OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Music Video

Featured In

Listen to Why Can't We Be Friends? by War
ALBUMWhy Can't We Be Friends?War
Listen to ’70s Hits Essentials featuring War
PLAYLIST’70s Hits EssentialsApple Music Classic Rock
Listen to '70s Soul Essentials featuring War
PLAYLIST'70s Soul EssentialsApple Music Soul/Funk
Listen to Family Road Trip featuring War
PLAYLISTFamily Road TripApple Music Family
Listen to Funk Essentials featuring War
PLAYLISTFunk EssentialsApple Music Soul/Funk
Listen to Summer Soul featuring War
PLAYLISTSummer SoulApple Music Summertime Sounds
Listen to ’70s Dance Party Essentials featuring War
PLAYLIST’70s Dance Party EssentialsApple Music Pop
Listen to ’70s Summer Hits featuring War
PLAYLIST’70s Summer HitsApple Music
Listen to Sing: ’70s featuring War
PLAYLISTSing: ’70sApple Music
Listen to War Essentials featuring War
PLAYLISTWar EssentialsApple Music Pop
Listen to Walking to School featuring War
PLAYLISTWalking to SchoolApple Music Kids

Top Songs By War

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
War
War
Performer
B.B. Dickerson
B.B. Dickerson
Bass
Charles Miller
Charles Miller
Vocals
Harold Brown
Harold Brown
Drums
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar
Harmonica
Howard Scott
Howard Scott
Guitar
Lonnie Jordan
Lonnie Jordan
Vocals
Papa Dee Allen
Papa Dee Allen
Percussion
C. W. Miller
C. W. Miller
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
B.B. Dickerson
B.B. Dickerson
Songwriter
Charles Miller
Charles Miller
Songwriter
Harold Brown
Harold Brown
Songwriter
C. W. Miller
C. W. Miller
Composer
Jerry Goldstein
Jerry Goldstein
Songwriter
Lee Oskar
Lee Oskar
Songwriter
Howard Scott
Howard Scott
Songwriter
Lonnie Jordan
Lonnie Jordan
Songwriter
Morris Dickerson
Morris Dickerson
Songwriter
Papa Dee Allen
Papa Dee Allen
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Jerry Goldstein
Jerry Goldstein
Producer
Howard Scott
Howard Scott
Producer
Chris Huston
Chris Huston
Recording Engineer
Lonnie Jordan
Lonnie Jordan
Producer
Andrew Berliner
Andrew Berliner
Recording Engineer
Ed Barton
Ed Barton
Recording Engineer

Lyrics

[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Verse 1]
I've seen you around for a long, long time
I remembered you when you drank my wine
[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Verse 2]
I've seen you walking down in Chinatown
I called you, but you could not look around
[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Verse 3]
I paid my money to the welfare line
I see you standing in it every time
[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Verse 4]
The color of your skin don't matter to me, ow
As long as we can live in harmony
[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Verse 5]
I'd kind of like to be the President (Oh, yeah)
So I can show you how your money's spent, hoo
[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Verse 6]
Sometimes, I don't speak right
But yet, I know what I'm talking about
[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Verse 7]
I know you're working for the CIA
They wouldn't have you in the Mafi-A
[Chorus]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
[Outro]
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Written by: C. W. Miller, Gerald Goldstein, Harold Brown, Howard Scott, Jerry Goldstein, Lee Oskar, Lonnie Jordan, Morris Dickerson, Papa Dee Allen, Thomas S. Allen

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

Legal

Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Chrome Web Store
Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2025 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out