24 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A

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
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Sony/atv Music Publishing Llc
Writer
Alfred W Cleveland, Marvin P Gaye, Renaldo Benson
Submitted by
yuri_sucupira On Dec 29, 2001
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

24 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

I believe this is about Viatnam. One of Marvins mant greats.

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

This song is so beautiful, but the situation between him and his father is even more sad when you hear the lines about their conflict...

Personally, I believe Marvin Gaye died because he was too good for this world...he deserved more than this place

@TheSyndicate88 Actually the song is about social injustice and is consciously aware of the atrocities of Vietnam. The party at the beginning is a celebration of the homecoming of Marvin's brother from the war and Marvin found him "different." Yeah, PTSD

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

Hooray for the original, wonderful, beautiful song. Thanks, Marvin, wherever you may be right now.

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

Listen.... enough about Tupac and Biggie, who stood for violence. Let a man rest in the same kind of peace that he stood for - R.I.P. Marvin Gaye!

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

yeah...good song

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

this is a great song that has a message too its definitely an antiwar song, and the war of marvin gaye's generation was vietnam "don't punish me with brutality" police brutality its a political song, in a way. but its gorgeous too. i loved it when cuba gooding jr sang it in jerry magurie

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

haha, that was funny as hell whe ncuba goding sang that

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

APC is the awesome for covering this song.

Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

This song means so much to me, not least because my father used to have this playing all the time when i was a kid.

If you listen really closely you can hear so many different layers to this song, it is truly amazing. the emotion in Marvin's voice in this song is unparalleled by any other singer i have heard in recent years.

The song speaks very openly and candidly about racism, war, sexism and even ageism.

Marvin, wherever you are, what you've given to this world in this song is a lot. Thank God for you!!

I agree. If you listen closely to the intro of the song Marvin and his friends are at a party: "Hey man, this is a groovey party...solid." Then, before the first lyric in the song: "Hey man, what's your name?" There's a pause, then: "Terry thing is the everything."

And then again later in the song: "Solid", "Smoke This", and again: "What's your name...Terry thing is the everything".

I'm just curious as to whom Gaye is referring to a "Terry".

Finally, there's cudo's to...

Not Valid
Cover art for What's Going On lyrics by Marvin Gaye

Basically, I see it as a call for communication instead of using violence to resolve conflicts.