Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. (2 April 1939 - 1 April 1984) was an American soul and rnb singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, known as "The Prince of Soul", or "The Prince of Motown." Originally a member of the doo-wop group The Moonglows, he pursued a solo career after the group disbanded and released many successful solo hits including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Let's Get It On" and "What's Going On". His best albums are still held in extremely high regard, and he is often cited as one of the finest singers of his era. Read Full BioMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. (2 April 1939 - 1 April 1984) was an American soul and rnb singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, known as "The Prince of Soul", or "The Prince of Motown." Originally a member of the doo-wop group The Moonglows, he pursued a solo career after the group disbanded and released many successful solo hits including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Let's Get It On" and "What's Going On". His best albums are still held in extremely high regard, and he is often cited as one of the finest singers of his era.
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born in 1939 to Marvin Gay, Sr. and Alberta Gay in Washington, D.C.. Gaye began his career in Motown in 1958, and soon became Motown's top solo male artist. He scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them "Ain't That Peculiar", "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", as well as several hit duets with Tammi Terrell, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"" and "You're All I Need to Get By", before moving on to his own form of musical self-expression.
Along with Stevie Wonder, Gaye is notable for fighting the hit-making—but creatively restrictive—Motown record-making process, in which performers, songwriters and record producers were generally kept in separate camps. Gaye forced Motown to release his 1971 album What's Going On, which is today hailed as one of the best albums of all time. Subsequent releases proved that Gaye, who had been a part-time songwriter for Motown artists during his early years with the label, could write and produce his own singles without having to rely on the Motown system. This achievement would pave the way for the successes of later self-sufficient singer-songwriter-producers in African American music, such as Luther Vandross and Babyface.
During the 1970s, Gaye would release several other notable albums, including Let's Get It On and I Want You, and released several successful singles such as "Come Get to This", "Got to Give It Up" and "Sexual Healing". By the time of his shooting death in 1984, at the hands of his clergyman father, Gaye had become one of the most influential artists of the soul music era.
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born in 1939 to Marvin Gay, Sr. and Alberta Gay in Washington, D.C.. Gaye began his career in Motown in 1958, and soon became Motown's top solo male artist. He scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them "Ain't That Peculiar", "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", as well as several hit duets with Tammi Terrell, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"" and "You're All I Need to Get By", before moving on to his own form of musical self-expression.
Along with Stevie Wonder, Gaye is notable for fighting the hit-making—but creatively restrictive—Motown record-making process, in which performers, songwriters and record producers were generally kept in separate camps. Gaye forced Motown to release his 1971 album What's Going On, which is today hailed as one of the best albums of all time. Subsequent releases proved that Gaye, who had been a part-time songwriter for Motown artists during his early years with the label, could write and produce his own singles without having to rely on the Motown system. This achievement would pave the way for the successes of later self-sufficient singer-songwriter-producers in African American music, such as Luther Vandross and Babyface.
During the 1970s, Gaye would release several other notable albums, including Let's Get It On and I Want You, and released several successful singles such as "Come Get to This", "Got to Give It Up" and "Sexual Healing". By the time of his shooting death in 1984, at the hands of his clergyman father, Gaye had become one of the most influential artists of the soul music era.
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye 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, eh eh
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, oh oh oh
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
Yeah, what's going on
Ah, what's going on
In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on brother
Right on babe
Mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply 'cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh oh oh
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
C'mon talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Yeah, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Right on baby
Right on baby
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alfred W Cleveland, Marvin P Gaye, Renaldo Benson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
DylanGirl1963
Just watched a documentary about Marvin Gaye. I never realized how desperate he was at the end of his life. Between the copious amounts of cocaine and other drugs which destroyed him by physically and financially, and his own spiritual devastation (read "Divided Soul" by David Ritz) it was believed by many ~ including Smokey Robinson ~ that Marvin WANTED to die.
And the way he ensured that to happen was by physically attacking his father that fateful day, who always told his children "If you EVER raise a hand to me, I brought you into this world, and I will take you out."
Marvin Gaye Sr. was an extremely cruel person. He beat Marvin as a child, forcing him to take all of his clothing off so the poor kid would feel the belt across his naked skin. He was "religious" to the point of insanity, but he was also a cross-dresser and wore women's wigs at home. As a child, Marvin Gaye was acutely embarrassed by that.
It is believed that the lyric "Father, father, we don't need to escalate, war is not the answer, for only love will conquer hate" ~ was a message to his own father in his never-ending quest for approval.
He died Sunday, April 1st, 1984...one day before his 45th birthday. And we lost an incredibly talented, if conflicted, and beautiful soul that day... I still miss him terribly.
I Provide 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
Yeah, what's going on
Ah, what's going on
In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
Mother, mother, 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
Yeah, 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
Gabriela Sanchez
@John Smith
"We don't need to escalate"
"See war is not the answer for only love can conquer hate"
It is easy for hate from others to spread to each other like a virus. But love is always the cure. Maybe Tom is acting out of the hatred from others misunderstanding him. No matter the reason he said that, accepting each other's differences can allow us to exist in peace.
I could be right or wrong or just talking shit but the point is it doesn't matter if I am. The point is putting ourselves down for just saying things and being human only creates a cycle of anger and resentment with each other. You have to break that chain with understanding and empathy.
That's what I think this song is about
Music Man
"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
Yeah, what's going on
Ah, what's going on
In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
Mother, mother, 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
Yeah, 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
Limits98
Lyrics
Hey, hey-hey
Hey,
What's happening?
Hey, brother,
What's happening?
Boy, this is a groovy party
(Hey, how you doing?)
Man, I can dig it
Yeah, brother, solid, right on
What's happening?
Hey, man,
What's happening?
Woo
Everything is everything
We're gonna do a get down today,
Boy, I'll tell ya
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 loving here today,
Yeah
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 loving here today, oh
(Oh)
Picket lines (Sister)
And picket signs (Sister)
Don't punish me (Sister)
With brutality (Sister)
Talk to me (Sister),
So you can see (Sister)
Oh, what's going on
(What's going on)
What's going on
(What's going on)
Yeah, what's going on
(What's going on)
Oh, what's going on
Ah-ah-ah-ah
(In the meantime, right on, baby)
Woo
(Right on, baby), woo
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya,
Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Woo (Right on, baby, right on), woo
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Ba-da-boo-doo,
Boo-boo-boo-doo,
Boo-boo-boo
Ba-da-boo-boo-boo-doo,
Boo-boo-boo-ba-ba-do
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply cause our hair is long?
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding
Here today, oh-oh
Picket lines (Brother)
And picket signs (Brother)
Don't punish me (Brother)
With brutality (Brother)
Come on, talk to me (Brother)
So you can see (Brother)
Oh, what's going on
(What's going on)
Yeah, what's going on
(What's going on)
Tell me what's going on
(What's going on)
I'll tell you what's going on
(What's going on)
Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh
(Right on, baby, right on)
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya,
Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Woo, woo
(Right on)
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-
Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Ba-da-boo-doo,
Boo-boo-boo-doo
Ba-da-boo-boo-boo-doo,
Ba-da-da-da-da-da-da
Woo
(Right on, baby, come on, right on)
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Woo
(Right on)
Listen,
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Da-boo-doo,
Boo-boo-boo-doo
Da-boo-boo-doo,
Boo-boo-boo
nsxdarin
lookin out on my balcony over my city of Minneapolis and listenin to this.
jane sendek
Needed this today and realizing, shit is going to have to be forced on these people...😥
Andrew Mwiti
Damn. Such a mood. I will recreate this in new york one day
Heather Valliere
❤❤❤
Lise Courtois
Love love love Marvin Gaye
Carrie Jaske
The Democrats are Evil 👿 in 30-40 years of Congress! Term Limits! Damn it! 😆🙌🙌
EricBlackmonGuitar
Ahead of it's time. Should have been made January 2020.
Becoming Dauntless
Doesn't matter when it was made because it still applicable to today so please just shut the fuck up and take it for what it is.
Kaaay 031
This prolly the dumbest shit I’ve ever read, ahead of its time ? It was worse back then.......I mean yea shit still happen na in 2021 but it was worse towards blacks back then wym ahead of its time ? This song came out during Vietnam and was mainly about the war like cmon
Robby24ish
ARE.