Edwin Starr - War (Original Video - 1969)
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- čas přidán 5. 12. 2007
- Original video of Edwin Starr singing his famous song: "War" [Original Music video from 1969]
Originally written under the Motown label, and first performed by The Temptations, "War" was later re-released as a single with Edwin Starr as vocals. This version is considered a more emotional version and has become the most popular protest song ever.
Lyrics:
War, huh yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, oh hoh, oh
War huh yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again y'all
War, huh good God
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
Oh, war, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives
I said
War, huh good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, just say it again
War whoa Lord
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
War, it ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Oh war, is an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest within the younger generation
Induction, then destruction who wants to die
War, good God, y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it, say it, say it
War, uh huh, yeah, huh
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
War, it ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend that's the undertaker
Oh, war has shattered many young man's dreams
Made him disabled bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious to spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life it can only take it away, ooh
War, huh, good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
War, it ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
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 got to be a better way
War, huh, good God y'all
What is it good for?
You tell 'em, say it, say it, say it, say it
War, good Lord, huh
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it, nothing
War, it ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker - Hudba
Anyone Listening to this Masterpiece in 2024? 👇
Good God yall! What is it good for? You tell me
@@TimothyLittle13Nothing! Nothing at all, and the human race will never learn that fact...apparently. 😢
Me
Rush hour
Legend has it that Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are still dancing to this song
That's a wholesome image for today. 👍
As an Army vet, i can relate to these lyrics. Edwin Starr knew what he was talking about, the Vietnam soldiers knew it well. WAR IS HELL... take it from someone who knows.
HELL is an understatement....
Thank you for fighting for all of us. ❤
It didn’t just ruin lives of soldiers. It ruined lives of their families at home
Yes sir
Any sane human would understand that even without the experience. But then there are world leaders that elbowed themselves over dead bodies and lies to become dictators. They do not care about a single human life and fook up the planet with wars and climate. Democracy is an illusion, some parties are paid off by big oil and weapons.
This song is as relevant today as it was in the late sixties
Yes, you are correct, and what a sad thing that is....
Or in the 1940s, 1810s, and so on.
R.I.P. Edwin Starr (1942-2003). Also on a side note. The 121 people and whomever else dislikes this video are good for absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!!
say it again y'all
j luke Wooooooooooo!
BayareaGuy06 I agree-they're disrespectful and rude
Now, a few years later, there are 274 cretins who dislike this song. I'd like to send them to Vietnam, in 1968 and see what they think of this song then. You only enjoy the freedoms that you have because young men, fought and died to protect them for you--YOU STUPID IDIOTS!!!
No doubt the Orange f*#khead's racist followers and toothless idiots who don't have a clue wtf war means.
Never more relevant than today, in face of the impending war, Oct 7 2023.
RIP Edwin Starr, 20 years ago this year.
The way he sings “Good God y’all” so disapprovingly, and like he’s telling off a bunch of children is both so truthfully poignant and cracks me up any time
He's telling off our politicians
Like when Biden said "For God's Sake! This man cannot remain in power!
it's my favourite line in the song
I love the “good god y’all”! It adds spice to the song
@@stacyyoust Biden's part of the government that decides to get into wars, good grief! People like Biden cause war, Putin wouldn't have invaded Ukraine if Trump or any other stronger leader was in office. N. Korea's firing their missiles in a threatening way and China is threatening Taiwan, all because we have an imbecile in office.
Song hitting hard today 24 Feb 2022. Man speaks the truth.
March 3rd, hitting even harder
March 7th. God bless and let us see the truth.
March 8th
March 9
@@karengates5321 23:57:32
I have been listening to this Song since it came out. He speaks so much truth in the Lyrics. I am a Navy Vet that got out in 1963. I was up close an personal to so many men that never came home. the ones that did brought home a lot of baggage. Here we are in 2015 and the same Crap is going on again. What is it Good For, Absolutely NOTHING. Keep it up World and there won't be one for my Grandchildren to See.Thanks Edwin, You tell it like it is.
+Jimmy Alexander WELL SAID!
+Jimmy Alexander Amen
+Jimmy Alexander War is nothing but a money making gimmick globally. My father was in WWII and told me his stories. It's NEVER worth it.
+Jimmy Alexander Thank you, Jimmy Alexander.
+Jimmy Alexander . Perfectly said Jimmy . War is nothing but a chess game for the people running are countries . The common folk are the pawns . The sooner the common folk understand these people pulling the strings are hiding behind the flags and the people . The sooner the common folk (majority) can make the changes required . These same flags are the flags you common folk are said to be fighting for . Common sense and logic should prevail but then again we are all dealing with humans lol .
Song of the month. Damn the "elites". Imagine every soldier just said no to these dictators and turned on them?
absolutely, and thus the soldiers are being bullied just from the very beginning to lose their will and stamp out their feel for freedom.
Exactly correct In the sixties and even truer today. 2022.
Do we never learn from history,
Thank you for putting this on youtube, I had the honour of servicing and repairing Edwins cars in England between 1993-1995, at pooley hall, he was a lovely man to work for such a kind and generouse man,I treasure having met him, one day my wife and me were shopping in the local supermarket (ASDA) in Tamworth and he was there, he came up to me and my wife and greeted me like a true friend, that day made my world, he was such a great person.
I met him at a club called Starwood in Hollywood off of Santa Monica boulevard. We got to talking and he asked me out. We used to talk on the phone, he had a mad crush on me.
Always loved this song! It really captured how most people in America
felt during the Vietnam War. When I first heard this song in 1970, I
was recovering in an army hospital at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Twenty
years-old and going through multiple surgeries, and 8 months in recovery
because of the wounds I received in Vietnam while serving with the
United States army in December of 1969. 58,000 young Americans dead for
what? As Edwin Starr says: "NUTHIN'" The government lied to us about
the Vietnam War and they continue to lie to us today to keep us in
perpetual war. You young people of today: Don't let our government
sucker you into a military draft and war like they did to us during the
Vietnam era!
I was just thinking of the irony of soldiers listening to this very song right in the midst of combat in Vietnam. How many over there heard this song and just dismissed it as just another song?
My brother, welcome home, I hope you have fully recovered both physically and emotionally. I had one of your brothers in my college class, great guy, with some huge problems. He came home fine physically, or so it seemed but he suffered PTSD. I had absolutely no idea how to help him, and evidently at the time no one else did either. I lost contact with him years ago and I truly hope he got rid of his demons. What a waste of a life. Be well, safe and peace to you and yours.
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice, Sir.
I was 11 years old when this song came out and I have never forgotten any of the lyrics.
I'm pretty sure he had to have grown up in the church because this brother sounded like he was preaching!
This is, was, and always will be a great song!
@@maf5454 Thank you for the kind words.
And the americans didnt even beat the vietcong
"They say we must fight to keep our freedom, but Lord knows there's got to be a better way"...
One of the greatest lyrics of all time in my opinion, and as true today as it was back then......
I heard during Viet nam era. Now here we are in 2022 same sh
@@jamesware457 why did you spell vietnam like that
Absolutely one of the greatest songs of time
Yes!
Так!
This track still holds up well, even to this day. Timeless.
One of the most honest and truthful song ever written!
Nobody cares, US still unleash wars and rob the whole world with dollar lending
Edwin Starr ‘s music his song such a beautifull powerful song … it still breaks my heart thank you Edwin
@@user-et5ye1fn5d Yah, it's only the U.S. that starts wars.
That's sarcasm by the way.
What's it good for? Technological advancements, medical advancements, space exploration, thinning out the herd etc..
Right up there with 'When a Man Loves a Woman' by Percy Sledge. Probably the truest words ever sung.
This song is so badass.
A great song but I think he's dead now God bless his soul
@@frefhackett7867 he is sadly
da badest yo!!
And, he's belting it out from Heaven right now.
And sadly in 2022 it looks like here we go again and once again this song STILL rings true
Dirk Evans, I had to come listen to this song today (February 24, 2022). Bombs are falling on Ukraine. 😢
Just my opinion…..that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Why couldn’t this of been settled over a couple of pints?
I hate it. Innocent people, got nothing to do with it, just trying to live their lives and getting killed or maimed
F’d up. Big time
@@dirkevans3443 💯💯💯
What's it good for? Technological advancements, medical advancements, space exploration, thinning out the herd etc..
@@hellinterface6721 That's just fascist propaganda. War doesn't drive any advancements other than military ones.
WHAT A VOICE!
This beast of a song is almost 50 years old. And still kicks so much ass.
🎷🎷🎷
He delivers this song as if he is ready to fight to not have to fight, awesome interpretation, a masterpiece all around.
4 dead in ohio
@@jillthedoorgirl i remember when that happened. I live about 90 miles or so from Kent.
Ohio National Gaurd sent by Gov jim rhodes.
Then you should listen to edwin starr-slayer mashup
It gives it the agressiveness needed for the song
Except for the big smile on his face in the video.
We lost too many soldiers or they came back maimed and incredibly 💔. Our government sucks!!
Still a great song 53 years later
Today this song is punching harder
Not enough world leaders have heard this song....
WarrenRCG well politics is very complex and their are lots of subtleties the leader has keys metaphorically that are his keys to power like police chiefs and generals advisors treasurers and businesses with influence and the leader will do what he wants but eventually he has to keep the keys happy which can mean that against their better judgment they will be forced into a war
Did you steal the "keys" from CGP Grey?
This is 1 of their better songs HOWEVER THE TEMPTATIONS DIDN'T DO A BAD SONG
WarrenRCG specially trump
that's because they care only about two things=money and their ego!
This song should be mainstreamed again, War is breaking out all over the world and we need to be reminded why War is a senseless act of violence against humanity...
I was 11 years old when this song came out in 1969 and I remember hearing it, learning it, and shedding a tear for the images of young soldiers dead and dying, that I would see on Walter Cronkite at night.
I'm pretty sure Edwin Starr had to have grown up in the church because this brother sounded like he was preaching to a Deaf Government sending our young men to slaughter for 'Absolutely Nothin'!
This is, was, and always will be a great song!
It's always the same tantrum : 'war' 'we will win, whatever, etc." For 63 years I've watched and heard about nothing not related to 'war' As you must have done... Sorry I'm Belgian, so my English is bad, but we are in accord!
Rest in Power, Barrett Strong. He co-wrote this classic with Norman Whitfield. Barrett died today (Jan. 29, 2023); Norman passed away in 2008. They co-wrote other classics, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)," "Smiling Faces Sometimes," and so many more.
Who here in 2020!!!
💪🏾
💪🏾💪🏾
I am!!!
I am
@@Tavialatrice gurl we going threw war now with this invisible virus😔
Chris Tucker & Jackie Chan sent me here :)
I was sent here by vampire nazis
Facts right there they sent me here took cause this song is fire
It's not any problem just RUSH HOUR
Tommy Brisbane Me too!
me to
They really don't make music like this anymore, sad. I'm 21, and I absolutely love the Motown era of music.
Me too
Speak in again now!!! 2022
His performance is sending chills down my spine ...
Same !
One of the most recognizable powerful songs out there that has stood the test of time. To bad we dont follow its simple message 🙁
Something people should hear nowadays.
This guy was great. May he rest in peace. He died too young (61).
What a shame
Still one of the hardest records in history and I love his stage presence/performance he absolutely killed it!
Here in 2023 ❤
😭😭😭 Edwin 🙏🏽🙏🏽 Until 2021 i listen to this sound.
Who is whith me !
Same
Be nice if we had music like this today.
This song is still on point and has been as if it could have been recorded in any decade.I first heard it as a kid growing up in the early 70's and beyond. The Rush Hour movies introduced it to a new generation.
This song only became memorable to me because of Rush Hour. I also heard it from the Simpsons from one of the Halloween special episodes but it wasn't too memorable because the song was too unknown to me at the time.
So needed right now
I pray I live to see the day there's a BETTER way.😁
1960 tv quality , UNDYING TRUE CLASSIC ! MISS THEM..
Best anti-war song and Starr sings the hell out of it.
Good God man!
Whenever a friend in our group is fighting with another friend we just sing or play this and they shut up this song really is a symbol of peace
This is RB. at it's best!!!! And stands true today!!!
I have literally just found this legend in 2024. Love it! Rest In Power Mr Edwin Starr ✊🙏❤️
Edwin is singing with so much passion in this song....I like that.
I lived in Washington DC when Mr. Starr passed away, and none of the fucking radio stations would play this song.
+Tina Braxton Wow. That's really interesting. The power of mass media is so lost on so many. - AB in SB
Andrew Baker He died on
the first day of the Iraq War. I think that might have had something to do with the omission.
+Tina Braxton One too many. -AB
+Tina Braxton so you listened to every radio station the day he died for the entire day? Sounds more like you flipped through all the channels a couple times a day and determined that because none of them were playing the song at the time you were flipping through the channels that it meant that at no time during the day did any of them play this song.
There were only a few that played that kind of music. But I'm sure you could guess that.
Do you enjoy being a troll? I've heard it pays well.
A Great Man who ended his days in the Land Of Robin Hood ..King Edwin Starr🌼🏹🏹🏹
Life is full of circles and how appropriate is this today!
I was in the State, National Guard doing those years. I am still angry about LBJ's illegal war. This reminds me of all we lost. Go to the Vietnam memorial and remember all we lost.
I was a kid when that war was going on so I can still remember much of the news highlights and the horrible way in which returning service members were treated on the streets and yes you're correct that was LBJ's war sad and pathetic our jackasses in Wash. had no business sending troops over there it wasn't our civil war it was there's and I know we wouldn't take too kindly to another country butting in to our business killing Americans here. Sorry you were sent over there and so sorry if you were treated like dirt when you returned home god bless and stay safe Otis
Jennifer C I feel the same, young guys being forced to go there , discusting
For sure it was fucked up
lebron james plays on the cavs. he never went to any war or vietnam
***** it's the truth. how is it a joke? the guy is a baller, not a soldier
Here we are feb 2022
He sang it. He said it right❤️PhoooWarrrr!!!
This song will live on forever with the times .
One of the best vocal performances ever! My other favorite is the lead in Disco Inferno. Both are sung with raw full-throttle vocals. Man, they don't sing anything like this anymore and no damn auto-tune will ever make it so!
Great old song too bad its still relevant today .
its relevant as long as greed exists.
+Shawn Zamir FFXV true :/
+Shawn Zamir FFXV "As long as greed exists" AKA forever
well one good thing is it supplies jobs
war never ends. Name a year there isn't.
Listening in 2023....still holds true.
I had the great pleasure meet him in 1986 several times after his gigs in Birmingham England this is so true today put down the guns feed the hungry rip Eddie
I love his voice its so great
Probably one of the most important songs ever written, and executed to perfect effect by Mr Starr.
am 35 years old and getting goosebumps alll over
heart, truth and edwin’s genius all meet in this song. few things are perfect in this world, but this song absolutely is.
A good thing that came from war? Good music.
That said, war is still horrible.
Hes right you know.
Kohl Pollard o yes
Immersible a good thing from war and all misery is inspirations for all arts.i think though that we can all agree thats a small price to pay for the eradication of war
I mean, usually when a war is occuring technology goes absolutely crazy, case in point plane, boat, and train technology all boomed in WW2
"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 got to be a better way..."
Let's hope we find it fast.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Let's love one another... Say something nice an see what happens... If you go on other news sites you can see how divided we really are... Satan is at work keeping us at each other with hate pulling us apart...
If You Don't Feel This...You're Not Human !!
War means destruction of innocent lives.
There 's got to be a better way to keep our freedom.
Greetings from Chile!
What a powerful piece of music.
Listening to this in 2022 hoping for WW3 not to happen
Love it!
~Vietnam Era veteran, USAF, Juvat Jill
God Bless this man, his message has reached millions!
Sure hope it reaches this generation before Biden and other globalists bring about WW3!
Barely
@@johnomalley7211 Where have been hiding? "War" was an antiwar hit during the tumultuous 70s, l know, and l remember, lol
@@jdb10715 what does globalism have to do with anything?
We could use this now.
The lyrics are as relevant today (if not more so) than they were then :-(
Mike Lazarus White House Military Plans Against Iran, Echoes of Iraq War nyti.ms/30k0LIv The 120,000 troops would reverse years of retrenching by the American military began with President Barack Obama’s withdrawal of troops from Iraq in 2011. 50% 0f population is under 25 yeqrs old
Mike Lazarus Absolutely also with crime on our black men from these crooked police officers
@@dmelton37 or the war on the non-criminal cops who have done nothing wrong 🤷♂️ (not justifying the actions of certain officers such as those who killed George Floyd but this has turned into a war on the police state none the less)
Feb. 2023 ~ RIP Barrett Strong.
The co-writer of this powerhouse, plus Ball of Confusion, Papa was a Rolling Stone, Cloud Nine, Just My Imagination, Heard It Thru the Grapevine, much more....
Vietnam vet here (grunt) Side note, while in Basic Training the Drill Instructors would play this full blast during morning chow in the mess hall. I found out about war a few months later.
even after all these years, the words in that song still rings true today, those words are as strong now as they have ever been, my grandad was a ww2 vet, and one of my uncles was a Vietnam vet, so to all you vets out there, thankyou from one grateful American, thankyou for my freedom, my right to choose, freedom isn't free, you will always have my support...PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!
It's my first time actually seeing who actually sings the song and he is absolutely amazing I hate to say this but I'm just being honest I did not know this guy was black which doesn't mean jack s*** to me he's truly gifted and he has bestowed a lot of honest integrity and insight to the world through these lyrics we need more honestly we need more integrity we need more love because Hateing, killing and destroying lives and everything around us is not helping any of us it's just tearing us apart and we need to come together more now than ever!
what funky way to protest against war! 👍👍👍
RIP Edwin🙏🙏🙏🙏Harlems finest
War can’t give life, it can only take it away. No truer statement about war has ever been made.
War can give us PTSD also.
Man, he could,sing! This song is as relevant today. or any other year as it was then.I am sorry Starr is gone.
A true classic!!!
"Say it again y'all!" Love that!!
Did you know that "War and Peace" was originally entitled "War ... What Is It Good For?"
Elaine pls...
😋😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂
Very cool to see Edwin Starr sing this live. I remember the song when it came out and still have the 45. We played the hell outta that record!
It’s not live, he doesn’t have a mic
Oh man I could picture it if he did a video in present day!
In a full gospel church, dressed as a pastor at the pulpit, with the choir behind him absolutely setting that tambourine on fire!
Lots of cutaways to B-roll footage of Syria, Ukraine, Iraq, Bosnia...
What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! 🙏🏼🕊❤️
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC HISTORY: August 29, 1970 - 48 Years Ago: Edwin Starr began a three-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart with his single, "War." This Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong-penned song was the R&B singer/songwriter's 8th chart entry and his first and only No. 1 on the Hot 100. [09/02/2018]
Edwin Starr always gave his time to activist charities. I vividly remember him at "Survival Sunday." My god, when he stepped on stage I flipped out and started screaming. Then the whole Hollywood Bowl erupted I cheers and all sang along with War. It was an absolutely spiritual experience.
And so it resonates throughout the decades, yet… We’re too fkn dumb tp listen to reason sung to us so deeply and truthfully. Heaven is the biggest winner with his passing, so the rest of us may bask in his wisdom.
This song is one for eternity! He is on the list as one of America's heroes! Love from Canada.
2019. Still good for absolutely nothing.
Maybe you'll grow up by 2029 and learn a few things.
@@vcoaster what things?
Who is still mesmerized by this song in 2020? Let the world see that you matter...stand up... people!!!
2021 and the lyrics are just as powerful as they were back in the day…
Pure talent. God really blessed this race with a gift of arts.
Times will never change. What a stage performance!
Oh maaaan, this guy is just straight up insanely AWESOME!
History repeats itself constantly and Man still hasn't connected the dots.
What goes around (War) comes around. PEACE
“War can’t give life, it can only take it away”
- Edwin Starr
This is the best song. ever!! Anyone who lived thru the 60s knows this