No More Wars

Why Can't We Live Together by Timmy Thomas entered the UK singles chart in February 1973 and a month later peaked at #12.

I don't think the song will have made much impression on two-year old me but, since rediscovering the original via Sade's cover version on her 1985 debut Diamond Life, it's now guaranteed to send a shiver down my spine ever time I hear it.

Is it minimalist music, just a swirling organ and programmed percussion, that moves me? 

Is it Timmy's aching, yearning voice, the sound of a man who has made this plea so many times, yet has not given up hope for change. 

Is it the courage to go 1 minute 33 seconds into a song that is only 3 minutes 45 seconds, before Timmy utters his first line?

Is it the song's simple yet powerful lyrical message which, after the horrifying yet perversely unsurprising outcome of the UK elections last week, are as relevant now as they were half a century ago?

It's all of these things, of course, which make this one of the greatest songs ever written. Much covered, never bettered.

Tell me why? Tell me why? Tell me why?

Hmm, why can't we live together?

Tell me why? Tell me why?

Hmm, why can't we live together?

Everybody wants to live together

Why can't we live together?

No more wars, no more wars, no more war

Hmm, just a little peace in this world

No more wars, no more war

All we want is some peace in this world

Everybody wants to live together

Why can't we live together?

Can't live, can't live

Can't live together

Can't live together

No matter, no matter what color

Hmm, you are still my brother

I said, "No matter, no matter what colour

Hmm, you are still my brother"

Everybody wants to live together

Why can't we live together?