*First line is the chorus used by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong,©Motown Records 1971

* War. Huh! What is it good for? Nothin’

We sell the world our weapons of destruction.
It helps the economy, that is the deduction.
First we had the arms race. Then we had reduction,
Now we found a reason to increase the induction.
You want a job? Come and fight for Sammy!
If someone’s not on our side, we’ll give ‘em a double whammy.
We won’t disarm, though no-one is near us.
Without the arms race, nobody would fear us!
* War. Huh! What is it good for? Nothin’

It’s obvious if you threaten a dictator,
He’s gonna protect himself sooner, not later.
He’s gonna hide any weapons of destruction.
He’s not gonna listen when you give him your instructions.
He always was a killer, same train, same station.
Only appears in public by impersonation.
He’s not going to go away with a bit of aggravation.
The President wants the oil, that’s the inspiration.
* War. Huh! What is it good for? Nothin’

Politicians decide for the nation
To threaten Suddam Hussein with intimidation.
The man’s an expert, so why the flagellation?
To threaten him is beyond imagination.
We ask his scientists for an explanation-
They know they talk they dead after interrogation.
You better believe Iraq’s The President’s play Station.
I give ya the good oil on the situation.
* War. Huh! What is it good for? Nothin’

Bush taunts us with “the coalition of the willing”.
The language collateral damage is chilling.
The brazen invasion is just the beginning;
We’ll help the Kurds to the oil they’ll be drilling.
If anyone leaves Bhagdad we’ll give ‘em a grilling.
Drive near our tank? We’ll get on with the killing!
Not liberate. Not celebrate. No water for swilling.
Free trade with America. Get on with the bullying!
* War. Huh! What is it good for? Nothin’ (repeat, add harmonies)

Make love, not war, that’s our insinuation.
Mass destruction’s not our interpretation.
A billion dollars a day for star wars navigation?
No! And petrol bombs’re low tech degradation.
Humanity makes war a Holy institution.
But we the people still haven’t had our revolution.
* War. Huh! What is it good for? Nothin’