List of anti-war songs

An anti-war song is a musical composition that either states anti-war sentiments directly, or one which is perceived (by the public and/or critics) as having an anti-war theme. Some show the negative aspects of war, while others satirize war. Most promote peace, in some form or another, while others speak out against certain specific armed conflicts. Some speak about the physical and psychological destruction warfare causes to the soldiers and to innocent civilians. Many of these songs are considered protest songs, and some have been embraced by various peace movements.

This is a dynamic list of songs and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Some popular songs of this variety include:

General peace

• "21 Guns"-Green Day (2009)
• "10th Man Down" - Nightwish (2001)
• "All These Things That I've Done" - The Killers (2004)
• "Amani"- Beyond (1991)
• "Angel's Punishment" - Lacuna Coil (2002)
• "Army Dreamers" – Kate Bush (1980)
• "Ashes of the Wake" - Lamb of God (2004)
• "Attack of the Peacekeepers" – Jello Biafra with D.O.A.(1989)
• "Blink" - Blue Scholars (year not known)
• "Blowin' in the Wind" - Bob Dylan (1963)
• "Bring the Boys Back Home" – Pink Floyd (1979)
• "Brothers in Arms" – Dire Straits (1985)
• "Civil War" - Guns N' Roses (1991)
• "Death Is a Star" – The Clash (1980)
• "Disposable Heroes" – Metallica (1985)
• "Ein bißchen Frieden" – Nicole Seibert (1982)
• "Ett hus med många rum" – Kikki Danielssons orkester (1997)
• "Fall of The Peacemakers" - Molly Hatchet (1983)
• "The Field" - Mason Jennings (2009)
• "Fight War, Not Wars!" – Crass (1978)
• "Friedenspanzer" – Die Ärzte (1993)
• "The General" - Dispatch (1998)
• "G.I. Blues" - Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine (2009)
• "Gimme Peace" - Tom T. Hall (1978)
• "Give Peace a Chance" – John Lennon (1969)
• "Gods of War" - Def Leppard (1987)
• "Heal the World" – Michael Jackson (1991)
• "Hero of War" – Rise Against (2008)
• "I Ain't Marching Anymore" – Phil Ochs (1965)
• "I Don't Want To Be A Hero" – Johnny Hates Jazz (1987)
• "I Hope You Get Drafted" – The Dicks
• "Hymn For The Dead" - Anti-Flag (2006)
• "Il Nostro Sogno (Our Dream)" - Alfio (2006)
• "Imagine" – John Lennon (1971)
• "In Our Garden" – Naomi Shemer (1995?)
• "Jet Fighter" – Butthole Surfers (2001)
• "(Just Another) Soldiers Song" - Alien Stash Tin (2007)
• "Just A Dream" - Carrie Underwood (2007)
• "Luglio, agosto, settembre (nero)" – Area International POPular group (1973)
• "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" – Ed McCurdy (1950)
• "Little Tin Soldiers" - The Panara Project" (1999)
• "Living with War" – Neil Young (2006)
• "Never Kill Another Man" - Steve Miller Band (1970)
• "No Fuckin' War" – Dicks
• "No More Trouble" – Bob Marley (1978)
• "Major General Despair" – Crass (1982)
• "March with Me" – Montserrat Caballé and Vangelis (1997?)
• "Masters of War" – Bob Dylan (1963)
• "M.I.A." – Avenged Sevenfold (2005)
• "Military Madness" – Graham Nash (1971)
• "Murder" – Rafi Weinstock (1995)
• "Never Again, Again" – False Prophets (1988)
• "One Tin Soldier" – Original Caste (covered by Coven) (1969)
• "Peace Sells" - Megadeth (1986)
• "Peace Train" – Cat Stevens (1971)
• "Peace Will Come" – Tom Paxton (1977)
• "Pick up the Bones" – Alice Cooper (2000)
• "Pipes of Peace" – Paul McCartney (1982)
• "Ratziti Sheteda" – Uzi Hitman (2003)
• "Road to Joy" – Bright Eyes (2005)
• "Rooster" – Alice in Chains (1993)
• "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" - Simon and Garfunkel (1966)
• "Semper Fi" - John Gorka (1991)
• "Shir LaShalom" - Lehakat HaNachal (1970)
• "Sacrifice" - Motörhead (1995)
• "Sacrilege" - Tristania (2007)
• "Soldier Blue" - Buffy Sainte-Marie (1871)
• "Soldier's Poem" – Muse (2006)
• "Soldier's Side" - System Of A Down (2005)
• "Still Spinning Shrapnel" - Skyclad (1995)
• "Stop the War" - Sugar Blue (2010)
• "Stupid, Stupid War"' — D.R.I.
• "Tank" – The Stranglers (1978)
• "Turn! Turn! Turn!" – Pete Seeger (covered by The Byrds) (1962)
• "Universal Soldier" – Buffy Sainte-Marie (1964) (covered by Donovan)
• "Waiting on the World to Change" – John Mayer (2006)
• "War" – Edwin Starr (1970)
• "War" – Bob Marley (1976)
• "War?" – System of a Down (1998) (focus in Armenian genocide memories)
• "War Baby" - Mick Jagger (1987)
• "Wardance" – Killing Joke (1980)
• "War Is Not A Game" - Bill Durston (2005)
• "War Pigs" – Black Sabbath (covered by The Dresden Dolls)(covered by Faith No More) (1970)
• "War Song" – Neil Young and Graham Nash (1971)
• "The War Song" – Culture Club (1984)
• "War Sucks, Let's Party!" - Anti-Flag (2006)
• "Washington Bullets" – The Clash (1980)
• "Wasted Life" – Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
• "What's Going On?" – Marvin Gaye (also recorded by Cyndi Lauper, Artists Against AIDS Worldwide and Chaka Khan) (1971)
• "When the Children Cry" - White Lion (1989)
• "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" – Pete Seeger (1960)
• "Where Is the Love?" – The Black Eyed Peas (2003)
• "With God on Our Side" – Bob Dylan (1964)
• "The Yard Went On Forever" – Richard Harris (1969)
• "Yokel and Idiot" – Yoshiji Goto (1995)

American Civil War

Main article: American Civil War

• "In The Hills Of Shiloh" - Shel Silverstein (1963)
• "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - The Band (1969)
• "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" - Patrick Gilmore (1863)
• "Silent Reign of Heroes" - Molly Hatchet (1998)

United States occupation of Veracruz

Main article: United States occupation of Veracruz

• "Veracruz" – Warren Zevon (1978)

World War I

Main article: World War I

• "1917" - Linda Ronstadt (1999)
• "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier" Peerless Quartet 1914
• "The Accrington Pals" – Mike Harding (1984)
• "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" – Eric Bogle (1972)
• "Christmas 1914" – Mike Harding (1977)
• "Christmas in the Trenches" – John McCutcheon (1984)
• "No Man's Land" by Eric Bogle
• "Green Fields of France" – Eric Bogle and the The Fureys (1976)
• "One" – Metallica (1988)
• "Paschendale" – Iron Maiden (2003)
• "1916"-Motörhead

Spanish Civil war

Main article: Spanish Civil War

• "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" – Manic Street Preachers (1998)
• "Spanish Bombs" – The Clash (1979)
• "1936" – Sin Dios (1997)

World War II

Main article: World War II

• "Goodbye Blue Sky" – Pink Floyd (1979)
• "Enola Gay" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (1980)
• "Nagasaki Nightmare" – Crass (1981)
• "Reality Asylum" – Crass (1979)
• "Semper Fi" - John Gorka (1991)
• "Sullivan" – Caroline's Spine (1993)
• "When the Tigers Broke Free" – Pink Floyd (1982)
• "The Longest Day" - Iron Maiden (2006)
• "Laybo" – Rafi Weinstock (1995)
• "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" - Johnny Cash (1964)
• "War is Hell (On the Homefront Too)" - T.G. Sheppard (1982)
• "Red Sector A" - Rush (2009)
• "Soldiers Last Letter" - Ernest Tubb (1944)

Vietnam War

Main article: Vietnam War

See also: List of songs about the Vietnam War

• "8th of November" - Big and Rich (2006)
• "19" – Paul Hardcastle (1985)
• "2 + 2 = ?" – Bob Seger System (1968)
• "50,000 Names" - George Jones (2001)
• "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" – Arlo Guthrie (1967)
• "American Woman" – The Guess Who (1970)
• "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" – The Temptations (1970)
• "The Big Parade" - 10,000 Maniacs (1989)
• "Billy Don't Be a Hero" – Paper Lace (also recorded by Bo Donaldson) (1974)
• "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" – Public Enemy (1989)
• "Born in the USA" – Bruce Springsteen (1984)
• "Bring The Boys Home" – Freda Payne (1971)
• "Bring Them Home" – Pete Seeger (1966)
• "Civil War" – Guns N' Roses (1990)
• "Charlie Don't Surf" – The Clash (1980)
• "Child in Time" - Deep Purple (1970)
• "Copperhead Road - Steve Earle (1988)
• "Daddy Won't Be Home Anymore" - Dolly Parton (1988)
• "Dear Uncle Sam" - Loretta Lynn (1965)
• "Five To One" - The Doors (1968)
• "Fortunate Son" – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
• "For What It's Worth (Stop, What's That Sound?)" - Buffalo Springfield (1967)
• "The Grave" – Don McLean (1971)
• "Galveston" - Glen Campbell (1969)
• "Goodnight Saigon" - Billy Joel (1981)
• "The Great Compromise" - John Prine (1972)
• "Guns, Guns, Guns" – The Guess Who (1972)
• "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" – John Lennon (1971)
• "Harvest for the World" – The Isley Brothers (1976)
• "I Ain't Marching Anymore" – Phil Ochs (1965)
• "I Don't Wanna Go To Vietnam" – John Lee Hooker (1968)
• "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" – Country Joe and the Fish (1967)
• "I Should Be Proud" – Martha and the Vandellas (1970)
• "I Was Only Nineteen (A Walk in the Light Green)" – Redgum (1983)
• "Inoculated City" – The Clash (1982)
• "Jimmy Newman" – Tom Paxton (1969)
• "Jimmy's Road" - Willie Nelson (1965)
• "Johnny Come Lately" - Steve Earle (1988)
• "Kill for Peace" – The Fugs (1966)
• "Last Train to Nuremberg" – Pete Seeger (1970)
• "Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation" – Tom Paxton (1965)
• "Machine Gun" - Jimi Hendrix (1970)
• "March to the Witch's Castle" - Funkadelic (1973)
• "Moratorium" - Buffy Sainte-Marie (1971)
• "More Than a Name on a Wall" - The Statler Brothers (1989)
• "My Son John" – Tom Paxton (1966)
• "Orange Crush" – R.E.M. (1988)
• "People, Let's Stop the War" – Grand Funk Railroad (1971)
• "Readjustment Blues" - John Denver (1972)
• "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" – Kenny Rogers & The First Edition ()
• "Running Gun Blues" – David Bowie (1970)
• "Saigon Bride" – Joan Baez (1967)
• "Sam Stone" – John Prine (1971)
• "Seek And Destroy" – Metallica (1983)
• "Simple Song of Freedom" – Bobby Darin (1968)
• "Soldier Blue" - Buffy Sainte-Marie (1971)
• "Sky Pilot" – Eric Burdon and The Animals (1968)
• "Something to Believe In" - Poison (1990)
• "Still in Saigon" - Charlie Daniels Band
• "Stoned Love" – The Supremes (1970)
• "Straight to Hell" – The Clash (1982)
• "Talkin' Vietnam" – Phil Ochs (1964)
• "That Old Porch Swing" - Eddy Arnold (2005)
• "Three-Five-Zero-Zero" from the musical, Hair (1968)
• "Travelin' Soldier" – Dixie Chicks (2002)
• "Unknown Soldier" – The Doors (1968)
• "To Susan On The West Coast Waiting" – Donovan
• "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story(song)" – Jedi Mind Tricks (2006)
• "Vietcong Blues" - Junior Wells (1966)
• "Vietnam" – Phil Ochs (1962)
• "Vietnam" – Jimmy Cliff (1970)
• "Vietnam Blues" - Kris Kristofferson (1966)
• "Wasted Life" – Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
• "The War Is Over" - Phil Ochs (1968)
• "War Pigs" – Black Sabbath (1971)
• "White Boots Marching In A Yellow Land" – Phil Ochs (1968)
• "Where Are You Now, My Son?" – Joan Baez (1973)
• "Wild Irish Rose" - George Jones (1998)
• "World of Trouble" - Molly Hatchet (1998)

Korean War

Main article: Korean War

• "Missing In Action" - Ernest Tubb (1952)
• "Suicide Is Painless" - Johnny Mandel from the film, M*A*S*H (1970)

Kent State shootings

Main article: Kent State shootings

• "Ohio" – Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young)/Neil Young (1970)
• "Surf's Up - Beach Boys (1971)

Dominican Republic

• "The Marines Have Landed on the Shores of Santo Domingo" Phil Ochs (1966)

The "Troubles"

Main article: The Troubles

• "Alternative Ulster" – Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
• "Ether" – Gang of Four (1979)
• "Fly the Flag" – Stiff Little Fingers (1980)
• "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" – Paul McCartney and Wings (1972)
• "My Youngest Son Came Home Today" – Eric Bogle (1993)
• "Out in the Fields" - Gary Moore and Phil Lynott (1985)
• "Peace on Earth" – U2 (2000)
• "Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six" – The Pogues (1988)
• "Sunday Bloody Sunday" – John Lennon (1972)
• "Sunday Bloody Sunday" – U2 (1983)
• "Wasted Life" - Stiff Little Fingers (1978)
• "Zombie" – The Cranberries (1994)

Hand guns/Firearms

Main article: Gun violence in the United States

• "Buy a Gun for Your Son" – Tom Paxton (1965)
• "Deer Dance" – System of a Down (2001)
• "Glorified G" – Pearl Jam (1993)
• "Guns" – Negativland (1991)
• "Put Out the Fire" – Queen (1982)
• "Saturday Night Special" – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1975)
• "To The Teeth" – Ani DiFranco (1999)
• "HFFK" - Biohazard (2001)
• "Side of a Bullet" - Nickelback

Anti-draft/Anti-authority

Main article: Draft dodger

• "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" – Public Enemy (1989)
• "B.Y.O.B. (song)" - System of a Down (2005)
• "The Call Up" – The Clash (1980)
• "Draft Dodger Rag" – Phil Ochs (1965)
• "Draft Morning" – The Byrds (1967)
• "Draft Resister" – Steppenwolf (1969)
• "G.I. Blues" - Elvis Presley (1960)
• "I Don't Want To Get Drafted" - Frank Zappa (1981)
• "Kill the President" – The Offspring (1989)
• "My Uncle" - The Flying Burrito Brothers (1969)
• "Refuse/Resist" – Sepultura (1994)
• "Take the Power Back"-Rage Against The Machine (1992)
• "This Is The Army, Mr. Jones - Irving Berlin (1942)
• "Sgt Baker" - Primus (1991)
• "Symphony of Destruction" – Megadeth (1993)
• "When Ya Get Drafted" – Dead Kennedys (1980)

Cold War/Nuclear Annihilation

Main article: Cold War

• "2 Minutes to Midnight" – Iron Maiden (1984)
• "20 Tons of TNT" – Flanders and Swann
• "99 Luftballons" and "99 Red Balloons" – Nena (1983)
• "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" – Bob Dylan (1963)
• "Blackened" – Metallica (1988)
• "Black Planet - The Sisters of Mercy (1985)
• "Eagle Fly Free" – Helloween (1988)
• "Eve of Destruction" – P.F. Sloan (also recorded by Barry McGuire and The Turtles) (1965)
• "Fight Fire with Fire" – Metallica (1984)
• "Hammer to Fall" – Queen (1983)
• "I Come and Stand at Every Door" (based on a poem by Nazım Hikmet) – Pete Seeger (1962); The Byrds (1966)
• "It's a Mistake" – Men at Work (1983)
• "Killer of Giants" – Ozzy Osbourne (1986)
• "Land of Confusion" – Genesis (1986)
• "London Calling" – The Clash (1979)
• "People are People" - Depeche Mode (1984)
• "Pre-War America" – The Beatnigs (1988)
• "Russians" – Sting (1985)
• "Rust in Peace – Megadeth (1990)
• "Seconds - U2 (1983)
• "Set the World Afire - Megadeth (1988)
• "Thank God For the Bomb" - Ozzy Osbourne (1986)
• "They've Got a Bomb" – Crass (1979)
• "Two Suns in the Sunset" – Pink Floyd (1983)
• "Two Tribes" – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984)
• "Wind of Change" – Scorpions (1990)
• "Wooden Ships" – Crosby, Stills & Nash and Jefferson Airplane (1969)
• "Leningrad" - Billy Joel (1989)
• "New Year's Day" - U2 (1983)

Phillipine-American War

Main article: Phillipine-American War

• "Battle Hymn of the Republic, Updated" - Mark Twain (1901)

The Falklands War

Main article: Falklands War

• "Another Man's Cause" – The Levellers (1992)
• "Como Estais Amigos" – Iron Maiden (1998)
• "Get Your Filthy Hands off My Desert" – Pink Floyd (1983)
• "Little Boy Soldiers" – The Jam (1979)
• "Sheep Farming in the Falklands" – Crass (1982)
• "Shipbuilding" – Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1983)
• "Spirit of the Falklands" – New Model Army (1982)
• "The Post War Dream" – Pink Floyd (1983)
• "Yes Sir, I Will" – Crass (1983)

Contras

Main article: Contras

• "Bullet the Blue Sky" – U2 (1987)
• "El Salvador" – Noel Stookey and Jim Wallis (1983)
• "El Salvador" - White Lion (1985)
• "Lives in the Balance" – Jackson Browne (1985)
• "Nicaragua" – Bruce Cockburn (1984)
• "No Más!" - John McCutcheon (1984)
• "Washington Bullets" – The Clash (1980)
• "Wish I Was in El Salvador" – Jello Biafra with D.O.A.(1989)
• "Young Willie" - Garnet Rogers (1992)

Gulf War(s), Iraq, 9/11, and the War on Terror

Main articles: September 11 attacks, War on Terrorism, and Iraq War

• "Act III Scene 2 (Shakespeare)" - Saul Williams (2004)
• "All the Young Fascists" – Shihad (2005)
• "American Idiot" – Green Day (2004)
• "America (Just Say No)" - Alien Stash Tin (2003)
• "America First" - Merle Haggard (2005)
• "American Life" – Madonna (2003)
• "A Taste of Money" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Audience Of One" – Rise Against (2008)
• "Beneath The Remains" - Sepultura (1989)
• "Bin Laden" – Immortal Technique (2005)
• "Black Rain - Ozzy Osbourne (2007)
• "Blessed are the Landmines" - Brave Saint Saturn (2008)
• "Bloodsports" – New Model Army (2007)
• "Boom!" – System of a Down (2002)
• "Bush" – David Banner (2003)
• "B.Y.O.B." – System of a Down (2005)
• "Caped Crusader" – Jello Biafra with the Melvins (2004)
• "Capital G" – Nine Inch Nails (2007)
• "Cheney's Toy" - James McMurtry (2008)
• "Day After Tomorrow" - Tom Waits (2004)
• "Dark Side of the Sun" - Tori Amos (2007)
• "Dear Mr. President" – Pink (2007)
• "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" -John Fogerty (2004)
• "Dirty Harry" – Gorillaz (2005)
• "The Drums of War" – Jackson Browne (2008)
• "Everybody's Gone to War" – Nerina Pallot (2006)
• "For the Greater Good of God" – Iron Maiden (2006)
• "F*ck a War" – Geto Boys (1991)
• "Friends in the Armed Forces" - Thursday (2008)
• "George W. Told The Nation" – Tom Paxton (2007)
• "God is not with You ! - Ira dei (2008) Belgium
• "Gunslinger - Avenged Sevenfold (2007)
• "Hammerhead" – The Offspring (2008)
• "Hands Held High" – Linkin Park (2007)
• "Hero of War" - Rise Against (2008)
• "Hey Ma" – James (2008)
• "Holiday" – Green Day (2004)
• "The Holidays Are Here (And We're Still at War)" – Brett Dennen (2006)
• "How Much Longer" – Paul Leary (1991)
• "I Can't Take It No More" - John Fogerty (2007)
• "Illegal Attacks" – Ian Brown (2007)
• "I Saw Him Laying There" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Jacob's Ladder" - Chumbawumba (2002)
• "Jesus Walks" – Kanye West (2004)
• "Let Them Eat War" – Bad Religion (2004)
• "Let's Impeach the President" – Neil Young (2006)
• "Midnight Oil" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Mosh" – Eminem (2004)
• "My Girlfriend is a Lefty" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "No Human No Fly" – April Hole (2002)
• "No War" – Esham (2003)
• "Not In My Name" - Saul Williams (2003)
• "On With the Song" - Mary Chapin Carpenter (2007)
• "Planet of the Rice" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Please Freeze Me" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Prophets of War" – Dream Theater (2007)
• "Sacrificed Sons" – Dream Theater (2005)
• "Saraba" – The Gazette (2004)
• "Shock and Awe" – Neil Young (2006)
• "Stand Up" – Flobots (2007)
• "The Bushes and The President" – Dawn Called Malice (2003)
• "Turkey Shoot" – Killdozer (1994)
• "Violet Hill" - Coldplay (2008)
• "War Is a Wonderful Thing" - Real West (2005)
• "When the President Talks to God" – Bright Eyes (2005)
• "Where is the Love" - Black Eyed Peas (Featuring Justin Timberlake) (2004)
• "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson (2001)
• "White People For Peace" - Against Me! (2007)
• "White Flag Warrior" - Flobots ft. Tim McIlrath (2010)
• "World Wide Suicide" - Pearl Jam
• "Wait and Bleed" - Slipknot (1999)
• "Waiting on the World to Change" - John Mayer (2006)
• "Worker Bees" - Billy Talent (2006)
• "WWIII" - KMFDM (2003)
• "Yellowcake" - Ministry (2006)
• Yo George" - Tori Amos (2007)
• "You Shoulda Killed Me Last Year" - Ice-T (1991)

For more songs protesting the Iraq War, see Neil Young's website.

Traditional Music

Apart from the various genres of modern music, some traditional and contemporary folk songs reflect the futile efforts of war prior to the major wars of the 20th century. Some of these include:

• "Ain't Gonna Study War No More" also known as "Down by the Riverside", and with a similar tune as "Hand Me down My Walking Cane" – African-American traditional anti-war song recorded by The Weavers and many other people.
• "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" – Irish traditional anti-war and anti-recruiting song that was the basis for the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", and recorded as ""Fighting for Strangers" by Steeleye Span.
• "King Henry" – Pete Seeger
• "Lincoln's Army" – The Irish Rovers
• "Lowlands of Holland" – traditional recorded by Martin Carthy
• "Paddy's Lamentation" – an Irish song dating back to the US Civil War.

See also

• Anti-globalization

External links

• Anti-war Songs a website collecting thousands of antiwar songs from all over the world