Come you masters of war
You that build the big 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 don't 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
While the death count gets higher
Then you hide in your mansion
While the 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
If you find some error in Masters of War Lyrics, would you please submit your corrections to me? Thank You.
Thanks to Will james for submitting the lyrics.
Review about Masters of War War is complex, truth even more so. | Reviewer: Lofoten | 9/7/09
This song is poetry of it's time.
It voices the feelings of the young with right and justice in their hearts. Fine sentiments and vision but ultimately naive.
We may protest about war, reasons, the way it is committed, outcomes and errors, hard and long but it changes nothing.
As long as there is man there will be war.
Good wars, bad wars. All justification for one's beliefs and prejudices.
Dying is part of living.
Dying that we may live is the ultimate sacrifice.
Past, present and the future.
This song is like the mayfly, living only fleetingly and yet forever.
New generations, new wars, new truths.
It will be ever so.
Bob tells it like it is | Reviewer: Steve Borrow | 9/6/09
This is one of the angriest songs Bob Dylan ever composed. He wrote and performed it when the US commitment to the War in Vietnam had peaked and public opinion was turning in favour of the Anti-war movement. Young conscriptees were being brought back in body bags, and that bought the stark reality of the war into sharp focus. Bob directs his rage against those who profited from the killing industry and who remain anonymous as others, young men, like himself do the dying for them. He implies that, although Jesus forgave Judas for his betrayal, he would never forgive the commanders of the military industrial complex, who, with their political spinmeisters dupe the public into accepting the inevitability of conflict in order to profit from the sale of weaponry. Bob delivers a fatal curse, knowing that these Masters of War can never be granted salvation for so heinous a crime. Bob may be a silver haired sage now, but this song still rocks.
in response to the comment below by 'sqtfon' no-one has any problem with going to war in order to fight for freedom what this song is about is when wars are manufactured by govts in order to make money for a bunch of fat f@cks in the arms industry - wars in which millions die and suffer needlessly and nothing is accomplished.
you mean he was not talking about my ex-wife? war is fun folks, its only those of you that are to timid or to ingnorant of the world that find the "Power" in this song. the reason you can write these comments, on a pc that you own, in your own house is because we have gone to war to fight. remember all of your rights and freedoms were won by the grunt on the ground with a musket, M1 grand or M16 in his hand.
Just think... | Reviewer: Katie | 7/29/09
This song is very powerful. I agree with everyword. People who critisise this, fair enough, an opinion is an opinion. But for a moment, just think, your children, your kids, have fear to come into the world, because of these guns, these guns supplied by the goverment! There not worth their blood, that runs in their veins.
This song is so powerful it's scary | Reviewer: Salty Jason | 5/13/09
Bob Dylan really put his heart and soul into this song to come up with perfect lyrics to get his point across. The sad truth is that the government really does cause pointless wars for others to fight. It has always been that way and probably always will be.
Great effect!!! | Reviewer: Neville King | 5/11/09
I disagree - There only "appears" to have been no effect on our world by such a powerful song -this is because the world is full of war as mankind will always be power hungry - not only governments but the individuals within governments AND tose who fund governments to best suit their own agenda (ie arms manufacturers who use governments as their middlemen/runners to pedal their filth). There HAS been a great effect however as Dylan's powerful poetry causes people to think and opens up debate - ultimately however, no matter how well he can express his point of view there will always be those at "the top" who like it there and will do anything to stay there. Master's of War is the beginning of a process of changing consciousness and a process adressing such an human abberation must in essence take a long time. To discount the effect of such important artistry is, to quote Uncle Tupelo, "apathy, as your vocal chord's cut out!" God bless people like Dylan, Earle, Springsteen, Farrar, Yussuf Islam, R.E.M, Pearl Jam...etc, etc - at least they ARE "standing up," why doesn't everyone else take a stand???
Makes You Think | Reviewer: Chris | 12/17/08
Bob Dylan is perhaps the greatest song writer to come out of America during the rock era. This song really makes a person think. I commend Bob for his courage in writing and performing this masterpiece. He's still going strong today.
How come nothing has happened since? This song is so old yet the people are still not standing up against the governments misstakes. I hope someone hears this song and thinks twce... Preferably a politician.
So Bob can be a happy man.
Powerful | Reviewer: Todd H. | 1/4/08
Absolutely one of the most powerful songs ever written. It's right up there with The Cure's How Beautiful You Are. This song truly should haunt you every time you hear it.
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