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


Lyrics submitted by kevin

War Lyrics as written by Carlton Barrett Allan Cole

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

War song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This is probably my favorite Bob song and by far, his most powerful and influencial song he has ever performed. Bob sets to music the speech made presented to the United Nations by H.I.M Haile Selassie in 1936. Selassie's plea for human rights created the most powerful anti-racist statement.

    chuxenon August 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it is not just about racism. it is about povrety too. 'until there's no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation'

    free worldon April 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A really great song. I love it.

    Thommeson July 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is such a great song! its actually a speach by halie selassie

    Hannah_nestaon August 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yep the words of H.I.M hiself

    BobMarleyfan90on June 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Free world you are ignorant "first class and second class citizens" dosent refer to income it refers to the way we give or take away rights based on characteristics like race or sex or religion. like women are considered and thier income is affected because of the fact that they are econd class citizens. Like people who in the 40's that didnt go inot the army where treated like pussys and treated differently becasue of that

    bizarrestoneon April 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    bob no tlkin equality. he talkin beyond equality. the equality of equality. that no man for no reason deserve less than any other, and that the reason jamaica poor, that the reason poverty exist. people overlooked. black people, white people, asian people, whatever, we all people, be you talkin trench town, compton or north detroit, we all one. jah jah children must unite.

    rastainababylonon August 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song has been livicated to many 'reasonings' hail JAH

    cellordoreon October 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "War" is packed with lots of meaning. Great song and def very influential.

    unbel13vabulllon November 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great song. peace

    lianloon February 03, 2010   Link

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