What's Going On
Larry Klimas Lyrics
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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
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
Larry Klimas's song What's Going On is an anthem for peace and understanding during a time of war and civil unrest. The song's lyrics address the rampant violence, injustice, and inequality that were prevalent in America in the 1970s. The opening lines "Mother, mother, there's too many of you crying, brother, brother, brother, there's far too many of you dying" are a direct reference to the Vietnam War, which claimed the lives of many young men and tore families apart.
The following lines "you know we've got to find a way, to bring some lovin' here today, yea" are a call to action, encouraging people to come together and work towards creating a more peaceful society. The song's chorus "what's going on" is a cry for understanding and an acknowledgement that there is much work to be done to address the many issues facing America at that time. The final verse "father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong" speaks to the generation gap of the time, with young people being judged by their elders simply for having long hair.
The song's use of the repeated refrain "talk to me, so you can see" highlights the importance of communication and empathy in working towards a better world. The song is also notable for its fusion of soul, jazz, and funk, with a highly influential bassline that has been sampled by many other artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Larry Klimas empathizes with mothers who cry because there are far too many reasons to cry about in today's world
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
The artist is pained to witness the number of brothers who have lost their lives to conflict and violence
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today, yea
The artist is urging for more love to be shown to each other to bring the world together in harmony
Father, father
We don't need to escalate
Larry Klimas urges fathers and authority figures to exercise restraint and non-violence in order to solve conflicts
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
The artist believes that war is not the solution to conflicts and that only love has the power to conquer hate
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
The artist is against the use of brute force to suppress protests and voices of dissent
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
Larry Klimas wants people to have conversations and engage in dialogue to understand and address the problems society is facing
In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on
The artist expresses his agreement with the message of the song, and encourages people to continue fighting for love and justice
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
The artist protests the judgmental attitudes of society, noting that one's appearance doesn't determine their worth or value as a human being, and urges for understanding and acceptance
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby
The artist is encouraging people to talk to him and each other about issues in the world, and promising to provide insight and support. He ends with a reaffirmation of the message of the song.
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