"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1970s song written by English musician Nick Lowe and recorded in the most known version by Elvis Costello & The Attractions.

The song was originally released in 1974 on the album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz by Lowe's band Brinsley Schwarz. It was then 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.

In 1991, The Party also covered the tune sung by Chase Hampton. The instrumental part was replaced by a rap done by Albert Fields and Chase. This song was released on their 2nd album In The Meantime, In Between Time.

In 2007, the song was used in a Life Savers commercial about doing nice things for other people.

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.

The title/chorus is used as the theme song for the sitcom Aliens in America, which shows on The CW.

The song was also featured in the 2003 Sofia Coppola directed film Lost in Translation.

[edit] Subsequent versions

Midnight Oil (1987) : Appears on the B side of the "Put down that weapon" Australian 7-inch single from the Diesel and Dust album.
The Flaming Lips (1988) : B-side of "Drug Machine" single
Curtis Stigers (1992) : Appears on the The Bodyguard soundtrack album.
Trip Shakespeare (1992) : CD Single "Volt".
Chris Dowd (1994) : Soundtrack album to the movie Floundering.
Lucy Kaplansky (1996) : Album Flesh and Bone.
Down By Law (1997) : Compilation album Before You Were Punk.
Unsteady (1997) : Album Double or Nothing.
Sam the Butcher (1998) : Album Assembly Line
The Wallflowers (2000) : Appears on the Japanese edition of album Red Letter Days.
Joel Goldmark (2001) : Album Strong Like Bull but Sensitive Like Squirrel.
The Flaming Lips (2002) : Album The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg
Audioslave (2003) : Performed at Lollapalooza 2003.
Robben Ford (2003) : Album Keep on Running.
Memorably sung by Bill Murray's character (Bob Harris) in a karaoke booth in a scene in the 2003 film Lost In Translation (Universal Studios, Focus Features).
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band : Used in encores of 2004 Vote for Change shows.
Pearl Jam (2004) : Also performed at Vote for Change 2004.
A Perfect Circle (2004) : Album eMOTIVe.
Steve Earle (2004) : Live recording, released as Just An American Boy.
Keb' Mo' (2004) : Album Peace...Back By Popular Demand.
Chris Cornell and Maynard James Keenan (2004) : Album Axis of Justice: Concert Series Volume 1.
The Ataris : Live acoustic recording, released on Live at the Metro
Crosstide (2007) : Compilation Album Bridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilation
The Holmes Brothers (2007) : Album State of Grace.
Chris Cornell (2006) "Unplugged in Sweden"
P. J. Olsson (2007): Album American Scream
Lost Pilgrims (2007): Album Lost Pilgrims