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Masters of War by Bob Dylan was written in 1963.
Lyrics: Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the 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.
Analysis: 'Masters of War' by Bob Dylan is an anti-war song that speaks out against the US governments involvement in the Vietnam and Cold War. According to Bob Dylan the US government is to blame for sending all the troops to fight and having them killed instead of staying out of the fight overseas. Dylan's song indicates that the government has betrayed the American people and makes all the pro-war people who supported the sending of troops to fight feel guilty for all the death and destruction the war caused. Dylan uses the repetition of "you" throughout the song (ex. you that build all the bombs) to represent the US government when talking about all the wrong they have caused without thinking about the outcomes of their choices.
Credits:
Created with images by badosa - "Bob Dylan 001"