Music Anti-War songs

[Dusty Soul 2,610]

So a while ago I listened to a song called One Tin Soldier, and that began my craze of anti-war songs. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qswm7lHp7oY

So I was wondering;

What are your favorite anti-war songs.  

 

 

[Harmonic Revelations 8,830]

This is my favorite, it's by my favorite band, Rise Against.

 

It truly displays what war is in an honest way, that's why I like this song.

 

 

I'm not some anti-patriot, my whole family is military, my father, nineteen years, my brother, seven years, my grandfather, twenty-three years, my great grandfather went MIA during war.

 

Not one of my family members regrets what they did, but they all agree war is a horrible thing that no one should go through.

Edited January 24, 2013 by Aeternae Salutis

[longgone 873]

Mrs.Mcgrath, it's about an Irish mother whose son goes to fight Napoleon in the Penninsular War, and ends up loosings his legs with his mother all upset.

 

 

 

Besides that, there's the classical Blowing in the Wind and Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

[Dusty Soul 2,610]

 

That song... is just amazing!  I love the story it tells, and actually made me cry when I heard it.

 

 

 

That is quite different I must say, but great nontheless.  I'll have to check out the other two you mentioned

[longgone 873]

Just remembered this one, it's anit-war yet kinda humorous. I like it. It's about the nuclear threat, so I'm assuming it's talking about the '50s and '60's.:

 

[Harmonic Revelations 8,830]

 

I like this one but I'm biased because I love the movie that this is from (I own Johnny Got his Gun on DVD, it's the best anti-war movie ever. Dusty, if you ever want to see it I can live stream it for you.)

 

The song doesn't have the same effect without the dialogue from the movie, so this is better than the song, in the link above.

 

I cried when I first heard it.

 

It's about a soldier who survives a bomb and has to have all of his limbs amputated, and he can't speak because his face has been destroyed as well, he can't feel, or tell when he is awake or dreaming.

Edited January 24, 2013 by Aeternae Salutis

[MelancholicMemory 2,020]

My favorite anti- war song by Julia Marcell. The version by Voltaire is awesome too. It' s about...Well you' 'll see

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=M29gBUj1zQI

 

Of course as an avid fan of John Lennon, I also have to bring up this.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=xwJQffbssxo

Edited January 24, 2013 by MelancholicMemory

[Rainbow Dash Loyalty 1,273]

This is one of my favorite songs from Linkin Park from their album 'Minutes to Midnight'. "When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die" That's probably the best line from the song IMO

[Dusty Soul 2,610]

 

This is one of my favorite songs at the moment, actually the first solo I learned to play.  Johnny Got His Gun is one of the best anti-war movies ever made and is sad as something that's really sad.  I've actually seen it, and it shocked me.  When I realized what the song was for it made the lyrics so much more meaningful.  I cried after I discovered it's meaning.

[decoherence 183]

This song is about personal responsibility. It was written in 1968, by Buffy Sainte Marie, who I've always been a great fan of (not that i was around in 1968... i'm not THAT old) 

 

 

We are the universal soldiers.

Edited January 24, 2013 by decoherence

[Modphase 1,269]

 

This is a masterpiece of a song that not only expresses the idea of peace and unity, it also reveals a way that humanity can evolve and become ideal. And yes, it is anti-war, as peace is the main message of the song.

[Midnight Seeker 302]

This is a good one with a funny story behind it. It was very popular in it's native Germany, and became well recieved in English speaking countries, due to people not realizing what the song was about.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9whehyybLqU

 

 

The band realised an English version, and an entire generation facepalmed when their cheery sounding and lighthearted song proved to be anything but.

 

[MelancholicMemory 2,020]

 

This is one of my favorite songs from Linkin Park from their album 'Minutes to Midnight'. "When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die" That's probably the best line from the song IMO

I love that song so much! It's one of their best songs, and that particular line you mentioned hit home with me as well. My dad actually met a member of the band once because he was a friend of his mother, but he didn't realize how big of a deal it was at the time 

 

Speaking of my dad, he'd kill me if I didn't bring up this song

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=E9VhD4SccSE

[Music Chart Fan 810]

I don't seek out anti-war songs specifically, but I do happen to know of a few more subtle ones.

 

I like trying to pick out and sing specific harmony parts on this one by Peter, Paul & Mary. It was first released on their self-titled debut album in 1962; it was released as a single in 1965 at peaked at #52 in May of that year. 

 

 

This song has been recorded by many artists over the years, including Peter, Paul & Mary, Johnny Rivers, who had a #26 hit with it in November 1965, and The Kingston Trio, who hit #21 with it in April 1962. It's interesting how the verses end up creating a cycle in the end.

 

 

[decoherence 183]

I don't seek out anti-war songs specifically, but I do happen to know of a few more subtle ones.

 

I like trying to pick out and sing specific harmony parts on this one by Peter, Paul & Mary. It was first released on their self-titled debut album in 1962; it was released as a single in 1965 at peaked at #52 in May of that year. 

 

 

I love Cruel War. My favourite is the version by Sugar 'n Spice. I found it once on YouTube but haven't been able to find it again for the last couple of years.

 

http://members.shaw.ca/sugar-and-spice/

 

At the other end of the spectrum, I love the bucking heck out of this one. It's ugly and brutal and a little bit like war.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZCyOWLrRTE

Edited January 24, 2013 by decoherence

[FoxyCryptid 4,324]

This one has shades of it, in the "pro solider, anti-war" sense, it's a really beautiful song too:

 

Say a prayer for peace
For every fallen son
Set my spirit free
Let me lay down my gun
Sweet mother Mary I'm so tired
But I can't come home 'til
the last shot's fired

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7_0v5zZB94

Edited January 24, 2013 by Shoboni

[SrFrog 923]

So old, yet somehow very relevant and amazing is Creedence Clearwater Revival's, Fortunate Son. Simple and to the point of it's message, what's not to love?

[XxSAINExX 29]

I just love this song and most defiantly is anti-war.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4g_1VoGw4

 

I know more its just I cant think of another (that you guys haven't already covered )

[Shanks 10,796]

This is a great song about the hypocritical chickenhawk scum that call for war but avoid going to the battlefield themselves like the plague.

 

http://youtu.be/tFFOUkipI4U

[Midnight Seeker 302]

I'm a big Iron Maiden fan, and their song are often extremely anti war. It would take a while to list them all (But the album "A Matter of Life and Death" would be a good investment on your part.

 

Here are a couple of classics. You should watch them. It's classic metal. Good for growing youngsters.

 

 

2 Minutes to Midnight

 

The Trooper

[Fridge 382]

Pretty much anything by Antiflag or Authority Zero. Also the entire of A Perfect Circles emotive album, it's all covers but every single one an anti war song. Finally Clawfinger have a song called step aside that's pretty damn good.

 

And if your after something not rock or metal there is also the artist Akala who does some good stuff. Flobots too, and my personal favorite Dan le Sac vs Scroobius pip (although most of their sons tend to be social commentary rather than anti war).

Edited January 25, 2013 by Fridge

[Le Kvlt Dawn 2,362]

War Pigs by Black Sabbath was big middle finger to the Vietnam War. Fortunate Son by CCR is also really good. War is really just the poor man fighting for the rich man. Pretty f*cked up, don't you think?

[SCS 7,191]

One of my favorite songs of all time, Song of Myself by Nightwish, features a re-imagining of the poem Song of Myself by Walt Whitman by the head of the band. It features social commentary on several issues, including war, in the following lines:

 

Death is the winner in any war,

Nothing noble in dying for your religion

For your country

For ideology, for faith

For another man,

Yes

 

 

I don't fully agree with what that song says. I am a pacifist, but not to the degree of being anti-military. What I mean is that I am against war, but I am not against the US military, or our allies. I wish war didn't have to exist, but unfortunately it's sometimes a necessary evil. The way my dad explained it to me that I think makes sense is that the war is the lesser of two evils, in the example of the US going to war with the terrorists. Going to war is a necessary evil to stop terrorists. Letting the terrorists do whatever they wanted to do would be the greater evil. 

 

Anyways, Song of Myself by Nightwish is a very beautiful song, with very thought provoking and moving lyrics. 

 

Here are its lyrics in entirety:

 

 

Song of Myself

 

[1. From A Dusty Bookshelf]

 

[2. All That Great Heart Lying Still]

 

The nightingale is still locked in the cage

The deep breath I took still poisons my lungs

An old oak sheltering me from the blue

Sun bathing on its dead frozen leaves

 

A catnap in the ghost town of my heart

She dreams of storytime and the river ghosts

Of mermaids, of Whitman's and the ride

Raving harlequins, gigantic toys

 

A song of me, a song in need

Of a courageous symphony

A verse of me, a verse in need

Of a pure heart singing me to peace

 

All that great heart lying still and slowly dying

All that great heart lying still on an angel wing

 

All that great heart lying still

In silent suffering

Smiling like a clown until the show has come to an end

What is left for encore

Is the same old dead boy's song

Sung in silence

All that great heart lying still and slowly dying

All that great heart lying still on an angel wing

 

A midnight flight into Covington Woods

A princess and a panther by my side

These are Territories I live for

I'd still give my everything to love you more

 

A song of me, a song in need

Of a courageous symphony

A verse of me, a verse in need

Of a pure heart singing me to peace

 

All that great heart lying still and slowly dying

All that great heart lying still on an angel wing

 

Now all that great heart lying still

In silent suffering

Smiling like a clown until the show has come to an end

What is left for encore

Is the same old dead boy's song

Sung in silence

 

All that great heart lying still and slowly dying

All that great heart lying still on an angel wing

 

[3. Piano Black]

 

A silent symphony

A hollow opus #1,2,3

 

Sometimes the sky is piano black

Piano black over cleansing waters

 

Resting pipes, verse of bore

Rusting keys without a door

 

Sometimes the within is piano black

Piano black over cleansing waters

 

All that great heart lying still and slowly dying

All that great heart lying still on an angel wing

All that great heart lying still and slowly dying

All that great heart lying still on an angel wing

All that great heart lying still and slowly dying

All that great heart lying still on an angel wing

 

[4. Love]

 

I see a slow, simple youngster by a busy street,

A begging bowl in his shaking hand.

Trying to smile but hurting infinitely. Nobody notices.

I do, but walk by.

 

An old man gets naked and kisses a model-doll in his attic

It's half-light and he's in tears.

When he finally comes his eyes are cascading.

 

I see a beaten dog in a pungent alley. He tries to bite me.

All pride has left his wild, drooling eyes.

I wish I had my leg to spare.

 

A mother visits her son, smiles to him through the bars.

She's never loved him more.

 

Arabesque girl enters an elevator with me.

All dressed up fancy, a green butterfly on her neck.

Terribly sweet perfume deafens me.

She's going to dinner, alone.

That makes her even more beautiful.

 

I see a model's face on a brick wall.

A statue of porcelain perfection beside a violent city kill.

A city that worships flesh.

 

The first thing I ever heard,

was a wandering man telling his story

It was you, the grass under my bare feet

The campfire in the dead of night

The heavenly black of sky and sea

 

It was us,

Roaming the rainy roads, combing the gilded beaches

Waking up to a new gallery of wonders every morn

Bathing in places no one's seen before

Shipwrecked on some matt-painted island

Clad in nothing but the surf - beauty's finest robe

 

Beyond all mortality we are, swinging in the breath of nature

In early air of the dawn of life

A sight to silence the heavens

 

I want to travel where life travels,

following its permanent lead

Where the air tastes like snow music

Where grass smells like fresh-born Eden

I would pass no man, no stranger, no tragedy or rapture

I would bathe in a world of sensation

Love, goodness and simplicity

(While violated and imprisoned by technology)

 

The thought of my family's graves was the only moment

I used to experience true love

That love remains infinite,

as I'll never be the man my father is

 

How can you "just be yourself"

when you don't know who you are?

Stop saying "I know how you feel"

How could anyone know how another feels?

 

Who am I to judge a priest, beggar,

w****, politician, wrongdoer?

I am, you are, all of them already

 

Dear child, stop working, go play

Forget every rule

There's no fear in a dream

 

"Is there a village inside this snowflake?"

- a child asked me

"What's the colour of our lullaby?"

 

I've never been so close to truth as then

I touched its silver lining

 

Death is the winner in any war

Nothing noble in dying for your religion

For your country

For ideology, for faith

For another man,

Yes

 

Paper is dead without words

Ink idle without a poem

All the world dead without stories

Without love and disarming beauty

 

Careless realism costs souls

 

Ever seen the Lord smile?

All the care for the world made Beautiful a sad man?

Why do we still carry a device of torture around our necks?

Oh, how rotten your pre-apocalypse is

All you bible-black fools living over nightmare ground

 

I see all those empty cradles and wonder

If man will ever change

 

I, too, wish to be a decent man-boy but all I am

Is smoke and mirrors

Still given everything, may I be deserving

 

And there forever remains the change from G to E-Minor

 

 

 

Here is the song. I recommend listening to it in 1080p full HD for the best quality.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gbxEHka6B00

[Appetite4Democracy 450]

 

Nice rockin' tune against war.

 

I recently learned to play the first solo on the guitar.

 

"What's so civil about war, anyway?"—Axl Rose

Edited January 27, 2013 by Bloo47

[Guest]

I can't believe you guys. A thread bout anti-war music, and every single one of you fails to mention the most obvious tune dedicated such a thing.

 

(In actuality, some of you might have mentioned Edwin Starr -- I only skimmed the thread.)