water to the people good evil they say
that war is hell
which explains why so many musicians
have railed so passionately against it
you’ll take my life but I’ll take yours
too
yep I am musket but I’ll run it through
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
anti-war songs nahi ho I’m in terrible
trouble at a home for this list we’re
picking songs that protest against war
in general or those that call out
particular or specific battles as well
as those that call for peace during
strife and times of conflict
we’re basing our choices on a mix of
their message song quality and overall
recognition as an anti-war song
number ten zombie The Cranberries
Hey
the Irish band The Cranberries wrote
zombie in response to the Irish
Republican Army z– 1993 bombing attacks
which killed two small children
g60 including references to the 1916
Easter Rising the song decried the
violence that had engulfed Ireland and
England for too long and which had
claimed far too many innocent lives
featuring an angry grunge inspired sound
the sometimes oblique lyrics of zombie
nevertheless condemned the acts of war
and violence that tear through the lives
of everyday people
number nine BYOB System of a Down
the United states-led invasion of Iraq
was a source of great controversy with
many very vocally deriding it including
system of a down
every good
in BYOB which in this case stands for
bring your own bombs the group levels a
familiar charge against the architects
of war that those who initiate and
maintain wars are never the ones who
suffer or fight them
the song hammers home the point about
the disproportionate amount of for
people involved in fighting wars while
presidents and other leaders sit back
and watch
the water rat
we always at the bar
number eight one Metallica set to have
been inspired by the tragic World War
one film Johnny got his gun which is in
turn based on the novel of the same name
metallic is one is a gut-wrenching plea
from a wounded soldier oh please
having been horribly injured by a
landmine the soldier is kept alive by a
feeding tube he can no longer see or
hear smell or taste all he can do is
feel and all he can feel is pain the
soldier longs for release from the hell
that his life has become but he’s unable
to even convey this wish to those
keeping him alive nobody help me
number seven holy wars the punishment do
Megadeth
another song inspired by the Irish
troubles holy wars condemns the role
that religion has often played in the
cause of war
well the situation in Northern Ireland
was the impetus for the song the lyrics
are applicable to many conflicts in
which religious differences play a large
part
the second half of the song referred to
as the punishment du makes reference to
the Marvel Comics character The Punisher
perhaps implying that the force of
justice will someday destroy the forces
of war
or perhaps not
you’re masters of war number six
masters of war Bob Dylan you build a
display Bob Dylan’s melody for masters
of war is based upon a traditional folk
song but the lyrics are pure Dylan a
blunt condemnation of world leaders at
the time and especially those with power
in America
the song takes aim at both the
military-industrial complex and the Cold
War mindset that it gained an unhealthy
influence over the course of u.s.
affairs at the time
Dylan is giving no quarter here and
allowing no excuses in this eloquent
diatribe
it’s a harsh denunciation that still
packs a tremendous punch number five
give peace a chance the Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon’s aleejack imagine is a
beautiful peon in praise of a utopian
world his give peace a chance is more
prosaic but it strikes an equally deep
chord through its simple catchy chorus
the verses are simply a rhythmic list of
labels applied to those who oppose war
and support peace they drive home the
message beautifully don’t pay attention
to who people say we are listen to what
we have to say
eventually the song takes on the
characteristics of a mantra becoming a
spiritual voice against war number 4
born in the USA Bruce Springsteen
first
when born in the USA became a monster
hit in 1984 many mistakenly took the
title at face value
and assumed it was a patriotic anthem
in fact Springsteen is critical of the
country he loves for many reasons one of
them being its tendency to wage wars
without regard to what it does to those
who fight them
the singer also bemoans the manner in
which armed conflicts inevitably create
veterans who are out of place when they
return home
one of the silent tragedies of war
number three war Edwin Starr
the use of call-and-response in music
can be very effective and that’s what
gives war its considerable impact what
written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett
strong it was recorded first by the
temptations but it was Edwin stars
version that caught fire
and you sit there
a fairly protest against war in general
and the Vietnam War in particular the
song benefits greatly from stars James
Brown inspired soul shouting
interpretations
skaar minds the song for its emotional
heft and makes it difficult to listen to
without experiencing a very visceral
reaction
number two war pigs Black Sabbath
the Vietnam War was still raging in 1970
when Black Sabbath released war pigs and
the anger behind the song is palpable
comparing Generals to evil witches and
condemning all those that fought and
design war
Black Sabbath makes it clear that a day
of judgment will come when they will get
their due
war pigs established Black Sabbath as
one of the premier heavy metal bands the
searing lyrics and crashing music make a
combination that even decades later
tears at the listener
before we reveal our top pick here are a
few honorable mentions got my spine
No
number one fortunate son Creedence
Clearwater Revival war has never been
waged in an equitable manner but in the
1960s and 70s more and more people spoke
out against the blatant unfairness war
engenders
fortunate son clearly and insistently
hammers home the point that the poor and
the powerless pay the price in war
those with rich influential daddies can
escape service or at least avoid direct
combat John Fogerty’s impassioned vocals
and CCR’s muscular playing make this
two-and-a-half minute rock song into a
condemnation of Richmond playing at war
do you agree with our choices what other
songs decrying war deserve to be on this
list
for more in throwing top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
that war is hell
which explains why so many musicians
have railed so passionately against it
you’ll take my life but I’ll take yours
too
yep I am musket but I’ll run it through
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
anti-war songs nahi ho I’m in terrible
trouble at a home for this list we’re
picking songs that protest against war
in general or those that call out
particular or specific battles as well
as those that call for peace during
strife and times of conflict
we’re basing our choices on a mix of
their message song quality and overall
recognition as an anti-war song
number ten zombie The Cranberries
Hey
the Irish band The Cranberries wrote
zombie in response to the Irish
Republican Army z– 1993 bombing attacks
which killed two small children
g60 including references to the 1916
Easter Rising the song decried the
violence that had engulfed Ireland and
England for too long and which had
claimed far too many innocent lives
featuring an angry grunge inspired sound
the sometimes oblique lyrics of zombie
nevertheless condemned the acts of war
and violence that tear through the lives
of everyday people
number nine BYOB System of a Down
the United states-led invasion of Iraq
was a source of great controversy with
many very vocally deriding it including
system of a down
every good
in BYOB which in this case stands for
bring your own bombs the group levels a
familiar charge against the architects
of war that those who initiate and
maintain wars are never the ones who
suffer or fight them
the song hammers home the point about
the disproportionate amount of for
people involved in fighting wars while
presidents and other leaders sit back
and watch
the water rat
we always at the bar
number eight one Metallica set to have
been inspired by the tragic World War
one film Johnny got his gun which is in
turn based on the novel of the same name
metallic is one is a gut-wrenching plea
from a wounded soldier oh please
having been horribly injured by a
landmine the soldier is kept alive by a
feeding tube he can no longer see or
hear smell or taste all he can do is
feel and all he can feel is pain the
soldier longs for release from the hell
that his life has become but he’s unable
to even convey this wish to those
keeping him alive nobody help me
number seven holy wars the punishment do
Megadeth
another song inspired by the Irish
troubles holy wars condemns the role
that religion has often played in the
cause of war
well the situation in Northern Ireland
was the impetus for the song the lyrics
are applicable to many conflicts in
which religious differences play a large
part
the second half of the song referred to
as the punishment du makes reference to
the Marvel Comics character The Punisher
perhaps implying that the force of
justice will someday destroy the forces
of war
or perhaps not
you’re masters of war number six
masters of war Bob Dylan you build a
display Bob Dylan’s melody for masters
of war is based upon a traditional folk
song but the lyrics are pure Dylan a
blunt condemnation of world leaders at
the time and especially those with power
in America
the song takes aim at both the
military-industrial complex and the Cold
War mindset that it gained an unhealthy
influence over the course of u.s.
affairs at the time
Dylan is giving no quarter here and
allowing no excuses in this eloquent
diatribe
it’s a harsh denunciation that still
packs a tremendous punch number five
give peace a chance the Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon’s aleejack imagine is a
beautiful peon in praise of a utopian
world his give peace a chance is more
prosaic but it strikes an equally deep
chord through its simple catchy chorus
the verses are simply a rhythmic list of
labels applied to those who oppose war
and support peace they drive home the
message beautifully don’t pay attention
to who people say we are listen to what
we have to say
eventually the song takes on the
characteristics of a mantra becoming a
spiritual voice against war number 4
born in the USA Bruce Springsteen
first
when born in the USA became a monster
hit in 1984 many mistakenly took the
title at face value
and assumed it was a patriotic anthem
in fact Springsteen is critical of the
country he loves for many reasons one of
them being its tendency to wage wars
without regard to what it does to those
who fight them
the singer also bemoans the manner in
which armed conflicts inevitably create
veterans who are out of place when they
return home
one of the silent tragedies of war
number three war Edwin Starr
the use of call-and-response in music
can be very effective and that’s what
gives war its considerable impact what
written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett
strong it was recorded first by the
temptations but it was Edwin stars
version that caught fire
and you sit there
a fairly protest against war in general
and the Vietnam War in particular the
song benefits greatly from stars James
Brown inspired soul shouting
interpretations
skaar minds the song for its emotional
heft and makes it difficult to listen to
without experiencing a very visceral
reaction
number two war pigs Black Sabbath
the Vietnam War was still raging in 1970
when Black Sabbath released war pigs and
the anger behind the song is palpable
comparing Generals to evil witches and
condemning all those that fought and
design war
Black Sabbath makes it clear that a day
of judgment will come when they will get
their due
war pigs established Black Sabbath as
one of the premier heavy metal bands the
searing lyrics and crashing music make a
combination that even decades later
tears at the listener
before we reveal our top pick here are a
few honorable mentions got my spine
No
number one fortunate son Creedence
Clearwater Revival war has never been
waged in an equitable manner but in the
1960s and 70s more and more people spoke
out against the blatant unfairness war
engenders
fortunate son clearly and insistently
hammers home the point that the poor and
the powerless pay the price in war
those with rich influential daddies can
escape service or at least avoid direct
combat John Fogerty’s impassioned vocals
and CCR’s muscular playing make this
two-and-a-half minute rock song into a
condemnation of Richmond playing at war
do you agree with our choices what other
songs decrying war deserve to be on this
list
for more in throwing top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
Please follow and like us: