Drum roll intro.

(War!)
((Hooh!))
Yeah!
(What is it good for?)
Absolutely (nothin').
Uh-ha, aah-ha.

(War!)
((Hooh!))
Yeah!
(What is it good for?)
Absolutley (nothin').
Say it again, y'all.

(War!)
((Hooh!))
Look out!
(What is a good for?)
Absolutely (nothin').
Listen to me,

OHHHH! ((War!)) I despise,
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives,
War means tears to thousands of mother's eyes,
When their sons go to fight and lose their lives.

I said WAR!
((Hooh!))
Good God, y'all!
(What is a good for?)
Absolutely (nothin').
Say it again!

(War!)
(Hooh!)/Woh-woh woh-oh woh, Lord.
(What is a good for?)
Absolutely (nothin').
Listen to me!

(War!) It ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker,
(War!) Friend only to the undertaker.
OHHH! 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?
OHHHH!

((WAR!))
Good (hooh!) God, y'all!
(What is a good for?)
Absolutely (nothin').
Say it, say it, SAY IT!

(WAR!)
Uh (hooh!) huh, yeah.
Hooh!
(What is a good for?)
Absolutely (nothin').
Listen to me!

(War!) It ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker.
(War!) It's got one friend that's the undertaker.
OHHHH! War has shattered many a young man's dreams,
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/TdeuMade him disabled, bitter and mean.
Life is much too short and precious,
To spend fightin' wars these days.
War can't give life, it can only take it away!

OHHH, WAR!
(Hooh!)
Good God, y'all!
(What is a good for?)
Absolutely (nothin').
Say it again!

(War!)
Woh-(hooh!)-woh woh-oh woh, Lord.
(What is a good for?)
a-Absolutely (nothin').
Listen to me.

(War!) It ain't nothin' but a heartbreaker.
(War!) Friend only to the undertaker, wooh!
Peace, love and understandin', 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.

OHHHH, WAR!
(Hooh!)
Good God, y'all!
(What is a good for?)
You tell me!
Say it, say it, say it, saaaay it!

(War!)
Good (hooh!) God, now!
Fade.
Hooh!
(What is a good for?)
Stand up and shout it, (NOTHIN')!

WAR
Written by: Barrett Strong & Norman Whitfield1
Performed by: Edwin Starr2-1970
Appears on: War & Peace-19703, Motown Superstar Series, Vol. 3: Edwin
Starr-1980, Freedom Rock-1987*, Songs of Protest-1991*, Motown Legends:
War-1995, The No. 1 Motown Album-2000*, Live in Concert (CD)-2006 &
(DVD)-2006, The '70s Collection-2008*, et al. (*Compilations of various
artists.)

1Producer Norman Whitfield, had been reinventing the Temptations as a
psychedelic soul act had co-written, "War," a strident anti-war protest song,
was recorded for the Temps' Psychedelic Shack LP. And, in spite of growing
demand for a single release, Motown didn't want the Temps to take such an
aggressive stance. So Whitfield recut "War," with Starr, and the resulting
version was arguably the most incendiary song Motown ever released. Starr's
rendition makes the Temptations' version seem sedate. Whitfield used his
bag of studio tricks lavishly: wah-wah guitars, deafening tambourines, and
psychedelic elements. But Starr overpowered them all with one of music's
most devastating vocals. It zoomed to the top of the pop charts in 1970,
and its chorus — powered by Starr's guttural delivery — remains a catch
phrase even today.

2Originally recorded by the Temptations in 1970 (See 1 above.) Other
covers include, BB Band, Boyz II Men, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Joan
Osborne and Bruce Springstein.

3Transcribed from the track on this album.