Edwin Starr: The Vietnam War

“War”, Edwin Starr: The purpose of this song was, to talk about how the Vietnam War was absolutely bad for America because all it did was bring bad things to America. Also by saying that there is always a better way to solve a conflict, instead of always war. Leading to many men deaths. He is also saying that war solves absolutely nothing in the world. Wars do nothing but propagate the problem that caused it. The problem doesn’t go away, it simply transforms into a new problem. War cannot bring life, but only death. Starr hates war because it only brings pain and suffering to those involved and the families of dead soldiers. While listening to this song, I could see how Edwin Starr felt the mother’s pain during the War, because they had to

In some of his lyrics he says “(War), It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker”, which went to ways in showing how their hearts were broken. The first way is physically, because when the men was killed, their heart stopped which empathize that that person’s heart has broken. Also figuratively, because when these men had to leave for the war all the women’s hearts were broken as they watch their brothers and husbands leave for war not knowing if they would ever come back home. Also when he used the lyric “War is the enemy of all mankind”, this showed how and him and others felt that war was saw as the enemy of the opposing force in front of them, and while that may be true and justified in the immediate reality. The war itself is also their enemy because war kills and destroys innocent people and cultures. The potential for good (for all of us) that’s lost in that killing and destruction is, in the longer view, the real enemy of mankind. The main reason why he published this song was to start protest against the war. He was also trying to get the government and the military to understand why they should leave out the

The major meaning for this song was to address the issues with America during this time period of the war and racism. Since African Americans were already being segregated and was hit with racism, that made it hard for the United States and the draft. Causing a lot men to going for the decision of deciding if they were for the war, against the war, or just leaving the country making them criminals. So when Gaye published this he did not want these mean to leave, he says that war is not the answer and that love is the true solution. Marvin Gaye;s point of view is for love and peace. In some of his lyrics like “For only love can conquer hate”, which means that darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Also in some of his other lyrics like “Picket lines and picket signs Don't punish me with brutality Talk to me, so you can see”, he is trying to say don’t send in the riot squads to disillusioned youths vying for change. Talk to them, as the old adage goes, take a walk in their shoes, and try come to a peaceful resolution. When he song this song he was mostly talking to family members, hoping to get a easy connection of many young American men and their families, that were hurt during the war. Also you could see who he was talking to when he used the words Mother, Father , and Brother in