War Protest Song - Masters of War

WAR PROTEST SONG

Masters of War

-Bob Dylan

Artist Background

American singer Bob Dylan was born on May 24 1941 as Robert Zimmerman. His career skyrocketed in the 1960s as he published countless songs for civil rights and war protest. Appealing to the changing culture of his era, Dylan included political, social, and philosophical aspects in his songs. All in all, Dylan has been influencing music culture for over five decades.

Ability to Involve the Listener

Dylan's Masters of War aroused a massive emotional response from its listeners. It provoked a distaste for our government by revealing the harsh realities of war. Through this song, Dylan attempted to enlighten his audience by telling them that the leaders controlling our military ("the masters of war") are corrupted and only motivated by money, not protecting our soldiers.

"You want me to believe

But I see through your eyes"

"You lie and deceive"

Characterization

In conclusion, Bob Dylan's Masters of War was a bold protest song to the Cold War and the leaders whom made the important military decisions from inside the safety of their offices.

Dylan characterizes the government leaders as cowards hiding behind their desks as they send our soldiers out to their deaths. He also says that our leaders main motivation is money. By describing the selfish actions and motivations of our government, Dylan reveals many aspects of United States leaders that many would not expect.

Song Background

"You that hide behind desks"

"Then you sit back and watch

When the death count gets higher"

"You play with my world

Like it's your little toy"

Tone

In Masters of War, Bob Dylan sings with a very serious tone. He talks down on the government controlling our military. He manages to keep the song at a constant, mellow, sincere tone. The background music helps create a grim atmosphere. The shrill, eerie vocals of his song help emphasis the importance of his words. He also uses a repetitive guitar melody to help the listener focus in on the lyrics. Through his lyrics and background music, he seems to keep a level head. However, at the conclusion of the song his tone escalates into a more aggressive manner as he says he hopes the politicians and military profiteers die.

Lyrical Analysis

Dylan's Conclusion

"Masters of War" by Bob Dylan, was written in the winter of 1962-63. During the time of the release, the nation was stuck in a conflicting time period where many Americans didn't support the nations involvement in the cold war against the Soviet Union. It was published on Dylan's album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan". Dylan, a young artists being only 30, was one of the first to stand out and voice his opinion against the politicians and war profiteers. The song was a bold, direct protest to the Cold War that appealed to the cultures desire for change.

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.

Dylan concludes the song with a straight-forward and grim ending. He shows his genuine hatred for the leaders whom are making corrupt decisions by saying "I hope that you die... And I'll stand over your grave, Til I'm sure that you're dead".

Lyrical Analysis

Money Can't Buy Forgiveness

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.

Our leaders have made immoral, corrupt decisions in order to help only themselves and make money. Dylan is telling them that money can't buy forgiveness for the horrible things they have done.

Lyrical Analysis

UNFORGIVABLE

The decisions our leaders have made are thoughtless and unforgivable.

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.

Lyrical Analysis

Leaders Aren't Hurt by their Decisions.

Their soldiers are.

The government is content with sitting back and watching as their troops are murdered ("Then you sit back and watch

When the death count gets higher").

You fasten all the triggers

For the others to fire

Then you sit 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.

Lyrical Analysis

DECEIT

Lyrical Analysis

The leaders in charge of our military try to feed the citizens of the U.S. with lies.

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

War isn't a game

Lyrical Analysis

-Characterizes politicians as distrustful

-Begins to evoke emotion from listener

SONG INTRODUCTION

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.

The men in charge of the war

act as if war is a game. This explains when Dylan says, "You play with my world, Like its your little toy". Dylan views war as a matter that must be taken very seriously. He thinks military leaders should be more cautious with the lives of their

soldiers.

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.

Dylan is saying that political leaders hide in the safety of their offices as they send the U.S. soldiers out to risk their lives and do their dirty

work.

Characterizes the politicians as greedy cowards