Emergency Ward! is Nina Simone's statement on the Vietnam War, and by dealing with matters more spiritual than political, this album aptly reflect the events of the day.

The entire first side consists of a 18-minute medley of George Harrison's My Sweet Lord and a poem by David Nelson called Today Is a Killer, set to music by Simone. This is a very strong, gospel-like performance, sometimes resembling the Capitols' Cool Jerk with a call-and-response vocal arrangement - one of Simone's finest moments. It was performed together with the Bethany Baptist Church Junior Choir of South Jamaica, New York. Side two consists of the Lennie Bleecher‚Äöà√≠Jeremy Wind song Poppies and George Harrison's Isn't It A Pity.

Tracks 1 and 4 were recorded November 18, 1971 at Fort Dix, and tracks 2-3 were recorded at the RCA Studio in New York City.