Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
Oh no-there's got to be a better way
Say it again
There's got to be a better way-yeah
What is it good for?
War has caused unrest
Among the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die?
War-huh
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War-huh
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Yeah
War-I despise
'Cause it means destruction
Of innocent lives
War means tears
To thousands of mothers how
When their sons go off to fight
And lose their lives
I said
War-huh
It's an enemy of all mankind
No point of war
'Cause you're a man
War has caused unrest
Among the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die?
Give it to me one time-now
Give it to me one time-now
War has shattered
Many young men's dreams
We've got no place for it today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord, there's just got to be a better way
It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War
Friend only to the undertaker
War
War
War-good God, now
Now
Give it to me one time now
Now now
What is it good for?
Say it again
There's got to be a better way-yeah
What is it good for?
War has caused unrest
Among the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die?
War-huh
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War-huh
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Yeah
War-I despise
'Cause it means destruction
Of innocent lives
War means tears
To thousands of mothers how
When their sons go off to fight
And lose their lives
I said
War-huh
It's an enemy of all mankind
No point of war
'Cause you're a man
War has caused unrest
Among the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die?
Give it to me one time-now
Give it to me one time-now
War has shattered
Many young men's dreams
We've got no place for it today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord, there's just got to be a better way
It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War
Friend only to the undertaker
War
War
War-good God, now
Now
Give it to me one time now
Now now
What is it good for?
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
This song is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago...
It was just about the neighbourhood wars and the racial wars that were going on inside america at the time>>>>>> he said the true meanign was lost over time.
Nevertheless don't hate the soldiers, they are doing what they believe is right. The point is they DO something.
These are my views on the matter as my grandfather is a veteran of Winter War, Continuation War and Lapland War.
Now, great song:)
This is a protest song about the Vietnam war, although it makes a broader statement of the need for harmony in our everyday lives. This was one of the first Motown songs to make a political statement. The label had always been focused on making hit songs, but around this time Motown artists like The Temptations and Marvin Gaye started releasing songs with social commentary, many of which were written by Whitfield.
Jesse Ventura made a great quote one time, he said that everybody that is pro war in politics should have to nominate somebody from within their family to go to war, and everybody should have to pay a war tax and also bring back the draft.....Then maybe more people will wake up, like they did when this song came out.
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life, it can only take it away
Excellent lyrics, they really just send chills down my spine.
I'm reminded of a quote: "When you kill a man to defend an idea, you don't defend an idea. You kill a man." Whether that idea is freedom, democracy, or anything else, it's true. You cannot justify the murder of another individual, and there is ALWAYS another way to stop tyranny. The alternative often seems more difficult - but it's worth it. Contrary to popular perception, pacifism is the harder route - but it's also the far more humane, and moral. And just.
Anyways -
This is an absolutely fantastic song, and one of my favorite of all protest/anti-war songs. And unlike some of the songs from the Vietnam era, this is absolutely timeless. I also really like the versions by The Temptations and Bruce Springsteen.
while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.