I have a SLIGHTLY different interpretation of what I think Cherone was going for with these lyrics.
The real key to the meaning is the line "Straight to the heart, Peace can't be bought, That's where you start, Not all around."
I think he's suggesting that peace is a very difficult thing to achieve on a large scale, and saying things like "make love not war" isn't going to change any government's mind, as they will simply ignore you. He's trying to say that we, as individuals, need to live our lives peacefully in order to achieve a lasting peace, and that it's impossible to "make" someone else come around to this point of view if they're not ready for it. To become a more peaceful society, we all must come to the conclusion that peace is better, but we must come to that conclusion on our own, as individuals, and then actively make the choice to live peacefully. Cherone is into individuality as a pathway to peace.
The only part I disagree with is that we have to come to this decision on our own, in a complete vacuum. Saying "make love not war" has never been intended to be a political policy. When you live in a large civilized area, like a city, the whole point of so many people living together in one place is to rise above our baser instincts and try to be a better society. The more peaceful we are, the more we can accomplish. "Make love not war" is a cultural suggestion, intended to get people to think about trying to be peaceful and diplomatic before they resort to anger and violence. Take the suggestion or leave it, but I don't think that's absurd at all, though I admit it typically falls on deaf ears.
I have a SLIGHTLY different interpretation of what I think Cherone was going for with these lyrics.
The real key to the meaning is the line "Straight to the heart, Peace can't be bought, That's where you start, Not all around."
I think he's suggesting that peace is a very difficult thing to achieve on a large scale, and saying things like "make love not war" isn't going to change any government's mind, as they will simply ignore you. He's trying to say that we, as individuals, need to live our lives peacefully in order to achieve a lasting peace, and that it's impossible to "make" someone else come around to this point of view if they're not ready for it. To become a more peaceful society, we all must come to the conclusion that peace is better, but we must come to that conclusion on our own, as individuals, and then actively make the choice to live peacefully. Cherone is into individuality as a pathway to peace.
The only part I disagree with is that we have to come to this decision on our own, in a complete vacuum. Saying "make love not war" has never been intended to be a political policy. When you live in a large civilized area, like a city, the whole point of so many people living together in one place is to rise above our baser instincts and try to be a better society. The more peaceful we are, the more we can accomplish. "Make love not war" is a cultural suggestion, intended to get people to think about trying to be peaceful and diplomatic before they resort to anger and violence. Take the suggestion or leave it, but I don't think that's absurd at all, though I admit it typically falls on deaf ears.