Speaking of the songs excerpted for the lyrics: "War" (what is it good for?) was first recorded by Edwin Starr circa late 60's/early 70's (anybody have a more specific date?) and Bruce Springsteen covered the song in '88 largely to spite the Reagan/Bush camp, I presume, for "co-opting" his song (as Bruce put it), "Born in the USA," out of context as a jingoistic rallying cry to gain their re-election on the votes of the defections of working-people in '84...this really pissed Bruce off by the way. "Born in the USA" was actually an anti-war anthem set against the Viet Nam War.