a simple quasi-folkish tune written and recorded in a hotel room (during a "bed-in" for peace) in the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the late 60s. John Lennon of the Beatles and his new bride Yoko Ono were there on their honeymoon and they wrote, performed and recorded the song in that room, along with some special guests singing the chorus chant. This song has become an antiwar anthem and since then has been played and chanted at numerous anti-Vietnam War rallies and at rallies opposing wars thereafter.
At the Ohio State University Oval in January 1991 I saw an antiwar demonstration against the first Gulf War (first war against Iraq). The rally organizers played many rock'n'roll antiwar songs, including "War" by Bruce Springsteen and "Give Peace A Chance". People kept on chanting, "all we are saying, is Give Peace a Chance".
by I Saw U2 Live Twice October 14, 2007