Original Edwin Starr version
(War, huh), yeah
(What is it good for?) Absolutely (nothing), uhu-uhu
(War, huh), yeah
(What is it good for?) Absolutely (nothing)
Say it again y'all
(War), huh, (huh), lookout!
(What is it good for?) Absolutely (nothing)
Listen to me
Ohhh war, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mothers' eyes
When their sons go to fight and lose their lives
I said war, huh, good God y'all
(What is it good for?) Absolutely (nothing)
You can say it again
(War, huh), lord lord lord lord
(What is it good for?) Absolutely (nothing)
Listen to me
(War), it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
(War), friend only to the undertaker
Ohhh 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?
Ohhh war, (huh), good God y'all
(What is it good for?) Absolutely (nothing)
Say it, say it, say it
(War), uhu yeah, (huh), huh
(What is it good for?) Absolutely (nothing)
Listen to me
(War), it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
(War), it's got one friend that's the undertaker
Oh 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
Ohhh 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?) Oh absolutely (nothing)
Listen to me
(War), it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
(War), friend only to the undertaker, wow!
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
Ohhh war, (huh), good God y'all
(What is it good for?) You tell me, (yeah)
Say it, say it, say it, say it
(War, huh), good God yeah, huh
(What is it good for?) Stand up and shout it, (nothing)...
[Fades out]
WAR is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and recorded and released by Edwin Starr as a single in 1970. The above lyrics are for the original Edwin Starr version of WAR as released in 1970.
Bruce Springsteen performed WAR live many times between 1985 and 2003 and he released a live version in 1986. See Springsteen's live 30 Sep 1985 version for more details.
Though WAR was originally released by The Temptations in March 1970 (see the original The Temptations version), Bruce Springsteen's cover was based on the more famous version released by Edwin Starr in June 1970.
List of available versions of WAR on this website:
WAR [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]