War

Album

War & Peace

Label

Gordy Records

Genre

Funk

Composer(s)

Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong

Entered Chart

Jul 11, 1970

Peak Date

Aug 29, 1970

Released

June 10, 1970

Recorded

May 15, 1970 Studio Hitsville USA (Studio A), Detroit, Michigan

Catalog #

Gordy 7101

B-Side

He Who Picks A Rose

Motown hitmakers Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote this song. Starr began his career recording for Ric-Tic Records, a Detroit label that was a rival to Motown. In 1968, Motown bought Ric-Tic, which gave Starr access to their writers and producers. This is a protest song about the Vietnam War, although it makes a broader statement of the need for harmony in our everyday lives. "War" was one of the first Motown songs to make a political statement. The label had always been focused on making hit songs, but around this time Motown artists like The Temptations and Marvin Gaye started releasing songs with social commentary, many of which were written by Whitfield. The Temptations were the first to record this; it was included on their 1970 album Psychedelic Shack. Motown had no intention of releasing it as a single, but many in the protest movement, especially college students, made it clear that the song would be a big hit if it was. Motown head Berry Gordy had other plans for The Temptations and didn't want them associated with such a controversial song, so he had Starr record it and his version was released as a single. Starr didn't have as big a fan base to offend. This song has a very distinct tambourine part, played by percussionist Jack Ashford. He was one of the Motown Funk Brothers who played on the track; bass player Bob Babbitt and guitarist Dennis Coffey were also part of it. Coffey came up with the psychedelic guitar sound Norman Whitfield used on "Cloud Nine" by The Temptations, which marked a musical shift for the label. In a Songfacts interview with Coffey, he said: "Norman wanted to change the sound of Motown, and I was the guy that helped him do it. He wanted to get into that protest and social consciousness stuff, so I did that fuzz tone thing up high on 'War.'" Starr added the interjections "good God y'all" and "absolutely nothings," which became some of the most famous ad-libs in music history. Starr won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Male Vocal for this song. This is a very sincere song about the horrors of war, but it has been used for comic effect in a number of movies and TV series. It appeared in Family Guy ("Bigfat" - 2013), The Simpsons ("Treehouse of Horror VIII" - 1997) and two episodes of Seinfeld ("The Marine Biologist" - 1994, "Highlights of a Hundred" - 1995). Movie uses include the 1988 blaxploitation spoof I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, and the 1998 film Rush Hour with martial arts star Jackie Chan and comedian Chris Tucker. Here are some others: Movies Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016) Grudge Match (2013) Blood: The Last Vampire (2009) Rush Hour 3 (2007) Guy X (2005) High Heels and Low Lifes (2001) Backdraft (1991) One More Saturday Night (1986) Pacific Inferno (1979) TV Xena: Warrior Princess ("Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire" - 2000) Boy Meets World ("Cutting the Cord" - 1999) The Wonder Years ("The Journey" - 1990) Bruce Springsteen's version was a hit in 1986. It was the first single released from his boxed set, Live 1975-1985, and reached US #8 and UK #18. Springsteen first performed it on September 27, 1985 during his Born In The U.S.A. tour. He taped the lyrics to his arm so he wouldn't screw them up. The Jam released this in 1982 as the B-side of their single "Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero." Other artists to cover it include Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Joan Osborne and Maria Muldaur. Starr died of a heart attack in 2003. He was 61.

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, uhh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all
War, huh (good God)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me, oh

War, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mother's eyes
When their sons go off to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh (good God, y'all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, just say it again
War (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
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
Oh, war it's an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die? Oh

War, huh (good God y'all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War (uh-huh), huh (yeah, huh)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me

(War) It ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
(War) It's got one friend that's The Undertaker
Oh, war, has shattered many a young man's dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious
To spend fighting wars each day
War can't give life
It can only take it away, oh

War, huh (good God y'all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again

War (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
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, woo
Peace, love and understanding, tell me
Is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way, oh

War, huh (God y'all)
What is it good for? You tell me (nothing)
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War (good God), huh (now, huh)
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it (nothing)