"Masters of War" (Bob Dylan)...

[Peter Frank]

...revisiting his lyrics from 40 or so years ago:

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big 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 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
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 o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

[Peter Frank]

1. Link...

http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/masters.html

[amitten]

2. One of my favorites. n/t

[Peter Frank]

3. It's good to revisit what some never new...

...ain't it? ;)

[amitten]

5. Yes, it is...

Thanks.

[KT2000]

4. A stunning piece of work

thanks for the reminder.

[Peter Frank]

6. My pleasure...

:)

[Crayson]

7. Dogs of War

Pink Floyd

[ClintonTyree]

8. I'd do a little more than stand over bush's grave.........

I'd drink two huge cups of coffee about 40 minutes before, THEN I'd properly anoint his final resting place. Great song though. I sent a tape of it to my brother when he was stationed in Germany. He ended up "leaving" the Army a few months after that. He just got on a plane and came home. All he got was a dishonorable discharge, that was during "peace-time" 17 or 18 years ago. If anyone tried that now they'd nail them to the wall. He was lucky.

[Kailassa]

10. Hmm ... could we get him to rehearse his funeral first?

Preferably a cremation.

[annabanana]

9. Every time I see Cheney's sneering face..

This song springs into my mind...

[stellanoir]

11. Not only is that song a total classic

but in 2003 or 2004 a band of High School kids were banned from performing it at their high school as it was construed as being against the president. I thought sheesh. . . when that song was written * was a beer swilling cheerleader. Isn't it somewhat peculiar the truth is always seems to be against the president ?

Eddie Vedder did a fantastic cover of this song a few years back and it's really worth a listen or twelve.

[dancingme]

12. Dylan is still performing it

In the last two years he has continued to perform this song. From his concert song set list:

Masters Of War (acoustic) .. 3/30/04 , 4/6/04 , 4/13/04 , 6/8/04 , 6/22/04 , 6/29/04 , 7/6/04 , 7/15/04 , 8/10/04 , 8/17/04 , 8/24/04 , 8/31/04 , 10/20/04 , 10/26/04 , 11/2/04 , 11/9/04 , 11/16/04

Masters Of War .. 3/8/05 , 3/15/05 , 3/22/05 , 4/5/05 , 4/12/05 , 4/19/05 , 4/26/05 , 6/1/05 , 6/7/05 , 6/14/05 , 6/21/05 , 6/28/05 , 7/12/05 , 7/19/05 , 7/26/05 , 10/18/05 , 10/25/05 , 11/1/05 , 11/8/05 , 11/15/05

http://my.execpc.com/~billp61/songpfm.html

[Hissyspit]

13. Ain't that some of that hippie protest stuff?

That is SO commie and out-of-fashion.

/facetious

K&R for a song I've caught myself singing OFTEN over the past few years.

[Peter Frank]

14. Be of good cheer...

The times they are a'changing.