(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding

Album: Armed Forces (1978)
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  • As I walk through
    This wicked world
    Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
    I ask myself

    Is all hope lost?
    Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
    And each time I feel like this inside,
    There's one thing I want to know:

    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
    And as I walked on
    Through troubled times

    My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
    So where are the strong
    And who are the trusted?
    And where is the harmony?

    Sweet harmony.
    'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me want to cry.
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

    So where are the strong?
    And who are the trusted?
    And where is the harmony?
    Sweet harmony.

    'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me want to cry.
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Piper from San FranciscoI always thought the lyrics were what so funny about pizza love and understanding, then I got the record and saw I was wrong, it made sense after that, and I guess nothing is really funny about it, it just is.
  • Steve from Chino Hills, CaCostello's albums don't really seem to have themes as much as they have moods. 'This year's model' is about inadequacy, relationships, frustrations. Armed Forces has a very harsh edge to it. It starts off with "Accidents will happen" , includes edgy songs like "Senior Service" then it winds into "Chemistry Class" which is from I can tell a jab at white aristocrats feelings of superiority and references the Holocaust "Are you ready for the final solution?" Then the second to last song leaves little doubt "Two little Hitlers." It's slow and methodical. Had the album ended here it would be too dark and too angry. "What's so funny bout peace love and understanding" powers the album out. It's really a brilliant set up, harsh dark songs with a powerful message about peace and unity surprise at the end. This is Costello's "Diary of Anne Frank" with the message at the end "I still believe people are really good at heart." Though it isn't spelled out with such optimistic praise it does hope for the best of mankind will help correct our shortcomings.
  • Fudster from Wellington, New ZealandRoyalty cheque for "Bodyguard" came through the post as a complete surprise, and gave him complete artistic freedom to set out on his current, country tip.
  • Bruno from Lima, PeruI prefer the Brinsley Schwarz original version, it's timeless; the Elvis Buddy Holly Costello is a new wave song with all the "Costello mannerisms". For me, the Brinsley Schwarz original is one of the definitive songs in rock and roll history; Nick Lowe deserves the heaven only for that version (well, and for "I love the sound of breaking glass" too)
  • John from Nashville, TnNick Lowe said that he made a mint with this song when it appeared on THE BODYGUARD soundtrack.
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