Song Analysis: War, by Edwin Starr. by Christy Schirmer

2025-08-29 17:06:01 UTC

We should not go to war in times of conflict

uses a crescendo during chorus to emphasize that war is good for absolutely nothing

2025-08-29 17:06:07 UTC

2025-08-29 17:06:12 UTC

War is destructive and takes away the lives of innocent people

2025-08-29 17:06:35 UTC

Starr’s main argument is that war is pointless.

2025-08-29 17:06:36 UTC

There is discord between the notes. This can be due to the fact that this is supposed to symbolize what war really is since there isn’t any harmony with war.

2025-08-29 17:06:47 UTC

The backing to the music is very loud and somewhat unruly which emphasizes how he sees war. There are crescendos during the chorus which is also meant to fortify his claim. During the verses of the song there are discords while he describes the suffering that is war.

2025-08-29 17:07:01 UTC

parallel structure

2025-08-29 17:07:03 UTC

The sub-claims used to support his argument are repeating how war is good for absolutely nothing, as well as saying how innocent lives are being taken for no beneficial reason.

He uses a lot of repetition to convey to the people listening that war just causes destruction.

2025-08-29 17:07:09 UTC

2025-08-29 17:07:17 UTC

Devices that he uses to emphasize these points are repetition, metaphors, and hyperboles, as well as pathos and logos.

2025-08-29 17:07:27 UTC

Repetition of war being good for absolutely nothing emphasizes his claim

2025-08-29 17:07:29 UTC

War is the real enemy because it causes for the destruction of things, places, and people.

War harms innocent people.

2025-08-29 17:07:37 UTC

2025-08-29 17:07:49 UTC

The crescendos are used whenever the phrase “What is it good for?” comes on. This is emphasizes Starr's argument that war does more harm than good.

2025-08-29 17:07:57 UTC

Starr’s main argument is that war is is pointless, noting that many people suffer after losing their loved ones.

2025-08-29 17:08:02 UTC

He talks about how people can lose family members, how war only takes lives,

2025-08-29 17:08:08 UTC

War shatters dreams and is likely to leave soldiers dead or disabled.

2025-08-29 17:08:27 UTC

He uses repetition constantly and consistently after each of his claims and reasonings he is sure to repeat the same questions over and over to ensure that the listener’s opinion is being persuaded by his words.

2025-08-29 17:08:36 UTC

Starr’s main argument is that war brings nothing good and its just bad in general.

war not only could affect those involved but could also affect those who aren't. causing the loss of many lives even innocent ones.

2025-08-29 17:08:45 UTC

2025-08-29 17:08:50 UTC

Sub-claims include, War causes sorrow, death, and destruction for no real solution.

28acerda — 2025-08-29 17:09:18 UTC

Starr uses repetition to emphasize how war can only lead to death.

2025-08-29 17:09:43 UTC

He uses a lot of repetition to emphasize on how war is not good and to catch the listeners attention.

2025-08-29 17:09:46 UTC

One sub-claim is that war is pointless and sheds blood of innocent lives.

2025-08-29 17:09:46 UTC

Using repetition to get his message across and emphasize that war is not good and beneficial for anyone.

2025-08-29 17:10:12 UTC

There is use of repetition in the song to highlight the real message that war is good for nothing, there is also uses of pathos to win the listener over by emotion of losing things.

2025-08-29 17:10:20 UTC

Starr wrote this song during midst of the Vietnam war, so his claim that war only takes is significantly supported by the audience of his time that were also on his side.

He uses the sub-claim of innocent lives being taken in war to support his argument.

2025-08-29 17:10:29 UTC

2025-08-29 17:11:00 UTC

Even though the song is catchy, its lyrics are discord. But the mood makes the audience feel enthusiastic.

Starr’s main argument is that we need to stop war and that it is pointless.

2025-08-29 17:11:10 UTC

2025-08-29 17:11:50 UTC

Innocent lives are being loss and there is no benefit.