They Can't Take Away Our Music
War Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, there?s one thing that I?m sure,
It?s so proud and it?s so pure.

And it comes from deep within,
It?s got no hair it?s got no skin.

As we travel far and near,
We bring the world for you to hear.

And the message that we bring,
Is the light in the words we sing.

And no matter how bad you feel,
We got something, they can?t steal.

No they can?t, no they can?t, no they can?t,
Take away our music, no.

No they can?t, no they can?t, no they can?t,
Take away our music.

In the ghetto, it gets cold,
But we got something to warm our souls.

Like the blanket of our faith,
Keeps us covered when we shake.

Though they take my brother?s life,
And deny his given rights.

Yes, the message will be heard,
As the four winds spread the word.

And our spirit, they can?t break,
?Cause we got power to communicate, yea.

No they can?t, no they can?t, no they can?t,
Take away our music, Lord.

No they can?t, no they can?t,
I say, they can?t take our music, music, little baby (unintelligible)
But his message is my book, my book, is your book, is everybody?s book. Come on.
Music is fine, music is alright, alright with me, yea.
Come on, come on, sing it mom, sing it pop, sing it brother, sing it sister.

Everybody, come on. Get up on your feet, now, and stomp your feet, clap your hands, come on. Oh.
Sing it to your man, sing it to your woman, sing it to your baby, sing it to the sky,




Sing to ev?, sing it to the ground, sing it to the earth, my, my, my, my, come on.
They can?t take it away, they can?t take it away. Oooo. Come on, come on, come on.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of War's song "They Can't Take Away Our Music" are about the power of music to unite and uplift people, even in the face of adversity. The song emphasizes that music is something that comes from deep within and can't be taken away by anyone. The lyrics highlight how music brings people together and spreads a powerful message, which helps to overcome the struggles that people face in life.


The first verse of the song discusses the purity and pride that comes with music. It mentions how music has no boundaries and can reach far and near, bringing people together from all over the world. The second verse speaks about how music warms the soul and gives comfort to people who live in difficult circumstances. The lyrics also talk about how music can spread a message of hope and courage in the face of oppression and injustice. The song ends with a call to people to embrace music and let it inspire hope, joy, and unity in their hearts.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, there?s one thing that I?m sure, It?s so proud and it?s so pure.
I am confident that our music is something to be proud of. It is pure and genuine.


And it comes from deep within, It?s got no hair it?s got no skin.
Our music is a reflection of our true inner selves, it transcends physical appearance.


As we travel far and near, We bring the world for you to hear.
We travel the world and bring our music to people near and far so that everyone can hear it.


And the message that we bring, Is the light in the words we sing.
Our music carries a message that is uplifting and inspiring, it sheds light on important issues.


And no matter how bad you feel, We got something, they can?t steal.
No matter how bad things get, our music is something that no one can take away from us or steal from us.


No they can?t, no they can?t, no they can?t, Take away our music, no.
Our music is something that is truly ours, and no one has the power to take it away from us.


In the ghetto, it gets cold, But we got something to warm our souls.
Even in tough situations like the ghetto, we have our music to keep us warm and lift our spirits.


Like the blanket of our faith, Keeps us covered when we shake.
Our faith and our music act like a warm blanket that protects us and keeps us strong, even when things get tough.


Though they take my brother?s life, And deny his given rights.
Even when terrible things happen, like the loss of a loved one or the denial of basic human rights, our music stands as a testament to our resilience.


Yes, the message will be heard, As the four winds spread the word.
Even when our voices are silenced, our music will continue to spread the message and inspire others.


And our spirit, they can?t break, ?Cause we got power to communicate, yea.
Our spirit is unbreakable because we have the power to communicate through our music, and nothing can stand in our way.


No they can?t, no they can?t, no they can?t, Take away our music, Lord.
Our music is a gift from God, and no one can take that away from us.


No they can?t, no they can?t, I say, they can?t take our music, music, little baby (unintelligible)
Our music is something that brings us all together, something that we can all share and enjoy, no matter who we are or where we come from.


But his message is my book, my book, is your book, is everybody?s book. Come on.
The message in our music is something that everyone can relate to, it is a book that we all share and learn from.


Music is fine, music is alright, alright with me, yea.
Our music is more than just good, it is amazing, and everyone should be able to enjoy it.


Come on, come on, sing it mom, sing it pop, sing it brother, sing it sister. Everybody, come on. Get up on your feet, now, and stomp your feet, clap your hands, come on. Oh.
Let's all sing and dance together to the music that unites us all, no matter our differences.


Sing it to your man, sing it to your woman, sing it to your baby, sing it to the sky, Sing to ev?, sing it to the ground, sing it to the earth, my, my, my, my, come on.
Let's sing our music to everything and everyone, to the sky and the earth, to our loved ones and to the world around us.


They can?t take it away, they can?t take it away. Oooo. Come on, come on, come on.
Our music is something that is truly ours, and no one has the power to take it away from us.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHARLES MILLER, HAROLD RAY I. BROWN, HOWARD E. SCOTT, JERRY GOLDSTEIN, LE ROY L. JORDAN, LEE OSKAR, MORRIS DEWAYNE DICKERSON, SYLVESTER ALLEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@88Jako

They Can't Take Away Our Music
Eric Burdon and War


· There's a feeling shared today
· By the people whose freedom
· Has been taken away

· And as in the past
· When times were wrong
· The common folks
· Come together in song

· How will we win
· With what will we fight
· We hope with this song
· Our world we will unite

Oh, there's one thing... that I'm sure
It's so proud... and it's so pure
And it comes from... deep within
It's got no hair... it's got no skin

As we travel... far and near
We bring the world... for you to hear
And the message... that we bring
Is alive... in the word we sing

And no matter... how it make you feel
We got something... they can't steal

· (chorus)
No, they can't... no, they can't
No, they can't... take away our music
No, they can't... no, they can't
No, they can't... take away our music

In the ghetto... it gets cold
But we've got something... To warm our souls
Like the blanket... of our fate
Keeps us covered... when we shake

Though they take... our brother's live
And deny... his given right
Yes, the message... will be heard
As the four winds... spread the word

And our spirit... they can't break
Cause we got power... to communicate, yeah

· (chorus)
No, they can't... no, they can't
No, they can't... take away our music
No, they can't... no, they can't
Say they can't... take away our music

Lord, no, they can't... no, they can't
Aaah! they... they can't take our music
Music, music, sing it momma
Sing it brother, sing it sister

Come on, come on
Music is yours... and music is mine
Is mine, is mine, is mine

There was a lady one day
I bet you don't know her name
A long long time ago
Do you remember Billie Holliday
Billie Holliday sang the blues

She may be dead... but she's alive today
yeahh, Do you remember charlie parker
Sing the blues, sing the blues
Sing the blues

Jimi Hendrix, Sammy Cooke
Elmore james play the blues for you
For you... they played
It's all for you, yeah

Music is yours, it's mine
It's yours, sing it momma, sing it papa

It made me laugh and it made me cry
Crying, crying, little baby Janis
Cried for you, yeah

Remember Jimi Hendrix too, lord
Sam Cooke now... put his message in
My book, my book, it's your book
It's everybody's book come on

Music is fine... music is all right
All right with me, yeah

Come on, come on
Sing it momma, sing it papa,
Sing it brother, sing it sister
Everybody, come on

Get up on your feet now
And stomp your feet... clap your hands, come on
Sing it to your man... sing it to your woman
Sing it to your baby... sing it to the sky

Sing it to air... sing it to the ground
Sing it to the earth... my, my, my, my
Come on
They can't take it away
They can't take it away



@KenBoorman

There's a feeling shared today
By the people whose freedom
Has been taken away

And as in the past
When times were wrong
The common folks
Come together in song

How will we win
With what will we fight
We hope with this song
Our world we will unite

Oh, there's one thing that I'm sure
It's so proud and it's so pure
And it comes from deep within
It's got no hair, it's got no skin

As we travel far and near
We bring the world for you to hear
And the message that we bring
Is alive in the word we sing

And no matter how it make you feel
We got something they can't steal

[Chorus:]
No, they can't, no, they can't
No, they can't take away our music
No, they can't, no, they can't
No, they can't take away our music

In the ghetto, it gets cold
But we've got something
To warm our souls
Like the blanket of our fate
Keeps us covered when we shake

Though they take our brother's live
And deny his given right
Yes, the message will be heard
As the four winds spread the word

And our spirit, they can't break
Cause we got power to communicate, yeah

No, they can't, no, they can't
No, they can't take away our music
No, they can't, no, they can't
Say they can't take away our music

Lord, no, they can't, no, they can't
Hey, they can't take our music
Music, music, sing it for me
Sing it for me, sing it with me

(They can take away our lives)
Come on, come on
(But they can't take our music)
Music is yours and music is mine
Is mine, is mine, is mine

(They can take away our lives)
There was a lady one day
I bet you don't know her name
(But they can't take our music)
Do you remember Billie Holliday
Billie Holliday sang the blues

(They can take away our lives)
She may be dead but she's alive today
(But they can't take our music)
Do you remember Charlie Parker
Sing the blues, sing the blues
Sing the blues

(They can take away our lives)
Jimi Hendrix, Sammy Cooke
Elmore James play the blues
For you, they played
It's all for you, yeah
(But they can't take our music)

Music is yours, it's mine
It's yours, sing it now
(They can take away our lives)
It made me laugh and it made me cry
(But they can't take our music)
Crying, crying, little baby Janis
Cried for you, yeah

(They can take away our lives)
Remember Jimi Hendrix too, Lord
(But they can't take our music)
Sam Cooke now put his message in
My book, my book, it's your book
It's everybody's book

(They can take away our lives)
Music is fine, music is all right
(But they can't take our music)
All right with me, yeah

Come on, come on
Sing it for me, sing it for me
(They can take away our lives)
Sing it for me, sing it just
Everybody, come on
(But they can't take our music)

Get up on your feet now and
Stomp your feet, clap your hands
(They can take away our lives)
Sing it to your man, sing it to your woman
Sing it to your baby, sing it to the sky
(But they can't take our music)

Sing it to the air, sing it to the ground
Sing it to the Earth, my, my, my, my
Come on (they can take away our lives)
They can't take it away
They can't take it away
(But they can't take our music)



All comments from YouTube:

@elisabethaxelsson4736

This song is a masterpice

@arturoramirez7296

THIS IS A ONE NICE SONG IT GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS

@faithparent1139

You are an inspiration to all of us Eric

@elisabethaxelsson4736

True

@johnveitch7410

We need this now!! ☮️

@88Jako

They Can't Take Away Our Music
Eric Burdon and War


· There's a feeling shared today
· By the people whose freedom
· Has been taken away

· And as in the past
· When times were wrong
· The common folks
· Come together in song

· How will we win
· With what will we fight
· We hope with this song
· Our world we will unite

Oh, there's one thing... that I'm sure
It's so proud... and it's so pure
And it comes from... deep within
It's got no hair... it's got no skin

As we travel... far and near
We bring the world... for you to hear
And the message... that we bring
Is alive... in the word we sing

And no matter... how it make you feel
We got something... they can't steal

· (chorus)
No, they can't... no, they can't
No, they can't... take away our music
No, they can't... no, they can't
No, they can't... take away our music

In the ghetto... it gets cold
But we've got something... To warm our souls
Like the blanket... of our fate
Keeps us covered... when we shake

Though they take... our brother's live
And deny... his given right
Yes, the message... will be heard
As the four winds... spread the word

And our spirit... they can't break
Cause we got power... to communicate, yeah

· (chorus)
No, they can't... no, they can't
No, they can't... take away our music
No, they can't... no, they can't
Say they can't... take away our music

Lord, no, they can't... no, they can't
Aaah! they... they can't take our music
Music, music, sing it momma
Sing it brother, sing it sister

Come on, come on
Music is yours... and music is mine
Is mine, is mine, is mine

There was a lady one day
I bet you don't know her name
A long long time ago
Do you remember Billie Holliday
Billie Holliday sang the blues

She may be dead... but she's alive today
yeahh, Do you remember charlie parker
Sing the blues, sing the blues
Sing the blues

Jimi Hendrix, Sammy Cooke
Elmore james play the blues for you
For you... they played
It's all for you, yeah

Music is yours, it's mine
It's yours, sing it momma, sing it papa

It made me laugh and it made me cry
Crying, crying, little baby Janis
Cried for you, yeah

Remember Jimi Hendrix too, lord
Sam Cooke now... put his message in
My book, my book, it's your book
It's everybody's book come on

Music is fine... music is all right
All right with me, yeah

Come on, come on
Sing it momma, sing it papa,
Sing it brother, sing it sister
Everybody, come on

Get up on your feet now
And stomp your feet... clap your hands, come on
Sing it to your man... sing it to your woman
Sing it to your baby... sing it to the sky

Sing it to air... sing it to the ground
Sing it to the earth... my, my, my, my
Come on
They can't take it away
They can't take it away

@jeffsnowden5119

Powerful version which I had always attributed to Donna Summer/Goldsstein. Eric Burdon has always been a giant both on and behind the throne of so many aspects of rock/soul/ pop music over the decades and on both sides of the pond. Still love the best of the animals though from HotRS through Bright Lights, Bring it on home, ....get out of this place, etc and ad infinitum. Live well Eric and thanks.

@elisabethaxelsson4736

So True

@douglaskostiuk1

reminder of my military service, great peace song, rock on !!!!

@andrewmair7371

Classic track from a classic (double) album - 👊😆

More Comments

More Versions