed by Kylie V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.