“War is the Answer” by Five Finger Death Punch

The lyrics of this Five Finger Death Punch track make it read like a beef song. Indeed with a title like “War Is the Answer”, it is somewhat obvious that the narrator has bloody conflict on his mind. 

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Five Finger Death Punch's War is the Answer at Lyrics.org.

And the addressee is someone who has been ‘talking sh-t’ behind his back, i.e. saying bad things about the singer when he isn’t around. 

So in the first verse and bridge, he is calling this person out, letting him know that when they do meet it is in fact on.

And on the surface, the second verse alludes to the idea that that narrator is an opponent who is not going to go away easily.  But there are also some deeper statements contained therein, references to “eat(ing) with the beast”, “run(ning) with the wolves” and what have you. 

And those shall we say more-general metaphors actually point to the fact that the meaning of this song is a lot deeper than simply serving as a beef song.

Lyrics of "War is the Answer"

Zoltan explains the Meaning of “War is the Answer”

According to Five Finger Death Punch mainstay Zoltan Bathory, what this song actually speaks to is the violent nature of man. 

That is to say that “war”, in varying capacities, is an ever-present factor in our lives due to, as Bathory explained, “a lot of people in the world who value their own happiness over… others”.  

Speaking to Metal Hammer, Zoltan also went on to elaborate that it is such individuals whom he is actually damning on this track. So with that in mind we can postulate that the aforementioned addressee is someone who is trying to take advantage of the singer in the name of forwarding his own goals. 

And in response the singer has adopted an aggressive, even hostile disposition of his own towards this person since, after all, “war is the answer”.

Man is inherently Violent

Also in going back to the highly-symbolic second verse, the vocalist seems to be insinuating that if you follow a certain path in life, wanting to be down with the “beast” and “wolves” so to speak, then you must be willing to in fact the consequences. 

And in the grand scheme of the song, it can be said that he is speaking to an idea such as certain cultures and societies, despite perhaps being alluring, are also inherently violent.

But once again going back to his own personal tiff, it is apparent that the singer has adopted a disposition akin to ‘it’s best to fight fire with fire’. 

However, in once again going back to Bathory’s explanation, this isn’t intended to be a song that actually propagates conflict or vengeance or anything like that. Instead it is meant to point to the idea, once again, that beef and other forms of interpersonal discontent are part and parcel of life on this Earth.

Five Finger Death Punch

Five Finger Death Punch, a group whose moniker was in fact influenced by karate movies, trace their origins back to Las Vegas, having formed there in 2005. 

Since then they have put together quite an extensive discography, dropping eight studio albums between 2007 and 2020 for instance. 

And this particular song is the title track of the second of those efforts. It came out via Spinefarm Records and Prospect Park Records on 22 September 2009. 

And just note even though six singles were released from that project, “War Is the Answer” (the song) was not one of them.

The composition of Five Finger Death Punch has fluctuated throughout the years. Guitarist Zoltan Bathory is actually the only member down from day one who is still around as of the onset of the 2020s. 

And the other members of the crew who participated on this song/album are as follows:

  • Jason Hook (guitar)
  • Ivan Moody (vocals)
  • Matt Snell (bass)
  • Jeremy Spencer (drums) 

And none of those four with the exception of Moody are still active in the band as of the 2020s.

And just to note, as at 2021 the other members of Five Finger Death Punch besides Bathory and Moody are:

  • Charlie Engen (drums)
  • Any James (guitar)
  • Chris Kael (bass)
War is the Answer

Writing Credits of “War is the Answer”

The aforementioned five band members who participated on the War Is the Answer album are also individually credited as the writers of this track. 

And the entire Five Finger Death Punch collectively is acknowledged as its producer, having accomplished that feat alongside the accomplished Kevin Churko.

Interesting to note…

Five Finger Death Punch’s biggest hit song to date has been 2018’s “Blue or Black”, which managed to top three Billboard charts (Hard Rock Digital Song SalesMainstream Rock and Rock Digital Song Sales). 

And as far as their albums go, 2013’s “The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Vol. 1” reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 and has achieved RIAA platinum-certified status.

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