In 1991 some members of the band Chumbawamba released an anti-war (Gulf War) EP under the band name Passion Killers. The EP,
Whoopee! We're All Going to Die!, contains four, updated, anti-war cover songs.
Chumbawamba has these songs available for download as free mp3s on their site, and they are very relevant to today. I consider these songs must-adds to any conscientious objector's or American patriot's iPod (or other music collection).
Links and lyrics snippets after the jump.
"Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die" RagCountry Joe & The Fish, 1967listen to mp3
Sample lyrics:
Well come on Wall Street - don't move slow,
Why man, this is war-a-go-go!
There's plenty of money to be made
By supplying the army with the tools of the trade.
Just look at it my way - if you drop the Bomb,
Well, it's all part of the fun!
And it's 1 2 3 what are we fighting for?
Don't ask me I don't give a damn!
Next up another Viet Nam.
And it's 5 6 7 open up the pearly gates.
There ain't no time to wonder why
We are all gonna die.
Well come on mothers don't delay,
Pack your boys off to the Gulf today.
Come on fathers don't hesitate,
Send them off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box!
And it's 1 2 3 what are we fighting for?
Don't ask me I don't give a damn!
Next up another Viet Nam.
And it's 5 6 7 open up the pearly gates.
There ain't no time to wonder why
We are all gonna die.
Shipbuilding
Elvis Costello, 1983
listen to mp3
Sample lyrics:
Is it worth it?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy's birthday
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children; soon we'll be shipbuilding
Well, I ask you--the boy said,
'Dad they're going to take me to task
'But I'll be back by Christmas'
It's just a rumour that's spread around town
Someone said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed
Universal Soldier
Buffy Sainte-Marie, 1966
listen to mp3
Sample lyrics:
He's 5' 2" and he's 6' 4"
He fights with missiles and with spears
He's all of 31 and he's always 17
He's been a soldier for 1000 years
He's fighting for Britain and he's fighting for Iraq
He's fighting for the USA
He's fighting for the Russians and he's fighting for Japan
And he thinks he'll put an end to war this way
He's fighting for democracy he's fighting for the reds
He says he's for the peace of all
He's the one who must decide who's to live and who's to die
And he never sees the writing on the wall
Reuters
Wire, 1977
listen to mp3
Lyrics:
Our own correspondent is sorry to tell of an uneasy time, that all is not well. On the borders there's movement. In the hills there's trouble, food is short, crime is double. Prices have risen since the government fell, casualties increase as the enemy shell. The climate's unhealthy, flies and rats thrive, and sooner or later the end will arrive. This is your war correspondent running out of tape, gunfire increasing, looting, burning, rape.