Why do the babies starve
When there's enough food to feed the world
Why when there are so many of us
Are there people still alone

Why are the missiles called peace keepers
When they're aimed to kill
Why is a woman still not safe
When she's in her home

Love is hate
War is peace
No is yes
And we're all free

But somebody's gonna have to answer
The time is coming soon
Amidst all these questions and contradictions
There are some who seek the truth

But somebody's gonna have to answer
The time is coming soon
When the blind remove their blinders
And the speechless speak the truth


Lyrics submitted by Nelly

Why? Lyrics as written by Tracy L Chapman

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Why? song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    About people watching as war, death, and poverty occur when they could help.

    kmson January 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    its about all bad things in the world and its peoples fault

    strangegirl7658on July 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Wow... no comments. A prophetic yet timeless song bursting with truth. A real kick in the teeth when you think about it. This song was released 24 yrs ago... Has anything changed?

    notethetreeson September 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about common sense--we go about our lives not thinking about those who have no food--we have become a society who isn't willing to pitch in do all that we can do to be gentle and kind with , the person who's alone, violence, starvation, etc.. Chapman, she's a revolutionist who dares to speak up to the larger society to pull us out of our complacency to ask the questions that we should be asking

    mamie1890on January 31, 2014   Link

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