“Others, again, shall hammer out bronze more delicately, and bring living faces from marble;
plead causes better; measure the movement of the heavens with a wand, and name the rising stars:
Remember, Roman, these will be your arts, to impose the ways of peace, to spare the defeated,
and to crush the proud” — Virgil (Aeneid, VI.847-853).
Marvin Gaye wrote “What’s Going On” while he was at Motown, although the song initially faced resistance from Berry Gordy and other label executives. Motown had been known for producing mostly love songs and upbeat pop hits, and Gaye’s introspective and socially conscious lyrics were considered risky for the label’s commercial success. The song became an instant hit, and it went on to become one of Gaye’s most famous and enduring works.
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, yea
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
