War chords by Edwin Starr (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Chorus 1
Ebm 
Gb 
Ebm 
(War!) Huh! Yeah! (What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Absolutely (nothin!) uh-huh, uh-huh
Ebm 
Gb 
Ebm 
(War!) Huh! Yeah! (What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Absolutely (nothin!) Say it again, y'all
Ebm 
Gb 
Ebm 
(War!) Huh! Look out... (What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Absolutely (nothin!) listen to me, oh

Verse 1
Ebm 
Db 
Ebm 
(War!) I despise
'Cause it means destruction
Db 
Ebm 
of innocent lives
War means tears
Db 
Ebm 
to thousands of mother's eyes
When their sons go off to fight
Db 
Ebm 
And lose their lives I said,

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Chorus 2

Ebm

(War!) Huh! Good God, y'all!

Ebm

(What is it good for?)

Absolutely (nothin!) Just say it again

Ebm

(War!) Huh! Oh, Lord (What is it good for?)

Absolutely (nothin!) Listen to me!

Ebm

(War!) It ain't nothing but a heart-breaker

Ebm

(War!) Friend only to the undertaker oh

Verse 2
Ebm 
Db 
Ebm 
War!  it's an enemy to all mankind
Db 
Ebm 
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Db 
Ebm 
Within the younger genera  tion
Induction, then destruction
Db 
Ebm 
Who wants to die? Oh!

Chorus 3
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) Good God, y'all!
Ebm 
(What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Absolutely (nothin!) Say it, say it, say it!
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) Uh- huh, yeah, huh!
Ebm 
(What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Absolutely (nothin!) Listen to me!
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) It ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) It got one friend,

Verse 3
that's the undertaker oh
Ebm 
War   has shattered
Db 
Ebm 
many a young man's dreams
Db 
Ebm 
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious
Db 
Ebm 
To spend fighting wars each day
War can't give life
Db 
Ebm 
It can only take it away, oh

Chorus 4
Ebm 
Gb 
War!  (Huh!) Good God, y'all
Ebm 
(What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Absolutely (nothin!) Say it again
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) Woah (huh) woah, oh Lord
Ebm 
(What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Uh, Absolutely (nothin!) Listen to me!
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) It ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) Friend only  to the undertaker oh

Verse 4
Ebm 
Peace, love and understanding,
Db 
Ebm 
tell me
Db 
Ebm 
Is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight
Db 
Ebm 
to keep our freedom,
But Lord knows there's got to be
Db 
Ebm 
a better way, oh

Chorus 5
Ebm 
Gb 
War!  God, y'all
Ebm 
(What is it good  for?)
Gb 
You tell 'em! (nothin!)
Say it, say it, say it, say it!
Ebm 
Gb 
(War!) Good God, yeah huh!
Ebm 
(What is it good  for?)
Gb 
Stand up and shout it! (nothin!)
[Fade out]

1970R&B

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GuitarPianoUkulele

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: EasyKey: Eb minorBPM: 108

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

Ebm: x-6-8-8-7-x
Gb: 2-4-4-3-2-2
Db: x-4-6-6-6-x

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of War by Edwin Starr, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of Eb minor. It suits players who want to learn War the way Edwin Starr intended, without oversimplifying the arrangement.