Johnny Cash delivers a powerful critique of government manipulation, societal hypocrisy, and enforced gender roles in this anti-establishment song, 'War and Lies.' The poignant lyrics question blind patriotism and the hollow promises made in the name of love and religion.
War and Lies
[Verse 1]
Women and the children stay at home
Government tells the men to go
Fight wars, and die
Get their money's worth, don't cry
[Chorus]
Love your neighbor, that's what they say
But forget to love when their neighbor don't pray
Oh Lord, just why
Don't you think, just lie
[Verse 2]
They'll send you far from open arms
Keep you in their bed of harm
Promise gold and freedom's song
Keep you marching right or wrong
[Chorus]
Love your neighbor, that's what they say
But forget to love when their neighbor don't pray
Oh Lord, just why
Don't you think, just lie
[Bridge]
We toil and turn, in endless fight
Blind to what's wrong, blind to what's right
Who gains from this cursed charade?
While we all bleed, debts unpaid
[Chorus]
Love your neighbor, that's what they say
But forget to love when their neighbor don't pray
Oh Lord, just why
Don't you think, just lie
[Outro]
Men die in lands unknown
Governed by a heart of stone
Families ache, love deferred
All for words so hollow, so blurred
[Chorus]
Love your neighbor, that's what they say
But forget to love when their neighbor don't pray
Oh Lord, just why
Don't you think, just lie
Chords not available
Beat not available
Women and the children stay at home,
Government tells the men to go
Fight wars
And die
Get their Money's worth
Don't cry.
Love your neighbor,That's what they say
But forget to love when their neighbor don't pray
Oh lord
Just why
Don't you think
Just lie
Johnny Cash, anti-government, ant-establishmentism, anti-religious indoctrination