"Peace, Love, and Understanding" Quotes

Context

This line is from the song "Peace, Love, and Understanding" by Elvis Costello, from the album Armed Forces (1978). 

Okay, so the song was actually originally written and recorded by singer-songwriter Nick Lowe, but it wasn't a hit until Elvis Costello put his stamp on it. Originally, Costello's cover was released on a Lowe B Side. But after Costello's version eclipsed Lowe's, the song was released on Costello's album Armed Forces. Click here and here to see which you prefer.

Where you've heard it

Maybe you caught the all-star version at the Vote For Change concert, which featured Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Eddie Vedder, John Fogerty, Michael Stipe, Bonnie Raitt, and Keb Mo'. Here's a video. Proving that stars love to sing uplifting songs when they get together, Feist, Toby Keith, John Legend, Willie Nelson, and Stephen Colbert also belted out this chorus together on a 2008 Colbert Report Christmas special. Ya' know, because "Jingle Bells" would've been too on-the-nose.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

It's not pretentious—these lyrics seem like they ask a pretty straightforward question to us.