Originally conceived for the Temptation quintet in 1969, “War” was deemed too politically aligned for the band, then reassigned by the Motown record company to Edwin Starr.
“War” became famous, however, many years later, thanks to the interpretation of Bruce Springsteen, who sang the significant lines of this text in reaction to the foreign policy of President Reagan, in the mid-1980s.
Let’s find out together the text and the meaning of this anthem against the war. War
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
War is something that I despise
For it means destruction of innocent lives
For it means tears in thousands of mothers’ eyes
When their sons go out to fight to give their lives
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
War
It’s nothing but a heartbreaker
War
Friend only to the undertaker
War is the enemy of all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
Handed down from generation to generation
Induction destruction
Who wants to die
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
War has shattered many young men’s dreams
Made them disabled bitter and mean
Life is too precious to be fighting wars each day
War can’t give life it can only take it away
War
It’s nothing but a heartbreaker
War
Friend only to the undertaker
Peace love and understanding
There must be some place for these things today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord there’s gotta be a better way
That’s better than
War
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War
What is it good for
Absolutely nothingGuerra – Traduzione italiana
Guerra
What it is
for Absolutely nothing
I repeat it, war
What it is
for Absolutely nothing, come on!
War, I despise
it Because it means destruction of innocent lives
And tears in the eyes of mothers
When their children go to fight, to give their life
War
What it is
for Absolutely nothing
I repeat, war
What it is
for Absolutely nothing
War
It is nothing but a heartbreaking event Good
war
only for the gravedigger
War is the enemy of all mankind
The thought of war upsets my mind
Passed down from generation to generation
Recruitment, destruction, those who want to die
War
What it is
for Absolutely nothing
I repeat, war
What it is
for Absolutely nothing.
War
is nothing but a heartbreaking event
War
Good only for the gravedigger
War has shattered the dreams of many young men
It has made them disabled, embittered and resentful
Life is too precious to fight wars every day
War is not it can give life: it can only take it away.
War
What it is
for Absolutely nothing
I repeat, war
What it is
Absolutely nothing.
Peace, love and awareness, and all the rest:
today we have to make room for all of this.
They say we have to fight to stay free,
But Lord, there has to be another way that’s better than this.
War
What it is
for Absolutely nothing
I repeat it, war
What it is
for Absolutely nothing, come on! War is never a good idea
When Bruce Springsteen decided to use “War” as a hymn to protest against the aggressive foreign policy of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States of America, he probably had no idea how much he would make the designated song is famous.
Played live for the first time in a concert, “War” marked a huge success for the artist. Live, Springsteen inserted, before starting to sing, a very incisive preamble on the role that our rulers have in the life of all men. The emblematic phrase of this speech is the one that reminds us that “unconditional trust in our rulers will get us killed”.
Bruce Springsteen, just two years after the release of the single “War” has become one of the most celebrated and appreciated artists in Europe and the United States. His success has continued to grow, so much so that even today there are several generations who listen to his music with pleasure.
This song marks a strong and incisive stance towards an act that has always been considered normal administration: war.
One wonders about its usefulness. The authors of the text and its various interpreters have no doubts about it: it is good for nothing, no one can really benefit from it and, even when it is said that we must fight for freedom and rights, perhaps we could think of a better way to do it.
War pains, hurts and destroys.
There are no reasons to justify it.
A text that should make us reflect on how each of us can take sides, in his own small way, against the injustices of the world, to resist and make it a better place.
