- "War Child": Depicting the hardships faced by children born during war, the song is a poignant reflection on the devastating impact of war on innocent lives.
- "Talking Vietnam Blues": A politically charged song that addresses the Vietnam War and provides a perspective from the point of view of a soldier and his experience.
- "The Ballad of Ira Hayes": This song chronicles the life and struggles of Ira Hayes, one of the six Marines photographed raising the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Hayes was a Pima Native American who later struggled with alcoholism and depression after the war and took his own life.
- "Man in Black": Commonly perceived as an anti-war song, it expresses Cash's personal stance on social issues and his intention to wear black as a symbol of protest and solidarity with the oppressed.
- "Singing in Vietnam Talking Blues": A song about Cash's experiences while visiting and performing for American soldiers in Vietnam during the height of the war. In this song, Cash offers his perspective on war, peace, and the impact on soldiers and their families.