War
Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bob Marley
Struggling with War? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!
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 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 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 Rumors 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, yeah Good over evil Good over evil, yeah Good over evil
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Lyrics SourceThe lyrics of the song "War" are taken almost verbatim from a speech made by Haile Selassie, the 225th Emperor of Ethiopia, at the United Nations in 1963.
|
Song themeThe unifying theme of the song is the righteous struggle for African liberation and resistance against racial oppression.
|
Album Origin"War" is a track from the album "Rastaman Vibration", which was released in 1976. This album is unique for being the only studio album by Bob Marley & The Wailers to reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200 charts.
|
Rastafarian RepresentationThe song encapsulates Rastafarian beliefs - Rastafarians view Haile Selassie as the physical presence of God (Jah), and his speech from where the lyrics were taken is a cornerstone of Rastafarian philosophy.
|
Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by various artists, including 'Sublime' and 'Sinéad O'Connor', demonstrating its timeless appeal and influence.
|
Live PerformanceWhen Bob Marley performed this song for the Smile Jamaica concert in 1976, he did not confine his performance to the stage. Instead, he walked among the audience, symbolically enacting the walk to freedom for all black individuals.
|
Lyrics ImportanceThe lyrics of 'War' are so significant that they have been stored in the Reggae Hall of Fame and the speech is taught in schools in Jamaica as a part of the curriculum.
|
Reggae Influence"War" is a prime example of Bob Marley's use of reggae music to spread political and social messages, highlighting the genre's capability to be a powerful tool for change.
|
Symbolic ResistanceBob Marley used "War” as a symbol of resistance and resilience during the 1976 Smile Jamaica concert, which came two days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt.
|
Unofficial National AnthemThough not an official national anthem, the themes presented in "War" have made it a revered anthem for black liberation worldwide.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"War Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 12 Feb. 2025. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3219429/Bob+Marley/War>.
Discuss the War Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In