Song Lyrics

Billy Don't Be a Hero by Paper Lace

The marchin' band came down along Main Street

The soldier-blues fell in behind
I looked across and there I saw Billy
Waiting to go and join the line
And with her head upon his shoulder
His young and lovely fiancee
From where I stood, I saw she was cryin'
And through her tears I heard her say

"Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life"
"Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife"
And as he started to go she said "Billy, keep your head lo-o-ow"
"Billy, don't be a hero, come back to me"

The soldier-blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle raging all around
The sergeant cried "We've got to hang on, boys"
"We got to hold this piece a'ground"
"I need a volunteer to ride up"
"And bring us back some extra men"
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgettin' all the words she said

She said
"Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life"
"Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife"
And as he started to go she said "Billy, keep your head lo-o-ow"
"Billy, don't be a hero, come back to me"

I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw that letter away



Analysis:

The town is having a parade for departing soldiers. The soldiers were wearing their dress blues uniforms. His Fiancee does not want him to be a hero and fight for his country. She calls him a food for entering into this war. It is a battle not worth fighting for. She cares more about herself than her country. She tells him to keep his head down so it does not get blown off. And also to keep it down to be inconspicuous and stay invisible. The marines are surrounded and there is no way to get out. They need a volunteer for a suicide mission and Billy was the first one to raise his hand, despite what his Fiancee told him. The condolence letter stated that he gave his life for his country. She thinks the war is a waste of a life. She does not believe in the war and what they are fighting for. The act of throwing the letter away is a metaphor for Billy throwing his life away when he entered into the meaningless war.

War by Edwin Starr

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go 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, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
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

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing

Analysis:
This is a protest song because of the lines “say it again, y’all” and “stand up and shout it”.
Edwin Starr is asking America what this war is good for. He is wondering what America is actually getting out of this war.
He does not like the Vietnam War because many innocent Americans are losing their lives for a cause no one understands.
Many mothers have to send their sons overseas to fight in the Vietnam War because of the draft and their sons are dying.
All the war is doing is brining sorrow to those who were sent over to fight and their families.
The war is only liked by those who decided to go to war, such as the president. They do not see what sorrow this war is bringing the troops and their families.
Starr is asking what good war actually does for people. He only sees people dying. He does not see anything good about it.
The younger generation is the ones being drafted into the war and being forced to fight. These young men don’t want to die.

Sky Pilot by The Animals


He blesses the boys as they stand in line
The smell of gun grease and the bayonets they shine
He's there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man

Sky pilot.....sky pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky
He smiles at the young soldiers

Tells them its all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there'll be blood and many will die
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry

Sky pilot.....sky pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky
He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile

The order is given
They move down the line
But he's still behind and he'll meditate
But it won't stop the bleeding or ease the hate

As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you're never alone
He feels tired and he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage in the words that he said

Sky pilot... sky Pilot
How high can you fly
You'll never, never, never reach the sky
You're soldiers of God you must understand

The fate of your country is in your young hands
May God give you strength
Do your job real well
If it all was worth it

Only time it will tell
In the morning they return
With tears in their eyes
The stench of death drifts up to the skies

A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot
Remembers the words
"Thou shalt not kill"
Sky pilot.....sky pilot

How high can you fly
You never, never, never reach the sky


Analysis: This song is written about a "sky pilot", which is not actually a pilot as it sounds, but a military chaplain. The chorus of this song says "sky pilot how high can you fly" which, in other words, is "sky pilot how could you be so hypocritical?" It then says "you will never, never, never reach the sky" which means that this man who thinks he is so holy and good is actually never going to see heaven because he is encouraging something that goes directly against his beliefs. The song also says that he is willing to meditate but he is not willing to stop the blood or the hate. The most important part of the song is where he says, "A soldier so ill looks at the sky pilot, remembers the words, "Thou shalt not kill."" In this line the soldier is realizing the hypocrisy of the sky pilot for encouraging the war and these soldiers to go kill, when it clearly says in the Bible "Thou shalt not kill." 




Why Can't we be Friends by War
Why can't we be friends?

equality

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
I seen you 'round for a long long time
I really 'membered you when you drink my wine
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
I seen you walkin' down in Chinatown
I called you but you could not look around
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
I bring my money to the welfare line
I see you standing in it every time
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
The color of your skin don't matter to me
As long as we can live in harmony
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
I'd kinda like to be the President
so I can show you how your money's spent
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Sometimes I don't speak too bright
but yet I know what I'm talking about
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
I know you're working for the CIA
they wouldn't have you in the Mafia
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?


Analysis:


Why Can't We Be Friends by War was written in 1975. In the phrase," The color of you skin don't matter to me, as long as we can live in harmony. Why can't we be friends?" War prevails a valid point that physical features should not matter. Why are people being discriminated against just due to the color of ones skin? This song brings about a major problem during the 1970's, racial discrimination. War prevails that their no reasoning, nor valid point one should discriminate, we are all the same and we should all be treated as equals.


Imagine by John Lennon

peace

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace

You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world

You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one


Analysis:
Imagine by John Lennon came out in 1971. In the song Lennon proclaims " Imagine all the people living for today...imagine there's no countries...Imagine no possessions...Imagine all the people sharing all the world". Just by a few lines, we can see his main point: peace. He says, "I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one" in which Lennon ties in the audience, with an emotional attachment. Prevailing he is not the only one who wants peace, and is hopeful. One can even presume that Lennon is referring to the Vietnam War, and how he wishes it to relinquish and all other economic struggles. Imagine was written during the Vietnam War, and during the peace movement which most of the popular culture during this time was centered around. Even to this day this song still well-know, all for the same purpose: peace.