Masters of War

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

Bob Dylan

Replies

1. #1 On September 27, 2005 02:51 AM Rob L. said:

   Damn straight, Malarkey. A fine choice of tune to document tonight’s unveiling of No Direction Home, as well as the General State of Things in the World…

   By now, you’ve watched it and you’re probably fast asleep. Here in the US Central time zone, it’s on at this moment, but I can’t watch, for infant-daughter related reasons. At least my old-fashioned VCR (anyone remember those?) is soaking it up for later consumption.

2. #2 On September 27, 2005 03:53 AM andr3 said:

   Great tribute, Malarkey, and it’s so sadly accurate to the present time.

   Oh, so the documentary aired today? I just hope it gets to Portugal by some means… tv, movies, whatever… i want to see it badly.

   Molly, as you probably know, Eddie has performed this song time and time again on dozens of stages after that… echoing the immortal words of Dylan throughout the world.

3. #3 On September 27, 2005 04:08 AM nortypig said:

   Haha yet another vinyl LP I have in the garage! Man how did I get this old and responsible?!

   My favourite Dylan is Sara from the Desire album but I’m a way back fan.

4. #4 On September 27, 2005 09:05 AM Tim said:

   The greatest song writer that has ever walked this earth IMHO…

   Nice post Andy.

5. #5 On September 27, 2005 09:26 AM Mats Lindblad said:

   It’s soo sad that those words still are so true.

6. #6 On September 27, 2005 10:05 AM Robert Nyman said:

   Thanks for putting this up!

   Personally, I can’t wait too see Bob Dylan playing in Stockholm October 17th. :-D

7. #7 On September 27, 2005 03:12 PM Emil said:

   Dylan’s always been a favorite of mine, and this song is fantastic. Yet it doesn’t surpass the sheer brilliance that is A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, the song that proves that Dylan never wrote just protest songs. And to think that this song comes right ahead of Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right, possibly the most beautiful song ever written, and that Dylan was only 23 when he wrote it for his second album … How clear does that spell "genius" to you?

8. #8 On September 27, 2005 07:37 PM Matt Robin said:

   Bob who?

   (Just kidding!)
   And I was thinking…’Oh, how topical of you use this set of lyrics Andy,’

9. #9 On September 28, 2005 11:08 AM Rob Wilmshurst said:

   I was just singing that to myself. Strange.

   Don’t you just love ’it’s alright ma’?

10. #10 On September 28, 2005 10:01 PM luxuryluke said:

    chills.

11. #11 On September 28, 2005 10:04 PM Maaike said:

    Great song. I also like the cover version by New York band Timesbold.