[1] In 2006, Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen cited Cat Power as "very popular in the SNL offices" and that "'He War' was played all the time."
An unrefined, double-track vocal harmony by Marshall carries throughout the entire song and builds into a bright, soaring chorus.
Marshall described the video as "good" but elaborated on the discomfort in filming it, specifically acting, lip syncing, and looking into the camera which felt unnatural: Allmusic's Tom Maginnis wrote a thorough review of "He War," calling it "one of the heaviest rock songs" on You Are Free as well as one of the most produced.
He added, "'He War' show signs of a maturity, of an artist more comfortable in the studio setting and confident enough to make it work to her advantage."
Chris Ott of Pitchfork Media praised the song, noting that "'He War' underscores how remarkable Marshall's voice is, turning an otherwise pedestrian, technically amateur tune into an assured rock anthem draped in sonorous, shrill wails.