What'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 - 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

I think the line “what’s going on” is Marvin establishing that he has seen what is happening, the segregation people yelling, hurting, hating and the war, many dying to then just find that this battle had changed nothing. I think he’s looking for the reason to all this unbelievable chaos.


To me, this song had quite an emotional feel, although it is a jazzy song. It was like a story, all things that he may have faced some time in his life. He says how his “brothers is dying, mothers crying” and doesn’t see why its happening, fighting to die didn’t seem very reasonable in his mind.


My Two favorite line were “Don't punish me with brutality  and “Talk to me, so you can see” I think in these messages he wanted to say, everyone knows I’m black, everyone knows you despise of me, but before you hurt me, talk to me and see who I really am.