Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?)

Album: One World (1986)
Play Video
  • I am the son of a grassland farmer,
    Western Oklahoma, nineteen forty-three.
    I always felt grateful to live in the land of the free.
    I gave up my father to South Korea,
    The mind of my brother to Vietnam,
    Now there's a banker who says I must give up my land.
    There are four generations of blood in this topsoil,
    Four generations of love on this farm.
    Before I give up, I would gladly give up my right arm.

    What are we making weapons for?
    Why keep on feeding the war machine?
    We take it right out of the mouths of our babies,
    Take it away from the hands of the poor,
    Tell me, what are we making weapons for?

    I had a son and my son was a soldier,
    He was so like my father, he was so much like me.
    To be a good comrade was the best that he dreamed he could be.
    He gave up his future to revolution,
    His life to a battle that just can't be won.
    For this is not living, to live at the point of a gun.
    I remember the nine hundred days of Leningrad,
    The sound of the dying, the cut of the cold,
    I remember the moments, I prayed I would never grow old.

    What are we making weapons for?
    Why keep on feeding the war machine?
    We take it right out of the mouths of our babies,
    Take it away from the hands of the poor,
    Tell me, what are we making weapons for?

    For the first time in my life I feel like a prisoner,
    A slave to the ways of the powers that be.
    And I fear for my children, as I fear for the future I see.
    Tell me how can it be we're still fighting each other?
    What does it take for a people to learn?
    If our song is not sung as a chorus, we surely will burn.

    What are we making weapons for? Why keep on feeding the war machine?
    We take it right out of the mouths of our babies,
    Take it away from the hands of the poor, tell me Writer/s: JOHN DENVER
    Publisher: Alfred, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 30, 1986, Variety magazine reported that RCA had dropped John Denver from its roster after the release of his single, "Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?)"...
    The Variety article stated that the song upset the record company's new owner, General Electric, one of the largest defense contractors in the US...
    "Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?)" was track five on side one from his nineteenth studio album, 'One World'...
    John Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., passed away at the young age of 53 on October 12th, 1997 (plane crash}...
    May he R.I.P.
  • James from Minna, NigeriaA man of love peace and friendship....what are we really making weapons for?
  • Simone from Bellaire, MiHe was such a pure man. Able to feel so much and write it into beautiful words. I wish I had know him, but he lives on through his songs.
  • Bill from Queens, NySo much killing and hatred on tiny planet in an infinite universe. Why?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.