Lyrics Language: English Song writer/composer(s): Renaldo Benson, Alfred Cleveland, Marvin Gaye
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Marvin GayeWhat's Going On Lyrics:
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, yeah
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 and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going
What's going on
What's going on
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Come on talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
What's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you ya, what's going on
The lyrics on the most recent version are sanctioned by the composer, or owner of the rights to the lyrics, however, there may be lyrics that are more complete on the prior version(s) that have been submitted by a contributor to mp3lyrics.org
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Marvin Gaye What's Going On Lyrics Information:
WHAT'S GOING ON 1
Written by: Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland & Marvin Gaye
Performed by: Marvin Gaye 2 -1971
Produced by: Marvin Gaye 3
Appears on: What's Going On 4 -1971, Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits-1976,
The Big Chill (Original Soundtrack)-1983*, Greatest Hits Live-1990 &
(Bonus Track) 2002, Forever Yours-1997, Singers & Songwriters:
Protest Songs-2003* 3 , What's Going On with Marvin Gay-2003,
The Marvin Gaye Story-2006,
et al. (*Compilations of various artists.)
1 Not only was "What's Going On," one of the most poignant protest songs
of the 1970s, but it was one of the hit songs from the movie, "Superfly,"
reaching #2 in the US. Unlike many of the other protest songs of the times
that surveyed the troubled landscape of an America torn apart by war,
poverty, and prejudice, this song was conveyed not with anger and
recriminations, but with compassion and tenderness. In contrast to the
more biting, hardline contentions of contemporaries like James Brown,
Curtis Mayfield, and Sly & the Family Stone, "What's Going On" is
remarkable for its serenity and warmth — even detailing their litany of
injustices Gaye's vocals remain implacably calm, radiating a Zen-like
wisdom and peacefulness.Its message is simple: only love can conquer hate.
There were other songs, from the same period, without the same sugar
coating, and some examples are, "Freddie's Dead," by Curtis Mayfield,
"Smiling Faces Sometimes," by the Undisputed Truth and "Back Stabbers,"
by the O'Jays. (AMG)
2 Covered by such notables as, Cindi Lauper, Lil' Kim, Hall & Oates,
A Perfect Circle, Africa Unite, All-Star Tribute,
Human Nature, and many more.
3 Label owner, Berry Gordy Jr., reportedly hated "What's Going On," and
its accompanying LP, probably because it frightened him — not only did the
record threaten to alienate the white audiences the company coveted,
but it broke free of the famed Motown assembly-line production process,
liberating artists once and for all. (AMG)
4 Transcribed from the track on this album.
5 This song was inspired as much by the bigger picture of Vietnam and the
civil rights movement as well as by events in Marvin Gaye's tumultuous
personal life — specifically, the return of his brother, Frankie, from
combat, the death of his duet partner, Tammi Terrell, and his
disintegrating marriage to wife Anna. But it's first, and foremost a song
about family, both literally and figuratively: the plaintive cries of
"father, father," reflect not only the troubled relationship between Gaye
and his biological father, but also the singer's ongoing struggles with
God, while the appeals to "brother, brother," speak as much to Gaye's own
sibling as to the brotherhood of all humankind. (AMG)
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