By Edwin Starr and Norman Whitfield (composition, production).
Duration: 3:12.

Listen on YouTube.

Contributors:

• Edwin Starr (vocals)
• The Originals (backing vocals)
• The Undisputed Truth (backing vocals)

Tracks that War references:

• War by The Temptations, Norman Whitfield, and Barrett Strong

Tracks that sample War:

From Fandom:

• Battalion by Rainy

Lyrics:

War! huh (Yeah)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Oh-oh, oh-oh)
War! huh (Yeah)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Say it again, y'all)
War! huh (Huh, look out)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Listen to me, oh!)

War! I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears in thousands of mothers' eyes
When their sons go off to fight and lose their lives
I said

War! huh (Good God, y'all)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Say it again)
War! huh (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Listen to me)

War - It ain't nothing but a heartbreak
War! Friend only to the undertaker
Oh

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?
Oh!

War! huh (Good god, y'all)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Say it, say it, say it)
War! huh (Hu-huh, yeah, huh)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Listen to me)

War - It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! It got one friend, that's the undertaker
Oh

War has shattered many young men's dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious to spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life, it can only take it away
Oh!

War! huh (Good God, y'all)
What is it good for?
(Absolutely) Nothing (Say it again)
War! huh (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
What is it good for?
(Oh, absolutely) Nothing (Listen to me)

War - It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War! Friend only to the undertaker (Hoo)

Peace, love and understanding, 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
Oh!

War, huh (God, y'all)
What is it good for? (You tell them)
Nothing (Say it, say it, say it, say it)
War! huh (Good god, oo-ah, huh)
What is it good for? (Stand up and shout it)
Nothing
War!