10 Greatest Anti-war Songs In Rock
2. War Pigs - Black Sabbath (1970)
This was one hell of a way to open up an album. War Pigs didn't pull any punches. Musically speaking it's a track that reverberates your very core. The heavy hum of Tony Iommi's guitar coupled with Bill Ward's drumming awakens a deep primal sense of excitement whenever it's heard.
The band has disagreed as to the origins of the lyrics over the years, however. Geezer Butler maintained that the song was directly written in opposition to the Vietnam War, particularly as a reaction to the draft, when young men would be called up and had no other choice but to partake in a war they may or may not support.
With lyrics such as "Politicians hide themselves away. They only started the war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor" his explanation would make sense, but the sentiment could also be applicable to any war.
Ozzy Osbourne, on the other hand, has stated the song was merely a protest against war in general, going on to say he didn't know anything about Vietnam at the time of writing it. But then again, Ozzy isn't the most reliable of source, he didn't know much about anything at that time...