[2026] Anti-war songs in Western music. Songs that wish for peace.

Voice of a ChildEric Clapton

Eric Clapton – Voice Of A Child (Official Music Video)

This instrumental piece was performed by British guitarist Eric Clapton, born from a heartfelt desire to save the children suffering in the Gaza Strip.

The track opens the live album “To Save a Child: An Intimate Live Concert,” which captures a charity performance held in December 2023.

Though there are no lyrics, the plaintive guitar melody, woven note by note, embodies the inexpressible cries of the children.

It reminds us, deep in our hearts, that the tragedies unfolding in a distant land are by no means someone else’s problem.

Precisely because we live in peaceful everyday circumstances, why not listen to this work and use it as an opportunity to consider what we ourselves can do?

EpiphanyTaylor Swift

Taylor Swift – epiphany (Official Lyric Video)

Taylor Swift sings with empathy for those on the front lines of war and the pandemic.

Featured on the album Folklore, released in July 2020 by the American artist, this work weaves a sweeping narrative that overlays her grandfather’s experiences in World War II with the fight of healthcare workers against COVID-19.

With the aura of a sacred hymn, her ethereal vocals pierce the heart.

This song, which gives voice to the anguish and hope of people living through difficult times, will resonate with all who yearn for peace.

Bajo los EscombrosResidente, Amal Murkus

Residente, Amal Murkus – Bajo los escombros (Live Session)

The prayer-like singing that echoes from beneath the rubble makes my chest tighten.

Created by Puerto Rican rapper Residente together with Palestinian singer Amal Murkus, this work is nothing short of a cry from the soul.

Amal Murkus is an activist who continues to advocate for peace and rights through culture.

In this song, Residente’s accusatory rap intersects with Murkus’s Arabic vocals, as if singing of the anguish of people whose everyday lives have been stolen by bombings and their love for their homeland.

Included on the album “Las Letras Ya No Importan,” released in February 2024, the track was postponed from its original release date in response to the humanitarian crisis.

On nights when you feel powerless in the face of events in distant countries, why not listen quietly, alone?

Before & AfterAdnan Joubran

BEFORE & AFTER Official clip

Everyday life lost to war, and yet hope still played as if in prayer.

This is the sonic landscape painted by Adnan Joubran, an oud player from Palestine.

Born into a musical family spanning four generations, his attempt in this piece was to weave in the sounds of Gaza before its destruction, along with the voices of children.

The gentle echoes of days gone by overlap with the mournful timbre of the oud, confronting us with the question of what has been lost.

Released on October 6, 2024, the work carries his searing message.

Rather than dismissing it as a distant country’s affair, why not listen when you wish to reflect on the lives that undeniably existed there and contemplate the true meaning of peace?

Palestine Will RiseAbe Batshon, Samer & Sammy Shiblaq

Palestine Will Rise by Abe Batshon, Samer & Sammy Shiblaq

This is a track by U.S.-based Palestinian artists Abe Batshon, Sameer, and Sami Siblak.

Set to a powerful hip-hop beat, it’s a protest song infused with solidarity for their homeland and a prayer for peace, portraying a refusal to yield to senseless violence and a fierce cry for their very existence.

Released in February 2024, the work continues the message Abe Batshon has voiced in pieces like “Free Palestine.” Faced with tragedies unfolding far away, it’s easy to feel powerless.

But listening to their soul-stirring cry is surely not in vain.

Instead of thinking it has nothing to do with you, why not lean in and truly hear their voices?