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 wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/e/elvis_costello/whats_so_funny_bout_peace_love_and_understanding.html ]
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 wanna 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 wanna 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?
This one was written by nick lowe and recorded with his old band brinley schwarz. The costello version is catchiest but the song's a lot more versatile than his version as costello and lowe have played a slower version live (not to mention bill murray in lost in translation).
Like a lot of lowe's lyrics, this song delves into sadness but the lyrics mean something different depending on the singer. Most singers (like elvis costello) treat the lyrics from a righteous pov (why can't this cruel world be better! ) but i think bill murray taps into nick lowe's dark humor best. This isn't a soul song like 'what's going on' - it's an intentionally overwrought view on the world (really who would say "is there only pain, hatred, and misery? "). It's righteous conviction done with tongue-firmly in cheek.