War (Bob Marley song)

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"War" is a song by Bob Marley, derived from a speech made by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Marley, along with fellow Rastafarians, praise Selassie as the reincarnate of God, and refer to him as “The Lion,” which Marley does in many of his songs. Haile Selassie I gave the speech calling for world peace at the 1963 U.N. Conference in New York City. Marley uses part of Selassie’s speech that calls for equality among all without regard to race, class, or nationality in his hymnal cry for peace. In his song, Marley asserts that until the day of an equal society, there is war. Besides the lyrics Marley uses in the song, Selassie urged U.N. officials and country representatives to disarm nuclear weapons, and to end international exploitation (specifically with Africa) during his speech in 1963. In this song, Bob honors Haile Selassie I while calling for action against racial inequality and international injustice.

Here is the part of Haile Selassie’s speech that Marley uses in “war:”

On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Ababa Conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson: That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil. – Haile Selassie I

In his speech to the U.N., Selassie reminded his listeners that these are only words; their value depends wholly on our will to observe and honour them and give them content and meaning.

[edit] Cover versions

In 1992 Sinéad O'Connor performed "War" a cappella on Saturday Night Live with slightly rejiggered lyrics. At the end of this performance she tore up a photograph of Pope John Paul II. In 2005 O'Connor released a studio version of "War" on her album Throw Down Your Arms.

In 1996 the song was covered by the heavy metal band Sepultura (appeared on Ratamahatta single, the Blood Rooted rarities compliation and the re-issued version of the Roots album). However, although credited as such, this is almost not so much a cover as a different song based on the same speech.