# What's the intention of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 18, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622 "2022-05-18T16:12:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/1 "2022-05-18T16:12:02Z")
I love this song. I think it’s the best thing both Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello have ever done, the best song Lowe has ever written and produced (for EC), and the best recording EC and the Attractions have ever made. But I could never work out if the lyrics are to be taken at face value or if they are ironical. Just reading the lyrics, you have to assume that it’s a straightforward plea for typical ideals the hippies held, but you can’t be sure with people like Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. Brinsley Schwarz, Lowe’s band he first recorded it with in 1974, was an important part of the British pub rock scene, a scene that explicitly went against the extravaganzas of the hippies and their music, and it was the precursor of the punk and new wave movement that followed which was even more anti-hippie. Apart from that, it’s hard to name two songwriters more cynical and sarcastic than Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello, EC was THE angry young man of new wave. So, what did they want to express with this song: to be taken at face value (and thus confusing their fan base? EC is known to be fond of “biting the hand that feeds him”), a parody of the hippie stance or something else I haven’t figured out yet? Or is it just meant to be ambiguous and confuse guys like me? For completion, here are both versions: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1J1CfXFlI4c/hqdefault.jpg "Brinsley Schwarz - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J1CfXFlI4c) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KCGlwx3L-Xk/hqdefault.jpg "Elvis Costello - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCGlwx3L-Xk) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/2 "2022-05-18T16:20:52Z")
My opinion is that it’s meant to be taken at face value. I feel they were saying that there are some things in life that you shouldn’t be cynical or ironic about. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/3 "2022-05-18T16:34:53Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Just reading the lyrics, you have to assume that it’s a straightforward plea for typical ideals the hippies held Just reading the **title** , you might assume this, but pretty much all the rest of the lyrics besides the title line are pretty pessimistic and desperate. I think it’s significant that the song is the album closer on Costello’s _Armed Forces_. It could be seen as a reaction to or reflection on the themes of the album. And if you’re going to be sincere, the last song on the album is the place to do it. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/4 "2022-05-18T16:36:38Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Just reading the **title** , you might assume this, but pretty much all the rest of the lyrics besides the title line are pretty pessimistic and desperate. Yes, the verses ARE pessimistic, but lament the lack of the ideals the chorus names, so the whole song sounds like a plea to follow those ideals. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/5 "2022-05-18T16:36:41Z")
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 and understanding? Oh What’s so funny 'bout peace love and understanding? ~~snipped excess lyrics~~ Source: [Musixmatch](https://www.musixmatch.com/) Songwriters: Lowe Nick / Lowe Nicholas Drain (What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding lyrics © Plangent Visions Music Ltd. Not cynical or ironic, sez I. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/6 "2022-05-18T16:39:52Z")
I love the song too. I assume you’ve heard Lowe’s sublime toned-down version? [Nick Lowe - (What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Live on 89.3 The Current) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy3LpV0THB0&ab_channel=TheCurrent) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/7 "2022-05-18T16:40:50Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Yes, the verses ARE pessimistic, but lament the lack of the ideals the chorus names, so the whole song sounds like a plea to follow those ideals. Yes, that or a lament that nobody seems to follow or even believe in those ideals anymore. Which makes me think the song is to be taken at face value. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/8 "2022-05-18T16:47:18Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I think it’s significant that the song is the album closer on Costello’s _Armed Forces_ . It could be seen as a reaction to or reflection on the themes of the album. And if you’re going to be sincere, the last song on the album is the place to do it. Was it even on the first editions of the album? The EC version first came out as a B side on Lowe’s single “American Squirm” and AFAIK was only later added as a bonus track to the album. Maybe that differed between the UK and American editions. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/9 "2022-05-18T16:49:52Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Maybe that differed between the UK and American editions. I guess you’re right. I was only familiar with the American version of the album. Wikipedia says > [@](#): > > The American release omitted “Sunday’s Best” and added Costello’s cover of Lowe’s “[(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(What%27s_So_Funny_%27Bout)_Peace,_Love,_and_Understanding)” as the side two closer.[[41]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_(album)#cite_note-FOOTNOTESt._Michael198644%E2%80%9352-42)[[49]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_(album)#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHinton1999435-50) Following the 1993 reissue, “(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” was added as the album’s final track.[[14]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_(album)#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBruno20057%E2%80%9311-15)[[22]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_(album)#cite_note-UDM-23) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/10 "2022-05-18T16:54:55Z")
**Modnote** : I snipped out most of the lyrics. It exceeded fair use by quite an amount. Please be careful to post copyrighted material in excess of fair use. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/11 "2022-05-18T18:49:23Z")
What’s so funny about an insane Omega-level reality warper? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7niEY7h5Q2c/maxresdefault.jpg "Legion | Season 3 Ep. 5: Peace, Love and Understanding Highlight | FX") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7niEY7h5Q2c) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/12 "2022-05-18T18:56:08Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Just reading the lyrics, you have to assume that it’s a straightforward plea for typical ideals the hippies held, but you can’t be sure with people like Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello… it’s hard to name two songwriters more cynical and sarcastic than Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello, EC was THE angry young man of new wave. Another vote for ‘straightforward plea, to be taken at face value’. No matter how cynical and angry you are, you can’t be cynical and angry about _ **everything** _. There have to be some values you uphold unironically, unless you’re just a jerk masquerading as a hip, cynical angry musician. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/13 "2022-05-18T19:06:26Z")
Hmm. I see that Elvis is going to be playing in Toronto the day after my birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/14 "2022-05-18T20:27:29Z")
And another vote for straightforward plea. I’m not in a position to check at the moment, but by way of adding just something material, I believe the original B-side is credited to Nick Lowe And His Sound. j ETA: BTW, interesting question EH. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/15 "2022-05-18T20:30:19Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > I’m not in a position to check at the moment, but by way of adding just something material, I believe the original B-side is credited to Nick Lowe And His Sound. Yeah, that’s true, I earlier read the wiki page for the song and it was mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/16 "2022-05-18T22:17:27Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > the extravaganzas of the hippies I think I may have attended some of these, but it’s hard to remember. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/17 "2022-05-18T22:24:41Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Yes, that or a lament that nobody seems to follow or even believe in those ideals anymore. Which makes me think the song is to be taken at face value. Agree with **Thudlow**. I think it’s to be taken at face value, but I don’t see it as a plea to follow these ideals. No where does he say we should have more PL&U, it’s just a cynical commentary that these ideals are treated like a joke. I challenge anyone to point to a single line that has any hint of hope. [[full lyrics here]](https://genius.com/Elvis-costello-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding-lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/18 "2022-05-19T00:04:32Z")
I love the drum fill at 3:23-3:26. I try to copy it air drumming (and once on my kid’s real set), and I mess up every time. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/19 "2022-05-19T01:47:46Z")
In the man’s own words…. There’s more at the link: > **[Where is the Harmony?: Nick Lowe’s ‘What’s So Funny (’bout Peace, Love and...](https://writingonmusic.com/2017/09/17/where-is-the-harmony-nick-lowes-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/)** > > (originally appeared in Shindig! issue 69) The world currently seems to be descending into an abyss of alternative facts, ruled over by a terrifyingly ignorant spray-tanned buffoon with access to n… > Lowe has described ‘Peace, Love and Understanding’ as “the first actual original [song] idea that I had”. He wrote it at a time when “a mass of hippies were leaving the cult in droves and rediscovering booze, alcohol, amphetamine and, I suppose, cocaine. There was this new cynicism.” He placed himself into that category, and thus the song took “the point of view of an old hippie, seeing his commune leaving and starting to cut their hair and make fun of him. And he was saying, ‘You can laugh at me all you like, but what’s so funny about peace, love and understanding? You can’t argue with it.’” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622/20 "2022-05-19T02:43:07Z")
I didn’t know this was an older song. The first time I heard it was on the Colbert Christmas Special - A Colbert Christmas : The Greatest Gift of All! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-intention-of-whats-so-funny-bout-peace-love-and-understanding/964622.md?page=2)