Whats Going On
4 Non Blondes were an early-90s American alternative rock band. Lead vocali… Read Full Bio ↴4 Non Blondes were an early-90s American alternative rock band. Lead vocalist Linda Perry has since released solo work and produced songs on hit albums by P!nk, Lisa Marie Presley and Christina Aguilera. The band consisted of bassist Christa Hillhouse, guitarist Roger Rocha, drummer Dawn Richardson and vocalist Linda Perry.

4 Non Blondes had a huge hit single in 1993 with "What's Up". A year later, DJ Miko remixed the track as a dance song, and it became a hit again, on radio and in clubs. The original version of the song overshadowed the groups' other work, with them being labeled as a 'one hit wonder', but they scored significant underground success, particularly with listeners drawn to their feminist political themes.

In 1995, 4 Non Blondes contributed the song "Misty Mountain Hop" to the Encomium tribute album to Led Zeppelin. The group also covered Van Halen's "I'm The One" for the popular slacker comedy 'Airheads'. Linda Perry went solo in 1996, and the band disbanded after recording, but not releasing, their second album.

Whats Going On
4 Non Blondes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means
And so I cry sometimes when I'm lying in bed
Just to get it all out what's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning and I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream at the top of my lungs:
"What's going on?"

And I say, heyeyeyeyey
Heyey
I said: "Hey, what's going on?"

And I say, heyeyeyeyey
Heyey
I said: "Hey, what's going on?"

Oooh
Oooh, ooohooohooohooo
Ooohooohooohooo

And I try
Oh, my god, do I try
I try all the time
In this institution

And I pray
Oh, my god, do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution

And so I cry sometimes when I'm lying in bed
Just to get it all out what's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning and I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream at the top of my lungs:
"What's going on?"

And I say, heyeyeyeyey
Heyey
I said: "Hey, what's going on?"

And I say, heyeyeyeyey
Heyey
I said: "Hey, what's going on?"

And I say, heyeyeyeyey
Heyey
I said: "Hey, what's going on?"

Oooh
Oooh, ooohooohooohooo
Ooohooohooohooo

Twenty-five years and my life is still




Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

Overall Meaning

The song "What's Going On" by 4 Non Blondes is a reflective piece about the struggles of life and the search for meaning and purpose. The lyrics suggest that despite a quarter of a century of life, the singer is still trying to find her way up the steep hill of hope towards a meaningful destination. She acknowledges the interconnectedness of all humanity, but is uncertain about what exactly that means. Sometimes, she cries herself to sleep, overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings that race through her head. In the morning, she steps outside and takes a deep breath, desperately seeking clarity and direction. She screams out in frustration, "What's going on?" as if looking for an answer that will help her make sense of the world and her place in it.


The song can be seen as a plea for revolution - not necessarily a physical one, but a revolution of the mind and spirit. The singer prays for a change, a transformation that will help her break free from the institutionalized systems that often seem to trap and stifle people who are searching for something more. She wants to break free from the mundane, the ordinary, and the status quo. She wants to find her own way, forge her own path, and discover her own unique sense of destiny. The song is a powerful statement of the human desire for meaning, purpose, and freedom, and it speaks to people of all ages and backgrounds who are trying to find their way in a confusing and often difficult world.


Line by Line Meaning

Twenty-five years and my life is still
I've been around for a while, yet I still haven't achieved what I want in life.


Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
Striving to overcome all obstacles and make progress towards my goals.


For a destination
Ultimately, I hope to reach a point where I am content with the direction my life is going in.


I realized quickly when I knew I should
I came to a realization, an epiphany that I knew was important.


That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
The world is a global community and we are all interconnected, regardless of our differences.


For whatever that means
Although I recognize this truth, I don't fully grasp its significance.


And so I cry sometimes when I'm lying in bed
Sometimes I get overwhelmed with emotions and need to release them.


Just to get it all out what's in my head
I need to express my thoughts and feelings in order to feel better.


And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
I'm feeling a bit strange or unusual, perhaps even isolated or disconnected.


And so I wake in the morning and I step outside
I start each day fresh, with renewed determination to make progress.


And I take a deep breath and I get real high
I pause to appreciate the beauty of the world and the good things in my life.


And I scream at the top of my lungs: "What's going on?"
I'm frustrated and confused by the state of the world and want to know what's happening.


And I say, heyeyeyeyey, Heyey, I said: "Hey, what's going on?"
I keep asking the same question, seeking answers and clarity.


And I try, Oh, my god, do I try
I put in a lot of effort and work hard towards my goals.


I try all the time, In this institution
I struggle every day, perhaps feeling trapped or limited by the systems and structures around me.


And I pray, Oh, my god, do I pray
In addition to working hard, I also turn to spirituality or faith for guidance and strength.


I pray every single day, For a revolution
I hope for and dream of a world that is drastically different and better than the current one.


Oooh, Oooh, ooohooohooohooo, Ooohooohooohooo
These sounds convey strong emotions, perhaps a combination of pain, hope, or longing.




Contributed by Brayden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@marialayze8489

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination
I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means
And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
And I try, oh my god do I try
I try all the time, in this institution
And I pray, oh my god do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution
And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?
And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
Oh, oh oh oh
Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination



@ElvisCerda

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination.

I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this
brotherhood of man
For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar.

And so I wake up in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

And I say: Hey! yeah yeaaah, Hey yeah yea
I said hey, what's going on?

And I say: Hey! yeah yeaaah, Hey yeah yea
I said hey, what's going on?

ooh, ooh ooh

and I try, oh my god do I try
I try all the time, in this institution

And I pray, oh my god do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution.

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake up in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
for a destination.



@josefinarebacca5167

"4 Non Blondes - What's Up" 

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get that great big hill of hope
For a destination

I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

And I say, hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?

And I say, hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?

Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh

And I try, oh my god do I try
I try all the time, in this institution

And I pray, oh my god do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution.

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?

And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?

And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?

And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?

Oh, oh oh oh

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get that great big hill of hope
For a destination



@mayarasouza6313

letra
25 years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination
I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means
And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah-eh-eh, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah-eh-eh, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
Ooh, ooh ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Ooh, ooh ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Ooh, ooh ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Ooh, ooh ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
And I try, oh my god do I try!
I try all the time, in this institution
And I pray, oh my god do I pray!
I pray every single day
For revolution
And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah-eh-eh, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah-eh-eh, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah-eh-eh, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah-eh-eh, hey yeah yeah-yeah-yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
Ooh, ooh ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Ooh, ooh ooh, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
25 years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination



@aliakbarmuda

If You want to read a lyric
wenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination
I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs,
"What's going on?!"

[2x]
And I say, "Hey, hey, hey, hey!"
I said, "Hey, what's going on?"

Ooh, ooh, ooh

And I try, oh, my God, do I try
I try all the time
In this institution
And I pray, oh, my God, do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs,
"What's going on?!"

[4x]
And I say, "Hey, hey, hey, hey!"
I said, "Hey, what's going on?"

> Ooh, ooh, ooh

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination



All comments from YouTube:

@yakubagani8981

0% nudity
0% violence
0% bad word
100% HEYYEAYEAAAHEYYEAYEAA

@kanahasegawa5072

69 likes :>

@yakubagani8981

@@kanahasegawa5072 thank you

@carlosulloa6362

249 likes + 1 from me

@edithmr21o

318th like here

@yakubagani8981

Awesome thank you guys

545 More Replies...

@NikolaosSkordilis

I was reminded of this song by the TV show Sense8, where it was used for karaoke in the 4th episode and it was sang by all the main characters!

@santos8468

That was an amazing scene.

@MrXaionX

Sotnas The most amazing scene !!!

@miguelg6708

That's the only reason I looked for this song

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