Original The Temptations version
War, huh
What is it good for?
Nothing
War, huh, hm-hm-hm-hm-hm
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again
War, huh, hm-hm-hm-yeah-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
War, I despise (one two three four, one two three four)
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives (one two three four, one two three four)
War means tears in thousands of mothers' eyes (one two three four, one two three four)
When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives (one two three four, one two three four)
I said, war, huh, hm-hm-hm-hm-hm
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again
War, huh, hm-hm-hm-hm-hm
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
War, is nothing but a heartbreak
War, friend only to the undertaker
War, is an enemy to all mankind (one two three four, one two three four)
The thought of war blows my mind (one two three four, one two three four)
War has caused unrest within the younger generation (one two three four, one two three four)
Induction then destruction, who wants to die? (one two three four, one two three four)
Oh, war, huh, good God, hm-hm
What is it good for? You tell 'em
Nothing, hm-hm-hm-hm-hm
War, good God, huh
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, good God
War, is nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Wars have shattered many young men's dreams (one two three four, one two three four)
Made them disabled, bitter and mean (one two three four, one two three four)
Life is much too short and precious to spend fighting wars these days (one two three four, one two three four)
War can't give life, it can only take it away (one two three four, one two three four)
Oh, war, huh, good God, hm-hm-hm
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, hm-hm-hm
War, huh, good God almighty, listen
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, yeah
War, is nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding, tell me (one two three four, one two three four)
Is there no place for them today? (one two three four, one two three four)
They say we must fight to keep our freedom (one two three four, one two three four)
But Lord knows it got to be a better way (one two three four, one two three four)
I said, war, huh, hm-hm-hm-yeah-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again
War, huh, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again
War, huh, nothing but a heartbreaker
What is it good for?
friend only...
[Fades out]
WAR is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and originally recorded and released by The Temptations on their 1970 album Psychedelic Shack. The above lyrics are for the original The Temptations version of WAR as released in 1970. The parts in bold are sung by Dennis Edwards.
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, Bruce Springsteen's cover was based on the more famous version released by Edwin Starr in June 1970 (see the original Edwin Starr version).
List of available versions of WAR on this website:
WAR [Live 30 Sep 1985 version]