Poem analysis

Capital G- Nine-inch nails - 2007

I pushed the button and elected him to office and
He pushed the button and he dropped the bomb
You pushed the button and could watch it on the television
Those motherfuckers didn't last too long
I'm sick of hearing 'bout the have's and have-not's
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we've been doing things is
The more we let you have, the less that I'll be keeping for me
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
Don't give a shit about the temperature in Guatemala
Don't really see what all the fuss is about
Ain't gonna worry about no future generations and I
Am sure somebody's gonna figure it out
Don't try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person
You haven't had enough to know what it's like
You're only angry 'cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head because you know that I'm right, all right!
Well, I used to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There's a lot of me inside you
Maybe you're afraid to see
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G
Well, I used to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There's a lot of me inside you
Maybe you're afraid to see
Well, I used to stand for something
Now I'm on my hands and knees
Traded in my god for this one
And he signs his name with a capital G

War - Bob Marley - 1976

Until the philosophy which hold one race superior
And another
Inferior
Is finally
And permanently
Discredited
And abandoned
Everywhere is war
Me say war.

That until there no longer

First class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war.

That until the basic human rights

Are equally guaranteed to all,
Without regard to race
Dis a war.

That until that day

The dream of lasting peace,
World citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued,
But never attained
Now everywhere is war - war.

And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes

That hold our brothers in Angola,
In Mozambique,
South Africa
Sub-human bondage
Have been toppled,
Utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war
Me say war.

War in the east,

War in the west,
War up north,
War down south
War - war
Rumours of war.
And until that day,
The African continent
Will not know peace,
We Africans will fight - we find it necessary
And we know we shall win
As we are confident
In the victory

Of good over evil

Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil
Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil
Good over evil, yeah

Comparison
introduction
When comparing the 1976 protest song, “War” by Nesta Robert Marley and the Wailers, more widely
and commonly known as Bob Marley and “Capital G” by the rock band nine-inch nails, there are
many parallels and variances. The target audience, message/theme, genre, and poetic devices utilised
in the song lyrics are all used effectively in each song, but I believe that “War” is the more impactful
and exceptional protest song. Furthermore, it was a part of the album Rastaman Vibration, which was
the band’s first album to reach the top 10 in the US, was ranked number 15 in the Uk and sold 20
million copies worldwide. The impact of the song was significant as Bob Marley was an international
superstar and also an advocate for peace. He also read the song in his acceptance speech to the UN
which was broadcasted to millions in 1978.
Target audience and purpose
the protest song “War” uses its purpose and targets the audience more compellingly than “Capital G”.
"War" specifically targets and mentions African nations and its people. Bob Marley did not simply
mean war between African countries competing for land or resources; he also meant war amongst the
African people, such as prejudice, racism, and other forms of racism. Bob Marley lived in a world full
of racism and war, and he expressed himself by composing the song "War." He sings about war and
prejudice, but also about poverty among the oppressed race and how everyone should be treated
equally. "War" is a terrific song that is very popular at the time since it has a powerful message that
awakens people to the realities of the world and how racism affects us. The song “Capital G” targets
individuals that are opposed of the governments system and its decisions. It's a little confusing
because it jumps from third and first person, making it difficult to keep up with and completely
engage with the song. The target audience of “War” was intended for African people and reggae as it
a slow and steady tempo at 79 BPM, on the other hand with “Capital G” is more fast paced at 163
BPM and switches from third to first person, disrupting the flow of the song. "War", in my opinion,
more clearly communicates the song's objective and target audience, and it's easy to see why "Capital
G" struggles to do so.
Message and theme
“War” clearly illustrates its themes and messages, which help compel and immerse the listener
whereas “Capital G” struggles to fully express its messages and theme. In “War” Bob Marley says,
"Until the idea that holds one race superior, and another inferior is eventually and permanently
discredited and abandoned”. To put it another way, he opposes racism because racism breeds hate,
hate breeds conflict, and fighting breeds war, creating a never-ending cycle of hatred. Bob Marley
uses the poetic device of repetition to clearly illustrate its message which is that racism is war against
each other and that we are making a mistake by discriminating against others rather than supporting
one another. The song's instrumentals and slow pace encourages listeners to contemplate deeply about
the message. “Capital G” is targeted at the government but fails to express its message directly and
indirectly. After doing a little bit of research, according to the nine ich nails wiki the G in the song
means greed which helps illustrate the message of the song. “there’s a lot of me inside you" everyone
has greed, “well, I used to stand for something, Now I'm on, my hands and knees, traded in my god
for this one, and he signs his name with a capital G”. The song is basically stating that his greed got
the better of him, and now everyone knows it so he signs is name with a capital g, for greed. The
message and themes were hard to know unless you were looking for them on google, whereas the
meaning in Bob Marley's song was evident at first impression. "War" has a great premise for engaging
their audience, while "Capital G" has a hard time doing so.
Poetic devices
Symbolism: Bob Marley uses the term war to symbolise the racial discrepancy between Africans and
how they were treated as the enemy
Repetition: He repeats “Good over evil” to show how Africans have stayed strong through tough
times
He also repeats the word “War” throughout the song which demonstrated that racism and war are
intertwined together.
Metaphor: “Until the colour of a man's skin, Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes”
meaning that the nobody cares about eye colour but everyone cares about the colour of an individuals
skin. Bob Marley’s saying that until everybody can live together in harmony without worrying about
another person’s skin colour like they do with their eye colour.
Repetition: “Capital G” repeats “well, I used to stand for something, Now I'm on, my hands and
knees, traded in my god for this one, and he signs his name with a capital G”. The song is basically
stating that his greed got the better of him, and now everyone knows it so he signs is name with a
capital g, for greed
“War has used various poetic devices which help explain the story whereas “Capital G” doesn’t take
full advantage of this by not using a range of poetic devices.

Conclusion

Overall, I think that the more effective song is “War” because this song focuses on one main topic and
goes on to paint a masterpiece about all the connection between racism and war whereas the song
“Capital G” doesn’t have a clear message unless you google it. The song “War” instrumentals and
slow pace encourages listeners to contemplate deeply about the message while “Capital G” more fast
paced, and irregularities disrupts the flow of the song making it hard understand and that’s why I
think that the song “War” is a more effective song.