236 – Bob Dylan – Masters of war (1963)

Letra escrita por Bob Dylan sobre uma clássico popular da Folk Music chamada Nottamum Town. Gravada em 24 de abril de 1963 e lançada em 27 de maio de 1963, pela Columbia Records. A letra é um protesto contra a guerra fria. 

Dylan disse que nunca havia pensando assim, que nunca havia escrito uma canção que dizia que esperava que alguem morresse, mas disse que deixou assim mesmo pois era o sentimento que tinha e não ia mudar. 

Em 17 de janeiro de 1961, o presidente Dwight D. Eisenhower fez o seu discurso de despedida na Casa Branca. Nesse discurso, ele alertava que os americanos precisavam se proteger contra a aquisicao de influencia externa, vista ou não vista pelo completo militar industrial. Dylan disse que a música foi feita por causa desse discurso de Eisenhower. 

Dylan disse que a música é uma musica pacifista contra a guerra. Não é um canção anti-guerra. A cançao fala contra o que Eisenhower chama no discurso de Complexo Militar Industrial. Dylan disse que o espirido estava no ar, ele apenas pegou. 

Judy Collins gravou uma versao em 1963, Jose Feliciano em 1965, Barry McGuire em 1967, Cher em 1968, Leon Russel em 1970, Pearl Jam em 2004, entre outros artistas. 

A letra: 

Come you masters of war
You that build the big 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.

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you
Set back and watch

When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins.

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do.

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul.

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand over your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead.

Masters of war com Eddie Veder:



Masters of war com Barry McGuire:



Masters of war com Jose Feliciano: