"masters of war" - bob dylan
lyrics
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks.
You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.
Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.
You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.
You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins.
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do.
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul.
And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks.
You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.
Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.
You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.
You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins.
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do.
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul.
And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.
analysis
“I think you will find, when your death takes its toll, all the money you
made, will never buy back your soul.” These are lyrics of a well-known folk song
“Masters of War” written by Bob Dylan in 1962. This song holds a strong anti-war
stance because of the harsh one that sounds very disapproving. It is trying to make pro-
war people feel guilty and makes them think that they themselves caused so much
destruction in the war. These lyrics are contrary to the foreign policies of the Vietnam
War because this song is showing that the War itself is causing so much destruction to
these countries that the war would be worse than communism in the lives of the
Vietnamese. It is stating that one could not justify the war which is what the foreign
policies seem to do. What are the costs of war? Masters of War explains that one should
not be proud of all of the deaths and destruction of cities that come from war. It even
metaphorically states, your money will not be enough to buy back your soul. This is
saying that one can never be forgiven of this mistake and that even when one thinks that
they can live with the devastation of a war, they will soon realize that the war takes a toll
on them too. I do not think that this is true. I feel that the Vietnam War was justified to a
certain extent. This song also seemed like the blame for the war was placed on the
families and the soldiers. However, some of these soldiers and family members did not
want to be a part of the war and therefore it is not their fault entirely. I feel as though
people should be supportive of and respect the soldiers that devote their lives to the
country. This song is targeting the government a lot too but I think that the government
was going to war to protect a lot of the Vietnamese countries for the greater good.
made, will never buy back your soul.” These are lyrics of a well-known folk song
“Masters of War” written by Bob Dylan in 1962. This song holds a strong anti-war
stance because of the harsh one that sounds very disapproving. It is trying to make pro-
war people feel guilty and makes them think that they themselves caused so much
destruction in the war. These lyrics are contrary to the foreign policies of the Vietnam
War because this song is showing that the War itself is causing so much destruction to
these countries that the war would be worse than communism in the lives of the
Vietnamese. It is stating that one could not justify the war which is what the foreign
policies seem to do. What are the costs of war? Masters of War explains that one should
not be proud of all of the deaths and destruction of cities that come from war. It even
metaphorically states, your money will not be enough to buy back your soul. This is
saying that one can never be forgiven of this mistake and that even when one thinks that
they can live with the devastation of a war, they will soon realize that the war takes a toll
on them too. I do not think that this is true. I feel that the Vietnam War was justified to a
certain extent. This song also seemed like the blame for the war was placed on the
families and the soldiers. However, some of these soldiers and family members did not
want to be a part of the war and therefore it is not their fault entirely. I feel as though
people should be supportive of and respect the soldiers that devote their lives to the
country. This song is targeting the government a lot too but I think that the government
was going to war to protect a lot of the Vietnamese countries for the greater good.