The album ‘What’s Going On?’ was like an act of coming into the real world for Tamla Motown. It was as if Marvin Gaye was opening his eyes and looking round at the war, the protests, the crime, drugs and police brutality and he was questioning if there wasn’t a better way.
For too long Tamla had turned its back on the social & political and focused on the love songs. Love is great. We need loads of it. But it has to be applied. First you have to see what’s going wrong.
This was Marvin’s epiphany.
“What’s Going On”
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 – Ya
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 on
Ya, what’s going on
Ah, what’s going on
In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
Father, father, 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
Oh
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on
Ya, what’s going on
Tell me what’s going on
I’ll tell you what’s going on – Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby