“Song of War”: A classic that sings of the tragedy and folly of war
Songs of war that are etched deeply into the human heart.
Within those voices lie prayers for peace, love for family, and memories that should be passed down across generations.
Living in the present, we can reflect anew on the horrors of war and the preciousness of peace through these songs.
In this article, we introduce moving songs themed around “war” that have left their mark on the history of Japanese music.
Shall we take a fresh look—through music—at the importance of a peaceful, conflict-free everyday life that we must protect?
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[War Songs] Masterpieces that sing of the tragedy and folly of war (51–60)
Army DreamersKate Bush
Kate Bush, a singer from England who was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2013.
“Army Dreamers,” included on her 1980 release Never for Ever, is a song about people who went to war as soldiers.
Its poignant melody unfolds in a waltz-like rhythm.
Her clear, translucent voice conveys a sincere feeling toward the soldiers.
It is a song that depicts the tragedy of war—something that must never happen again.
Heaven Help Us AllStevie Wonder
Speaking of Stevie Wonder, he is well known as someone who is actively involved in peace work, such as being appointed a UN Peace Ambassador.
This song expresses Stevie Wonder’s strong wish for world peace.
Throughout the piece, it conveys a prayer that people suffering around the world will be saved, and because the portrayal of those who suffer is so concrete, it may prompt listeners to turn their eyes to the world.
Along with learning about the sorrow overflowing in the world, the song also carries a warmth that makes you want to hope for a peaceful world.
Down by the RiversideMahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson, a gospel singer who also took part in movements calling for the elimination of racial discrimination, performed “Down by the Riverside.” Known as the “Queen of Gospel,” she sings in this song with a powerful conviction: I don’t want war, not at all! Its lively gospel melody and her passionate vocals deliver a message that is sure to resonate deeply with listeners.
Calling on people to lay down their weapons, change their clothes, and come together to pray for peace, the song sends a strong message to a world that never seems free of conflict.
A world without tomorrowRC sakuseshon
RC Succession’s “Eve of Destruction” is a song that boldly tackles the harsh theme of the realities of war.
It’s a cover of the track released in 1965 by American singer-songwriter Barry McGuire.
The song draws distant conflicts closer to the listener, engraving a sense of the looming threat of war—something we rarely have the chance to truly feel—and speaks to the terrifying ways war destroys individual lives.
The raw, true-to-Kiyoshiro Imawano wording pierces straight through, doesn’t it?
[War Songs] Masterpieces that sing of the tragedy and folly of war (61–70)
BeginnersSogabe Keiichi
A song by singer-songwriter Keiichi Sokabe, who is also energetically active in numerous bands such as Keiichi Sokabe BAND, which bears his own name, and Sunny Day Service.
Released on Sunny Day Service’s YouTube channel in February 2022, the track delivers shockingly vivid lyrics that make scenes often regarded in Japan as distant, foreign events feel real.
Its floating melody and subtly rhymed, suggestive lyrics may leave you with an indescribable sensation, as if suspended between dream and reality.
With few words, it precisely sketches the landscapes revealed by conflict—a song that makes it impossible to listen without wishing for peace.
In the country where Hiroshima isYamamoto Satoshi
Many of you may have learned the song “In the Country Where Hiroshima Is” at school.
It is a precious piece that preserves the tragedy and sorrow of that day through music.
Japan is the only country in the world to have suffered atomic bombings.
Living in such a country, it reminds us that there is history we must never forget.
AGO!GO!7188
Amid an upbeat, lively sound, a dark atmosphere lingers—this is a hidden gem by GO!GO!7188.
The lyrics depict a very grim theme, expressing the senseless, unrewarded death that strikes without warning throughout the piece.
It feels like the lament of someone caught up in conflict, spilling out the thoughts that flashed through their mind at the sudden moment of death.
The portrayal of a chain of sorrow that doesn’t end with a single person’s death weighs heavily on the heart.