Masters of War

You fasten all the triggers

For the others to fire

Then you sit back and watch

While the death count gets higher

You hide in your mansion

While the young people's blood

Flows out of their bodies

And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear

That can ever be hurled

Fear to bring children

Into the world

For threatenin my baby

Unborn and unnamed

You ain't worth the blood

That runs in your veins

2 comments

Is this Dylan at his most savage, lyrically? The end in particular is brutal
- I think so. Some other songs like "idiot wind" or "positively fourth street" have some savage lines too, but those are mixes of sadness and anger, while this one feels like pure hatred to me. His other political songs often don't really blame a single person, but the system, which feels less direct. Examples are "hurricane" and "only a pawn in their game".
  
  I can't think of any other song where he sings something remotely as savage as "I hope that you die".