10 Greatest Anti-war Songs In Rock

10. War - Bruce Springsteen (1985)

No one can deliver a message quite like 'The Boss'. Originally this track was written by The Temptations and made famous by Edwin Starr. The later version is the most well known rendition and was an infectiously hard-hitting funk number with Starr giving one of the most soulful vocal deliveries of his life.

But, when Springsteen covered it he gave it that American-heartland rock edge. There was no word mincing with this track, there was no need for metaphor, no clever analogies. It simply denounced war utterly with the hook, "War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin'!"

Springsteen's live version was released as a single in 1985, going on to be a staple of his sets during the '80s. But Springsteen didn't overdo it, retiring the track for over a decade until the powers that be invaded Iraq in 2003.

Springsteen has never been one to bite his tongue and brought the song back with a vengeance, playing impassioned versions for several shows in protest against the American governments overseas involvement in the Middle East.