What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
[Starts out with voices "Hey, what's happenin' brother..."]
Mother, Mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, Brother, Brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Father, Father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Picket lines (Sister)
And picket signs (Sister)
Don't punish me (Sister)
With brutality (Sister)
Talk to me (Sister)
So you can see (Sister)
Oh, what's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
What's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
Yeah, what's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
Oh, what's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
[Voices again "Yeah, right on brother", along with Marvin chanting and
singing]
Mother, Mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply 'cause our hair is long
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Picket lines (Brother)
And picket signs (Brother)
Don't punish me (Brother)
With brutality (Brother)
Come on, talk to me (Brother)
So you can see (Brother)
Oh, what's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
Yeah, what's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
Tell me what's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
I'll tell you what's goin' on
(What's goin' on)
[Fade out with voices and Marvin's chanting and singing]
This song criticizes not only the war, but also racism and several
other problems in society. The album "What's Going On" was released in
1971, and the songs on it talked about poverty, the war, racism, drug
abuse, "Inner City Blues", and the destruction of the environment
("Mercy Mercy Me/The Ecology"). (
geocities.com/hollywood/academy/3225/Rhythm_and_Blues) (
geocities.com/hollywood/academy/3225) (
geocities.com/hollywood/academy) (
geocities.com/hollywood)