[2025] Anti-war songs in Western music: Songs that pray for peace

As of 2025, there is still no prospect for resolving the situation in Ukraine, and since October 2023, armed clashes between Israel and Gaza have erupted, plunging the world into continued turmoil.

In this article, we’ve compiled a selection of overseas anti-war songs that will move listeners emotionally—precisely the kind of music we want you to hear in times like these—spanning different eras and genres.

Please listen while checking the parallel translations and such—the messages each artist has imbued in their work, from heartfelt wishes for peace to, at times, stern denunciations of those in power.

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Playlist

[2025] Anti-war songs in Western music: Songs that pray for peace
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	RajieenMultiple artists		Middle Eastern artists sing of hardship and return
2	Over JerusalemJethro Tull		Singing of hope for peace beyond the pain of history
3	War Isn’t MurderJesse Welles		A Provocative Question from a Minstrel Born on Social Media
4	من النهر (From the River)Ethel Cain		Prayers for Palestine, a song of quiet rage
5	Hind’s HallMacklemore		A protest song bearing a girl's name confronts injustice around the world
6	Gaza Is CallingMustafa		A tale of childhood friendship torn apart by violence
7	Noam’s Song 2Maor Ashkenazi & Noam Cohen		The tragedy and hope of a shootout conveyed through music
8	Funeral for JusticeMdou Moctar		Guitarist of the Sahara denounces injustice
9	Bajo los EscombrosResidente, Amal Murkus		A soul’s cry singing the suffering of Palestine
10	Deira (ft. MC Abdul)Saint Levant		Songs of memory and resistance in Palestine
11	War is a GodJesse Welles		A singer from Arkansas sings questions about the conflict.
12	On This Land (feat. SOL Band)Saint Levant		A powerful work that expresses Gaza’s suffering and hope through music
13	Palestine Will RiseAbe Batshon, Samer & Sammy Shiblaq		A Palestinian artist’s song of prayer for peace
14	Before & AfterAdnan Joubran		The pain of war, the sound of lost everyday life and hope
15	Voice of a ChildEric Clapton		A song filled with feelings for the children of Gaza
16	Against the WarBeans on Toast		A folk song protesting the war in Ukraine
17	EpiphanyTaylor Swift		A classic song that sings of empathy for war and infectious diseases
18	Song for the Houthi ArmyDavid Rovics		David Rovics's anti-war song
19	Home BackJINJER		An anti-war song by a Ukrainian metal band
20	TANGOTananai		A wish for peace, moved by the Sanremo Music Festival
21	Holy WarAlicia Keys		Alicia Keys' anti-war message song
22	RussiansSting		Sting’s anti-war song “Russians” is profound.
23	ImagineJohn Lennon		A song of hope that imagines peace and eliminates conflict
24	Wake Me Up (When This Nightmare’s Over)Simple Plan		Song of the Simple Plan’s Wish for Peace
25	We Want PeaceEmmanuel Jal		An artist from South Sudan who conveys the tragedies of war
26	We Are The WorldUSA For Africa		Artists join forces to sing for peace
27	What’s Going OnMarvin Gaye		An R&B classic that stands up to war and discrimination
28	Happy Xmas (War Is Over)John Lennon & Yoko Ono		A Christmas song imbued with prayers for peace
29	What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong		A wish for a beautiful world and a hope for peace
30	Wavin’ FlagK’NAAN		An inspiring theme song by a Somali rapper
31	Waiting On the World to ChangeJohn Mayer		A song that wishes for a peaceful world without conflict
32	All You Need is LoveThe Beatles		Love is everything—the power to change the world.
33	After the GardenNeil Young		A folk rock song opposing the Iraq War
34	Why Can’t We Live TogetherSade		An anti-war song imbued with a wish for a world without conflict
35	Where Is The Love?The Black Eyed Peas		To eliminate conflict, love and understanding are essential.
36	LeningradBilly Joel		A friendship story imbued with an anti-war message
37	Back to the WorldCurtis Mayfield		An anti-war song that conveys the tragedy of the Vietnam War
38	Hero Of WarRise Against		A representative band of melodic hardcore
39	What If There Were No Sides At AllBryan Adams		With an anti-war song, imbued with a wish for peace
40	Masters of WarBob Dylan		An anti-war song criticizing war, a prayer for peace
41	Heal The WorldMichael Jackson		Michael's pure heart that wishes for peace
42	Good PeopleJack Johnson		Aspiring for peace through songs that look at society
43	The War SongCulture Club		Culture Club's anti-war message song
44	Nobody Wins A WarRaheem DeVaughn		There are no winners in war, a song wishing for peace.
45	It’s a MistakeMen At Work		An anti-war song that decries the folly of war, still unfaded today
46	Hammer To FallQueen		Queen's classic song themed around nuclear war
47	Harry Patch (In Memory Of)Radiohead		Radiohead’s anti-war song expresses the horrors of war.
48	Killing StrangersMarilyn Manson		The John Wick OST track expresses the sorrow of war.
49	ZombieThe Cranberries		An anti-war song conveying the tragedy of war, a prayer for peace
50	Too Young To DieJamiroquai		Jamiroquai's anti-war debut single reaches No. 10 in the UK
51	One DayMatisyahu		A moving song filled with hope for peace
52	WatergunRemo Forrer		An anti-war song that prays for peace, a cry that resonates around the world
53	Walk On (Ukraine)U2		A song about peace included on U2's new album
54	Anti Establishment ManREO Speed Wagon		An early rock song imbued with an anti-war message
55	Blowin’ in the WindBob Dylan		The essence of anti-war songs that confronted social issues
56	Peace SellsMegadeth		Megadeth’s anti-war song sharply depicts the international situation.
57	Love Is Still the AnswerJason Mraz		The answer to sorrow and conflict is “love.”
58	Fortunate SonCreedence Clearwater Revival		Anti-war message against the Vietnam War
59	Where have all the flowers gone?Pete Seeger		A peace song with an anti-war message
60	The Longest DayIron Maiden		An Iron Maiden song that depicts the Normandy landings
61	People Have the PowerPatti Smith		The power of the queen of punk to sing about democracy
62	Square DanceEminem		Eminem’s groundbreaking album “The Eminem Show”
63	Hey Hey Rise Up (feat. Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox)Pink Floyd		Pink Floyd supports Ukraine under wartime conditions
64	Boom!System Of A Down		System of a Down’s anti-war song
65	United Strike BackGogol Bordello & Friends		Anti-war, a charity song in support of Ukraine
66	Dance On GasolineMåneskin		Måneskin’s song of anger and hope against war
67	What Are You Fighting ForPHIL OCHS		Phil Ochs, the legendary folk singer with an anti-war message
68	I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die RagCountry Joe and the Fish		Signature song of a psychedelic rock band with an anti-war message
69	OneMetallica		Portraying anti-war themes in Metallica’s classic song “One”
70	Put Down That WeaponMidnight Oil		A classic masterpiece appealing for peace, calling for nuclear disarmament.
71	Games Without FrontiersPeter Gabriel		Peter Gabriel’s anti-war song “Games Without Frontiers”
72	Bulls on ParadeRage Against The Machine		A classic song infused with Rage’s anti-war message
73	Empty WallsSerj Tankian		Serj's 'Empty Walls' calls for peace
74	WarEdwin Starr		The anti-war song “War” appeals to the senselessness of war.
75	Mama ŠČ!Let 3		A Croatian band’s song calling for peace
76	Gimme ShelterThe Rolling Stones		A song that fiercely condemns the Vietnam War
77	CrushedImagine Dragons		Imagine Dragons' anti-war music video
78	Hands Held HighLinkin Park		Linkin Park’s soul-stirring masterpiece
79	GASOLINEMåneskin		“GASOLINE,” a cry for peace and freedom
80	B.Y.O.BSystem Of A Down		Anger at the Iraq War and a Wish for Peace
81	Devils & DustBruce Springsteen		Bruce Springsteen's anti-war classic
82	Can’t Happen HereAtreyu		Atreyu’s sharp perspective on society and their music
83	War PigsBlack Sabbath		An anti-war song that decries the absurdity of war
84	WarBob Marley		Bob Marley, a musician who sought peace
85	MoshEminem		The Power of Eminem’s Anti-War Single “Mosh”
86	Break AwayFIREWIND		A moving anti-war song by a Greek band
87	Wrong Side of HeavenFive Finger Death Punch		Depicting the anguish of veterans and the conflicts of war
88	White Flag Warrior (ft. Tim McIlrath)Flobots		Introduce a Flobots anti-war message song
89	Stories of a HeroFrank Marino		A moving musical piece that portrays the sorrow of war and its heroes
90	Saigon BrideJoan Baez		Antiwar singing voices call for peace
91	Army DreamersKate Bush		A timeless anthem of peace that sings of the sorrow of war
92	AusgebombtSodom		An anti-war metal song that appeals to the futility of war
93	FREEDOMTVORCHI		Tvorchi’s powerful music paints a picture of hope
94	RevivalThe Allman Brothers Band		Southern rock masterpiece: music of love and hope
95	Eve Of DestructionBarry McGuire		‘Eve Of Destruction’ with an anti-war message
96	Peace Just Wanted To Be FreeLuciano Pavarotti · Stevie Wonder		An anti-war song for Pavarotti resonates with the heart
97	TrenchesJohn Mayall & The Bluesbreakers		A musical work depicting the tragedy of war