War

"War" is a soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. Whitfield first produced the song — a blatant anti-Vietnam War protest — with The Temptations as the original vocalists. After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release "War" as a single, Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist, deciding to withhold the Temptations' version so as not to alienate their more conservative fans. Starr's version of "War" was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970, and is not only the most successful and well-known record of his career, but is also one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded. Edwin Starr, who had become a Motown artist in 1968 after his former label, Ric-Tic, was purchased by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr., became "War's" new vocalist. Considered among Motown's "second-string" acts, Starr had only one major hit, 1968's number-six hit "Twenty-Five Miles", to his name by this time. He heard about the conflict surrounding the debate of whether or not to release "War," and volunteered to re-record it. Whitfield re-created the song to match Starr's James Brown-influenced soul shout: the single version of "War" was dramatic and intense, depicting the general anger and distaste the antiwar movement felt towards the war in Vietnam. Unlike the Temptations' original, Starr's "War" was a full-scale Whitfield production, with prominent electric guitar lines, clavinets, a heavily syncopated rhythm accented by a horn section, and with Whitfield's new act The Undisputed Truth on backing vocals. Upon its release in June 1970, Starr's "War" became a runaway hit, and held the #1 position on the Billboard Pop Singles chart for three weeks, in August and September 1970.

[Intro] (War, huh) Yeah! (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing, uhuh (War, huh) Yeah! (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing Say it again, y'all! (War, huh) Lookout! (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing Listen to me, awwwww! [Verse 1] War I despise 'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives War means tears to thousands of mothers' eyes When their sons go out to fight and lose their lives I said [Hook] (War, huh) Good God y'all (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing, say it again (War, huh) Lord, lord, lord, lord (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing Listen to me! [Verse 2] (War), It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker (War), Friend only to the undertaker, awwww War is the enemy of all mankind The thought of war blows my mind War has caused unrest, within the younger generation Induction then destruction Who wants to die? Awwww! [Hook] (War, huh) good God y'all (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing, say it, say it, say it (War, huh) Oh-ohh yeah, huh (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing Listen to me [Verse 3] (War), It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker (War), It's got one friend, that's the undertaker, awwww War has shattered many young men's dreams Made them disabled, bitter and mean Life is much too short and precious to be fighting wars these days War can't give life, it can only take it away, awwww! [Hook] (War, huh) Good God y'all (What is it good for?) Absolutely nothing, say it (War, huh) Lord, lord, lord, lord (What is it good for?) Oh, absolutely nothing Listen to me [Verse 4] (War), It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker (War), Friend only to the undertaker, woooo! 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 gotta be a better way, ooohhh [Hook] (War, huh) Good God y'all (What is it good for?) You tell me, say it, say it, say it, say it (War, huh) good God y'all (What is it good for?) Stand up and shout it (Nothing)