Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Big_Bird]

This thread is for sharing songs or music about War that you find interesting, compelling, or beautiful etc. They can be anti-war songs or glorifying war or anything in between.

I've always loved Edwin Starr's War and today I was reminded of a fascinating cover of it by a Slovenian band called Laibach: War - Laibach


Please Note: This thread is for discussing music, or war only so far as it relates to the music.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Well...

'The Battle Hymn of Republic' is pretty darn good (the earlier version, 'John Brown's Body' is also pretty good, but that line about 'a-moulderin' in the grave' kind of puts a damper on things)

'The Marsailles' makes me want to get up and go shoot a German or Austrian and I'm not even French.

'Give Peace a Chance' is OK, but no one at the anti-war rallies in '69 knew any of the words.

The Pogues' 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda' always chokes me up.

I'm not really a fan of 'Blowin' in the Wind' or 'When Johnny Comes Marchin' Home Again'.

[kimchi story]

For What It's Worth - possibly the first anti-protest song of the Vietnam era in the US and a war song that reminds us that we're all part of the deal.

[bejarano-korea]

[chris_J2]

He blesses the boys as they stand in line
The smell of gun grease and the bayonets they shine
He's there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man
Sky pilot.....sky pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

He smiles at the young soldiers
Tells them its all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there'll be blood and many will die
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry
Sky pilot.....sky pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky

He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile
The order is given
They move down the line
But he's still behind and he'll meditate
But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate
As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you're never alone
He feels tired and he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage in the words that he said
Sky pilot.....sky Pilot
How high can you fly

You'll never, never, never reach the sky
You're soldiers of God you must understand
The fate of your country is in your young hands
May God give you strength
Do your job real well
If it all was worth it
Only time it will tell

In the morning they return
With tears in their eyes
The stench of death drifts up to the skies
A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot
Remembers the words
"Thou shalt not kill"
Sky pilot.....sky pilot
How high can you fly
You never, never, never reach the sky

Sky Pilot. Copyright Eric Burdon & the Animals, 1968

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Pilot_(song)

Or "War, what is it good for? Absolutely Nothin'", a line from 'War' by Edwin Starr, as mentioned by the OP.

[Big_Bird]

[Big_Bird]

And how could this thread be complete without the the anti-war song War Pigs by Black Sabbath

There's also this version by Cake, for interest.

[Bondgirl]

We want you- we want you- we want you as a new recruit.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n1y3U4FarU&mode=related&search=
And of course.... an important historical narrative about a couple of WW1 fighter pilots:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlf---13Q0g

[shantaram]

The Soldier's Letter, as sung by Kim Kwang Seok in JSA, is very haunting. I will post the link here shortly- but right now, running out of money in laundromat!

[Don Gately]

Rooster - Alice in Chains

"They ain't found a way to kill me yet."

[thorin]

The Army song, aka (incorrectly) The Army Goes Rolling Along.

[Hopelessly Human]

Goodnight Saigon - Billy Joel

[Don Gately]

War -Edwin Starr

Johnny Come Lately - Steve Earle

[JMO]

Down by the Glenside..I like the Dubliner's version..should be the irish national anthem as I've never been a big fan of the Soldiers song.

I also love "and the band played waltzing matilda" but prefer the Dubliner's version. I heard a version when I was a kid which also had a female vocalist and was on a live dubliner's tape of my dads which was mind blowing.

Also the 'Foggy Dew' is fantastic especially this version sung by Sinead O Connor with the Chieftans providing the music.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13MQFCfCYdQ

and the master Luke Kelly doing the same ballad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b605qq7xBzM

I'm not sure which is better.

[applesandshanana]

I've always thought Bob Dylan's With God on Our Side is point on about America in war.


Oh my name it is nothin'
My age it means less
The country I come from
Is called the Midwest
I's taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that land that I live in
Has God on its side.

Oh the history books tell it
They tell it so well
The cavalries charged
The Indians fell
The cavalries charged
The Indians died
Oh the country was young
With God on its side.

Oh the Spanish-American
War had its day
And the Civil War too
Was soon laid away
And the names of the heroes
I's made to memorize
With guns in their hands
And God on their side.

Oh the First World War, boys
It closed out its fate
The reason for fighting
I never got straight
But I learned to accept it
Accept it with pride
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.

When the Second World War
Came to an end
We forgave the Germans
And we were friends
Though they murdered six million
In the ovens they fried
The Germans now too
Have God on their side.

I've learned to hate Russians
All through my whole life
If another war starts
It's them we must fight
To hate them and fear them
To run and to hide
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side.

But now we got weapons
Of the chemical dust
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.

In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.

So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
If God's on our side
He'll stop the next war.