Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
Until the philosophy which hold one race
Superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
Everywhere is war, me say war
That until there are no longer first class
And second class citizens of any nation
Until the color of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the color of his eyes
Me say war
That until the basic human rights are equally
Guaranteed to all, without regard to race
A dis a war
That until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion
To be pursued, but never attained
Now everywhere is war, war
And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
That hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique
South Africa, sub-human bondage
Have been toppled, utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war, me say war
War in the east, war in the west
War up north, war down south
War, war, rumours of war
And until that day, the African continent
Will not know peace, we Africans will fight
We find it necessary and we know we shall win
As we are confident in the victory
Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
Good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Apr 12, 2013 - 21:34 Everybody in my church loves this song... |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Oct 06, 2012 - 15:03 lattalo wrote: The 5th commandment for the Roman Catholic religion states; Thou shalt not kill The 5th commandment for the Lutheran religion states; Thou shalt not murder The 6th commandment for Jewish, Orthodox, and Anglican, Reformed, and other Christian religions states; Thou shalt not murder There is no exceptions stated. Have you actually read the Old Testament? Just curious. Much of it is devoted to the conquest of Canaan. The character YHWH (aka God) commands the wholesale slaughter of the indigenous inhabitants of Canaan in no uncertain terms. This injunction is repeated over and over and over again, and carried out to a tee. Failure to comply to this commandment is punishable by death. Read it if you don't believe me. Today, in the 2012th year of our Lord, we have a term for this. That term is genocide. |
| mistabird (frei republik allgäu) | Posted: Dec 26, 2011 - 18:07 ich bin froh , daß es solche Menschen wie Bob Marley gab, es gibt Ihn noch immer Ihr hört es . Bob macht seinen Job  |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Jun 20, 2011 - 08:08 Art_Carnage wrote: Simplistic claptrap.   |
| 4merdj (donde el viento se devuelve) | Posted: May 19, 2011 - 16:52 peacockangel wrote: the king's words ~ know your history Know your history ... or be condemned to repeat it again ...  |
| michaelc (Walnut Creek, CA) | Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 16:16 Bob you trying to say something there ? |
| peacockangel (Phoenix) | Posted: Sep 09, 2010 - 08:39 the king's words ~ know your history |
| Art_Carnage (DeepintheheartofTexas) | Posted: Jul 07, 2010 - 11:16 Simplistic claptrap. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Jun 10, 2010 - 12:58  Bob Marley - 12Caras Series by *artcova ©2009-2010 *artcova 7th portrait of this series. Graphic tablet in photoshop. Custom brush used, you can find it linked to one of the portraits of this series.  |
| guzi | Posted: Jun 05, 2010 - 14:56 First time I hear this studio version ... Superb .... |
| CamLwalk (Albany NY) | Posted: May 04, 2010 - 21:44 Literally sends chills up my spine. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Mar 14, 2010 - 17:00 Bob Marley - "War" Live " "War" is a song recorded and made popular by Bob Marley. It first appeared on Bob Marley and the Wailers' 1976 Island Records album, Rastaman Vibration, Marley's only album to chart in the USA, at #10. The lyrics are almost literally derived from a speech made by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963.
** 10 ** |
| conglif | Posted: Nov 28, 2009 - 09:20 . ...And again I will point out that: WAR IS A RACKET!  |
| robco1 (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Jun 23, 2009 - 15:50 MayBaby wrote:  Great post, Andre!Luv me some Marley. The music and the message. andrewimft wrote: Clearly you know nothing about Marley, his career, beliefs or philosophy. The lyrics are very much intended as an anti-war song, "derived from a speech made by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963... Haile Selassie 1 gave the speech calling for world peace at the 1963 U.N. Conference in New York City. The song uses part of Selassie's speech that calls for equality among all without regard to race, class, or nationality in his hymnal cry for peace... It also asserts, quoting Selassie directly, that until the day of an equal society, there will be war... In the original speech, Selassie urged U.N. officials and country representatives, to disarm their nuclear weapons and to end international exploitation (specifically with Africa). The song honors Haile Selassie I while calling for action against racial inequality and international injustice." The song quotes much of Selassie's speech (most of the info I'm referencing is at the link here, you can read the rest of his speech that is in the song there). Regarding this part of the speech, "We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil... Selassie reminded his listeners that these are only words; their value depends wholly on our will to observe and honour them and give them content and meaning." That's an anti war song citing prophecy about wars and rumors of war, and Selassie's anti war speech. Junior Marvin, former Wailers guitarist in an interview at reggae-vibes.com, also verifies the song's anti war meaning. He says this about the meaning of the song War: "Like 'War,' America's at war," points out Marvin. Marley borrowed the lyrics to 'War' from a speech Haile Selassie I (aka Ras Tafari) gave to the United Nations. "I think the time has come for a big peace movement, which is what Bob started then, 'movement of Jah people,' the One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica," says Marvin. "9/11 was a wake up call for everyone on the planet and now we've gotta learn from that." "Cultures should work together and share knowledge," says Marvin, "rather than 'tearing each other's throats out.'" "In the long run, it's gonna be beneficial to everyone to just chill out," he adds. That's just the tip of the overwhelming evidence about Marley and his career, beliefs and message that have nothing to do with your bizarre interpretation. Bob Marley's entire career was opposed to the very ideas you spout about using religion to justify war, the record is long and available to examine. Your post is inaccurate and full of some weird right wing Christianist pro war agenda. You're free to make that interpretation of the song for your own personal meaning, but don't go around ascribing it to Marley. Your kind of agenda laden ignorance and dishonest, aggressive revisionist history just leaves me without words to describe how bizarre and annoying it is. Here here Andrew! Props, MayBaby!  |
| MayBaby (Savannah, Georgia) | Posted: Dec 20, 2008 - 18:39 Great post, Andre!Luv me some Marley. The music and the message. andrewimft wrote: Clearly you know nothing about Marley, his career, beliefs or philosophy. The lyrics are very much intended as an anti-war song, "derived from a speech made by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963... Haile Selassie 1 gave the speech calling for world peace at the 1963 U.N. Conference in New York City. The song uses part of Selassie's speech that calls for equality among all without regard to race, class, or nationality in his hymnal cry for peace... It also asserts, quoting Selassie directly, that until the day of an equal society, there will be war... In the original speech, Selassie urged U.N. officials and country representatives, to disarm their nuclear weapons and to end international exploitation (specifically with Africa). The song honors Haile Selassie I while calling for action against racial inequality and international injustice." The song quotes much of Selassie's speech (most of the info I'm referencing is at the link here, you can read the rest of his speech that is in the song there). Regarding this part of the speech, "We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil... Selassie reminded his listeners that these are only words; their value depends wholly on our will to observe and honour them and give them content and meaning." That's an anti war song citing prophecy about wars and rumors of war, and Selassie's anti war speech. Junior Marvin, former Wailers guitarist in an interview at reggae-vibes.com, also verifies the song's anti war meaning. He says this about the meaning of the song War: "Like 'War,' America's at war," points out Marvin. Marley borrowed the lyrics to 'War' from a speech Haile Selassie I (aka Ras Tafari) gave to the United Nations. "I think the time has come for a big peace movement, which is what Bob started then, 'movement of Jah people,' the One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica," says Marvin. "9/11 was a wake up call for everyone on the planet and now we've gotta learn from that." "Cultures should work together and share knowledge," says Marvin, "rather than 'tearing each other's throats out.'" "In the long run, it's gonna be beneficial to everyone to just chill out," he adds. That's just the tip of the overwhelming evidence about Marley and his career, beliefs and message that have nothing to do with your bizarre interpretation. Bob Marley's entire career was opposed to the very ideas you spout about using religion to justify war, the record is long and available to examine. Your post is inaccurate and full of some weird right wing Christianist pro war agenda. You're free to make that interpretation of the song for your own personal meaning, but don't go around ascribing it to Marley. Your kind of agenda laden ignorance and dishonest, aggressive revisionist history just leaves me without words to describe how bizarre and annoying it is. |
| jakewhite77 (Los Angeles) | Posted: Dec 15, 2008 - 16:58 Equality anthem! Preach Bob, preach!!! |
| NoEnzLefttoSplit | Posted: Nov 19, 2008 - 04:17 My sister was on a bus in Eritrea and enjoying all the men in the bus singing what sounded to her like a joyful, happy kind of song. She asked the guy next to her what they were singing: we are lions off to decapitate our enemies and root out their families  Kind of killed the mood she said. |
| That_SOB (The Dark Side of the Tune) | Posted: Oct 18, 2008 - 15:53 sdn wrote : "War is bad, mmmmmmkay?" |
| aarrgho | Posted: Oct 13, 2008 - 11:58 lattalo wrote: The 5th commandment for the Roman Catholic religion states; Thou shalt not kill The 5th commandment for the Lutheran religion states; Thou shalt not murder The 6th commandment for Jewish, Orthodox, and Anglican, Reformed, and other Christian religions states; Thou shalt not murder There is no exceptions stated. and John Prine wrote : "Jesus don't like killin' no matter what the reason's for" nuff said |
| aragon (Nowhere Fast) | Posted: Oct 13, 2008 - 11:57 |
| sdn (Philadelphia) | Posted: Oct 13, 2008 - 11:57 War is bad, mmmmmmkay? |
| palad1 (London UK. A froggie in exile.) | Posted: Oct 13, 2008 - 11:57 Bob Marley - War AC/DC - War Machine Cue Franky Goes to Hollywood in 5...4..3... |
| Kittee (NC- Dreaming of the Mountains) | Posted: Oct 13, 2008 - 11:55 Bob just killed my AC/DC Buzz.  |
| andrewimft (North Californie) | Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 03:16 99 wrote: The Crusaders killed but did not murder. The people they killed would beg to differ, they were murdered for not being a Christian with a sword held to their heads, and that's murder. The children's crusade was another phenomenon long recognized by historians as a low point in all of human history, where little children were taken from their parents' homes and forced into that Crusader army. Just because some religious guy wearing a funny hat and robes says go and kill doesn't make it holy or not murder. Did you flunk history in elementary school? |
| andrewimft (North Californie) | Posted: Sep 17, 2008 - 01:03 99 wrote: This is not an anti-war song. Bob is saying that people will claim their God given rights by any means necessary. Clearly you know nothing about Marley, his career, beliefs or philosophy. The lyrics are very much intended as an anti-war song, "derived from a speech made by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I before the United Nations General Assembly in 1963... Haile Selassie 1 gave the speech calling for world peace at the 1963 U.N. Conference in New York City. The song uses part of Selassie's speech that calls for equality among all without regard to race, class, or nationality in his hymnal cry for peace... It also asserts, quoting Selassie directly, that until the day of an equal society, there will be war... In the original speech, Selassie urged U.N. officials and country representatives, to disarm their nuclear weapons and to end international exploitation (specifically with Africa). The song honors Haile Selassie I while calling for action against racial inequality and international injustice." The song quotes much of Selassie's speech (most of the info I'm referencing is at the link here, you can read the rest of his speech that is in the song there). Regarding this part of the speech, "We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil... Selassie reminded his listeners that these are only words; their value depends wholly on our will to observe and honour them and give them content and meaning." That's an anti war song citing prophecy about wars and rumors of war, and Selassie's anti war speech. Junior Marvin, former Wailers guitarist in an interview at reggae-vibes.com, also verifies the song's anti war meaning. He says this about the meaning of the song War: "Like 'War,' America's at war," points out Marvin. Marley borrowed the lyrics to 'War' from a speech Haile Selassie I (aka Ras Tafari) gave to the United Nations. "I think the time has come for a big peace movement, which is what Bob started then, 'movement of Jah people,' the One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica," says Marvin. "9/11 was a wake up call for everyone on the planet and now we've gotta learn from that." "Cultures should work together and share knowledge," says Marvin, "rather than 'tearing each other's throats out.'" "In the long run, it's gonna be beneficial to everyone to just chill out," he adds. That's just the tip of the overwhelming evidence about Marley and his career, beliefs and message that have nothing to do with your bizarre interpretation. Bob Marley's entire career was opposed to the very ideas you spout about using religion to justify war, the record is long and available to examine. Your post is inaccurate and full of some weird right wing Christianist pro war agenda. You're free to make that interpretation of the song for your own personal meaning, but don't go around ascribing it to Marley. Your kind of agenda laden ignorance and dishonest, aggressive revisionist history just leaves me without words to describe how bizarre and annoying it is. |
| Ellehcim (Ottawa, ON,Canada) | Posted: Mar 11, 2008 - 20:59 99 wrote: I'm no Hebrew scholar but my understanding is that the Decalogue prohibits that taking of innocent life. War and capital punishment are therefore excepted. The Crusaders killed but did not murder. I think that Marely is similarly justified in this call to arms. "A life for a life...", Exodus 21: 23-25. |
| Candela (Trondheim) | Posted: Dec 08, 2007 - 12:47 Can never have too much of Bob Marley :) 
Thank you Mr.Bill  |
| lattalo (Beartooths) | Posted: Nov 26, 2007 - 16:12 99 wrote: I'm no Hebrew scholar but my understanding is that the Decalogue prohibits that taking of innocent life. War and capital punishment are therefore excepted. The Crusaders killed but did not murder. I think that Marely is similarly justified in this call to arms. The 5th commandment for the Roman Catholic religion states; Thou shalt not kill The 5th commandment for the Lutheran religion states; Thou shalt not murder The 6th commandment for Jewish, Orthodox, and Anglican, Reformed, and other Christian religions states; Thou shalt not murder There is no exceptions stated. |
| prickelpit96 (Hannover, Germany) | Posted: Nov 07, 2007 - 03:40 99 wrote: I'm no Hebrew scholar but my understanding is that the Decalogue prohibits that taking of innocent life. War and capital punishment are therefore excepted. The Crusaders killed but did not murder. I think that Marely is similarly justified in this call to arms. I'm sorry, but the 5th commandment is clear in its statement: No human being is allowed to kill another human being. And there is __no__ exception as far as I know. |
| aristoteles (Spain) | Posted: Jul 04, 2007 - 08:32 maybe not his best - but its as good an anti war song as I've ever heard.
Machine Gun from Hendrix is WAY better than this IMHO. |
| 99 (Austin, TX) | Posted: Jun 07, 2007 - 07:10 cc_rider wrote: Another example: the Ten Commandments decree 'Thou shalt not murder'. But the Crusaders (ancient and modern, but that's another discussion) killed thousands. Catholics and Protestants have killed each other for ages now.
I'm no Hebrew scholar but my understanding is that the Decalogue prohibits that taking of innocent life. War and capital punishment are therefore excepted. The Crusaders killed but did not murder. I think that Marely is similarly justified in this call to arms. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:58 ploafmaster wrote: 1. You don't know that. You suppose it.
2. I think you're confusing hate for his artistic output with hate for the man himself. Maybe some antisocial folks do hate the man himself, but most folks saying they "hate Bob Marley" mean it in the same way as they may hate "The Beach Boys" or whatever - it's the music of the artist, not the people behind it. 1. Quite true, it's a supposition. Based on voluminous anecdotal evidence. 2. Excellent point. As evidenced by the comments, some people simply cannot stand reggae, no matter how hearfelt or sociopolitically accurate the content. c. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:53 99 wrote: You completely misunderstood the song.
I'm not sure. As long as people refuse to accept each other, as long they hate each other for 'tribal' reasons, there will be war. Humans need to evolve past 'me against my brother; me and my brother against my cousin; me, my brother, and my cousin against my neighbor' and so forth. Example: The Koran forbids a Muslim to kill another Muslim, correct? But Sunni Muslims kill Shia Muslims every day. Arab Muslims kill African Muslims every day. Me against my brother. Another example: the Ten Commandments decree 'Thou shalt not murder'. But the Crusaders (ancient and modern, but that's another discussion) killed thousands. Catholics and Protestants have killed each other for ages now. None of those conflicts show any signs of lessening, occasional sebb and flow notwithstanding. Our basic evolutionary bent toward tribalism must be changed, or else we are doomed. Maybe I didn't phrase it accurately enough the first time. I think Mr. Marley was trying to say that as long as one tribe thinks it is superior to another tribe, as long as one tribe thinks it has the right (or duty) to eradicate another tribe, there will be war. History proves he is correct, sadly. Peace Y'all, c. |
| 99 (Austin, TX) | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:25 rocco1207 wrote: maybe not his best - but its as good an anti war song as I've ever heard. This is not an anti-war song. Bob is saying that people will claim their God given rights by any means necessary. |
| 99 (Austin, TX) | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:21 You completely misunderstood the song. cc_rider wrote: I wish this song was outdated. I wish this song wasn't relevant anymore. I like it a lot, but wish I didn't have to.
Yes, if wishes were horses... But still, are we so uncivilized we must KILL each other? Is it beyond the capacity of humans to empathize, at least enough to understand what harm we do to each other? I'm not talking about THIS war (whichever guerre-du-jour you choose, and sadly today's list is long), but wars in general. Why must we (humans) kill each other en masse? What possible purpose does it serve? Thinning the herd, maybe? Makes a powerful case for Darwinism: those humans too backward to accept other humans, are simply killed off, leaving us enlightened folk to carry on (he said, tongue firmly in cheek.) Questions with no answers... c. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:20 MutualDisdain wrote: More Reggae per set than any other station :( One of many reasons it has such a dedicated following. Peace Y'all, c. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:19 I wish this song was outdated. I wish this song wasn't relevant anymore. I like it a lot, but wish I didn't have to. Yes, if wishes were horses... But still, are we so uncivilized we must KILL each other? Is it beyond the capacity of humans to empathize, at least enough to understand what harm we do to each other? I'm not talking about THIS war (whichever guerre-du-jour you choose, and sadly today's list is long), but wars in general. Why must we (humans) kill each other en masse? What possible purpose does it serve? Thinning the herd, maybe? Makes a powerful case for Darwinism: those humans too backward to accept other humans, are simply killed off, leaving us enlightened folk to carry on (he said, tongue firmly in cheek.) Questions with no answers... c. |
| MutualDisdain | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:12 More Reggae per set than any other station :( |
| rocco1207 ("the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat") | Posted: May 31, 2007 - 12:10 fredriley wrote: A wee bit over-didactic, IMHO. The lyrics sound like they're written for a propaganda poster, not a reggae song, and come across pretty clunkily. Not one of yer man's best, I don't think.
maybe not his best - but its as good an anti war song as I've ever heard. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: May 18, 2007 - 05:07 A wee bit over-didactic, IMHO. The lyrics sound like they're written for a propaganda poster, not a reggae song, and come across pretty clunkily. Not one of yer man's best, I don't think. |
| silvin | Posted: Apr 16, 2007 - 16:45 Mandatory excellent |
| lionseyeball | Posted: Mar 29, 2007 - 11:14 Sinead on SNL: (click here) |
| snowak (Colorado) | Posted: Mar 29, 2007 - 11:06 jlind wrote: That's actually a hard choice for me, want to vomit 24/7 because my rights are being quickly stripped away, or because I have to listen to this crap... This might be worse. You HAVE to be kidding me, this song is all about equal rights and not having war. Maybe you should vomit because of your overabundance of ignorance. |
| lionseyeball | Posted: Mar 29, 2007 - 11:03 Jimi_the_Saint wrote: I remember the first time I heard this song. Actually, it was the Sinead O'Conner version on SNL when she ripped the picture of the Pope. That was the most powerful thing I had ever seen on TV (I was fairly young). It shocked me to the point of finding out what the song was, what the lyrics said, etc. That's how I discovered Bob Marley. Thanks, Sinead!
ME TOO!! I like to remind people of that when I hear them rip on Sinead for doing reggae. She's is Rasta to the core! |
| MatClarke (Stonehenge, England) | Posted: Mar 16, 2007 - 15:34 greenighs wrote: (click here) Well let's face it a good effort from Ras Tafari but he sowed the seeds for the dreadfulness of Mengitsu and the famines of Ethiopia |
| Jimi_the_Saint (The Dark and Bloody Ground of Kentucky) | Posted: Mar 16, 2007 - 10:46 I remember the first time I heard this song. Actually, it was the Sinead O'Conner version on SNL when she ripped the picture of the Pope. That was the most powerful thing I had ever seen on TV (I was fairly young). It shocked me to the point of finding out what the song was, what the lyrics said, etc. That's how I discovered Bob Marley. Thanks, Sinead! |
| greenighs | Posted: Mar 16, 2007 - 10:45 bev wrote: What life has taught me
I would like to share with Those who want to learn... (click here) |
| bev (Santa Barbara, CA) | Posted: Mar 16, 2007 - 10:39 What life has taught me I would like to share with Those who want to learn... Until the philosophy which hold one race Superior and another inferior Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned Everywhere is war, me say war That until there are no longer first class And second class citizens of any nation Until the colour of a man's skin Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes Me say war That until the basic human rights are equally Guaranteed to all, without regard to race Dis a war That until that day The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship Rule of international morality Will remain in but a fleeting illusion To be persued, but never attained Now everywhere is war, war And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique, South Africa sub-human bondage Have been toppled, utterly destroyed Well, everywhere is war, me say war War in the east, war in the west War up north, war down south War, war, rumours of war And until that day, the African continent Will not know peace, we Africans will fight We find it necessary and we know we shall win As we are confident in the victory Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil Good over evil, good over evil, good over evil |
| superfido (Sweden) | Posted: Mar 16, 2007 - 10:38 Listen closely to the text. Totally insightful. Brilliant. |
| theridgeweb (Magalia, CA ------ Just above Paradise) | Posted: Jan 29, 2007 - 13:32 jlind wrote: Seriously EVERYTHING they play with the exception of regaee is great. Even some other "world" music I enjoy, espically some of the Arabic stuff. Every time I hear regaee I just want to puke. That is sad for you, I think ... hope that you can still appreciate the contribution reggae has made to the world of music, and consciouness.  |