"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" was written by English musician Nick Lowe. The song was originally released in 1974 on the album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz by Lowe's band Brinsley Schwarz.
The better known Elvis Costello & The Attractions version was first issued as the B side of Lowe's "American Squirm" and was credited to Nick Lowe and His Sound. At the time Lowe was Elvis Costello's producer, and he produced this track as well. When the song became a hit, it was quickly appended as the last track to the U.S. edition of Costello's album Armed Forces.
According to Will Birch's seminal book on pub rock No Sleep Till Canvey Island, the royalties from Curtis Stigers's version of the song made Lowe independently wealthy. Stigers's version appeared on the soundtrack album for the film The Bodyguard, which sold 17 million copies in the United States alone.
In 2004, The Rolling Stone magazine ranked Elvis Costello's 1979 version of the song as the 284th best song of all time.
As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
Elvis Costello w/Jenny Lewis Band - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
Elvis Costello and the Jenny Lewis Band perform a version of Nick Lowe's (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding last weekend at Boonaroo.
Nick Lowe - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
Nick performs his best known song - although mainly via covers and most folks don't realise he wrote it! - on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2007 with Benmont Tench on keyboard
Elvis Costello and The Imposters - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding - Letterman Show 2003
Elvis Costello introduces himself and then sings "Peace, Love & Understanding" with the Imposters on March 12, 2003, when he guest-hosted for David Letterman.
Nick Lowe & Elvis Costello - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
Costello, Dylan, Lewis, Deschanel,Lewis etc. - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
"What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love & Understanding" performed by an all-star cast including Elvis Costello (Guitar/Vocal) with Jakob Dylan (Guitar/Vocal), Johnathan Rice (Lead Guitar), Davey Faragher (Bass), Farmer Dave (Organ), Jenny Lewis (Vocal), Zooey Deschanel (Vocal), Pete Thomas (Drums) and Tennessee Thomas (Drums)
Chris Cornell - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
Chris Cornell performing an acoustic version at Lollapalooza.
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