In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
P Diddy:
What's Going On
Jermaine Dupri:
Tell Me
P Diddy:
People Dying
People Crying
Lord help us
Bono:
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Gwen Stefani:
Oh, brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
Jermaine Dupri:
That's Right
Aaron Lewis:
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Nona Gaye:
Oh my father, father
We don't need to escalate
Backstreet Boys:
You see war is not the answer
Nona Gaye/Backstreet Boys:
For only love can conquer hate
Christina Aguilera:
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Britney Spears:
Barricades, can't block our way
J-Lo:
Don't punish me with brutality
Destiny's Child:
Talk to me
So you can see
Destiny's Child/Britney Spears:
(First Chorus)
Oh what's going on
What's going on
Yeah what's going on
Ahh what's going on
Ja Rule:
What's going on in a world filled with pain
Where's the love for which we pray
What's going on
When our children can't play
Homeless can't eat
There's got to be a better way
What's going on
When we politically blind
Can't see the signs of endangered times
What's going on
Nelly Furtado:
What's goin' on in the world today.
I'd rather be dead than to turn my head away
We got this first world vision too
Comfy to lift up our hands in the air
And cry for a switch
Michael Stipe:
Father, father
P Diddy:
Father help us, come on
Michael Stipe:
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Alicia Keys:
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Together we can all be strong
P Diddy:
United we stand, United we fall
N'Sync:
Oh you know we've got to find a way
Mary J. Blige:
To bring some understanding here today
N'Sync:
Barricades can't block our way
Darren Hayes (Savage Garden):
Don't punish me with brutality
N'Sync:
Baby talk to me
So you can see
(Second chorus)
Yeah, what's going on
Hey, what's going on
Somebody tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's goin' on-uh
Nelly:
What's going on 'cross seas
Every minute a child dies by this disease
In record numbers indeed
Got momma's crying out please
My baby hold on
My child ain't done nothing wrong
Still I want to holler
Ask them why they don't bother
Oh no, oh no
Make me turn to my father
And ask him why they all got a trapped soul
Nas:
I can feel what was bothering Marvin
Why his words forever remain
Dealing with these modern day problems
'Cause of ignorance surrounding me and my constituents
Too many infected
Too many lives diminishing
Nobody say Protestants, Jews, Blacks, and Whites, Latinos and Asians
Pray together
Less fight
We better unite
As genocide chemical war
And the rich and the poor
Know that God delivers a cure
Eve:
It's a shame our reality is devastating
Peopne praying for a cure
Dying while they're waiting
Ask the Lord for the comfort and strength to face it
All the kids with dreams
Won't get the chance to chase it
Makes me sad
Think about the lives they would've had
Think about the orphan babies got no moms and dads
How can we sit back and not try to make"it right
We gotta come together
We gotta fight for life
Fred Durst:
Somebody tell me what's going0on
(what's going on)
We got human beings using humans for a bomb
But everyone wanna live
Don't nobody really want to die
You feeling me right
I can't be watching people die
(die)
And watching people cry
Let me break it down for a minute
If there's enough room here for you and me
There's plenty of room for some humanity
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
What's Going On
Jermaine Dupri:
Tell Me
P Diddy:
People Dying
People Crying
Lord help us
Bono:
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Gwen Stefani:
Oh, brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
Jermaine Dupri:
That's Right
Aaron Lewis:
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Nona Gaye:
Oh my father, father
We don't need to escalate
Backstreet Boys:
You see war is not the answer
Nona Gaye/Backstreet Boys:
For only love can conquer hate
Christina Aguilera:
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today
Britney Spears:
Barricades, can't block our way
J-Lo:
Don't punish me with brutality
Destiny's Child:
Talk to me
So you can see
Destiny's Child/Britney Spears:
(First Chorus)
Oh what's going on
What's going on
Yeah what's going on
Ahh what's going on
Ja Rule:
What's going on in a world filled with pain
Where's the love for which we pray
What's going on
When our children can't play
Homeless can't eat
There's got to be a better way
What's going on
When we politically blind
Can't see the signs of endangered times
What's going on
Nelly Furtado:
What's goin' on in the world today.
I'd rather be dead than to turn my head away
We got this first world vision too
Comfy to lift up our hands in the air
And cry for a switch
Michael Stipe:
Father, father
P Diddy:
Father help us, come on
Michael Stipe:
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Alicia Keys:
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Together we can all be strong
P Diddy:
United we stand, United we fall
N'Sync:
Oh you know we've got to find a way
Mary J. Blige:
To bring some understanding here today
N'Sync:
Barricades can't block our way
Darren Hayes (Savage Garden):
Don't punish me with brutality
N'Sync:
Baby talk to me
So you can see
(Second chorus)
Yeah, what's going on
Hey, what's going on
Somebody tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's goin' on-uh
Nelly:
What's going on 'cross seas
Every minute a child dies by this disease
In record numbers indeed
Got momma's crying out please
My baby hold on
My child ain't done nothing wrong
Still I want to holler
Ask them why they don't bother
Oh no, oh no
Make me turn to my father
And ask him why they all got a trapped soul
Nas:
I can feel what was bothering Marvin
Why his words forever remain
Dealing with these modern day problems
'Cause of ignorance surrounding me and my constituents
Too many infected
Too many lives diminishing
Nobody say Protestants, Jews, Blacks, and Whites, Latinos and Asians
Pray together
Less fight
We better unite
As genocide chemical war
And the rich and the poor
Know that God delivers a cure
Eve:
It's a shame our reality is devastating
Peopne praying for a cure
Dying while they're waiting
Ask the Lord for the comfort and strength to face it
All the kids with dreams
Won't get the chance to chase it
Makes me sad
Think about the lives they would've had
Think about the orphan babies got no moms and dads
How can we sit back and not try to make"it right
We gotta come together
We gotta fight for life
Fred Durst:
Somebody tell me what's going0on
(what's going on)
We got human beings using humans for a bomb
But everyone wanna live
Don't nobody really want to die
You feeling me right
I can't be watching people die
(die)
And watching people cry
Let me break it down for a minute
If there's enough room here for you and me
There's plenty of room for some humanity
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Somebody tell me what's going on
(what's going on)
Lyrics submitted by huaynate
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