For the recordings of "Year of the Cat" Al put a classic Spanish guitar into Peter's hands and asked him to play on it for one song of the forthcoming album. That part became the opening of the well-known "On The Border". It were those recording sessions when Peter also worked with producer Alan Parsons of The Alan Parsons Project.
In 1978 he followed Al Stewart and moved to Los Angeles, CA. Around this time Peter's younger brother Danny felt the inspiration to form his own group, which would become Matt Bianco ("Bianco" is Italian for "White"). Temporarily the Al Stewart backing band was renamed to Shot in the Dark, which consisted basically of the crew (among them bass player Robin Lamble) which played on Al Stewart's 1980 and 1981 albums. Shot in the Dark alone only released one album in 1981; they disbanded when their record label closed down.
In the following years Peter became more and more involved in the L.A. music scene and played with the likes of Johnny Rivers (the "Secret Agent Man"), Bernie Leadon (after he left the Eagles), Susanna Hoffs (after she left The Bangles), Tori Amos (before she got famous), and Janis Ian ("At Seventeen"). Through this connection with Matt Bianco, Peter would contribute his guitar playing on albums of the band as well as later on with their lead singer Basia, also joining her on tours. In the late 80s he would discover that one of his neighbors, a man named Skipper Wise, was also a musician. Peter agreed to join him and his band Windows occasionally, playing guitar and keyboards on some of their records. When Skipper decided in 1988 to record a solo album (The Clock & The Moon) Peter agreed to support him, but asked for the same favor in return when it would come to his first solo album. Only one year later, in 1989, Peter White's first solo effort, Reveillez-Vous, was recorded and published, co-produced by Skipper Wise. A second release, Excusez-Moi, was finished in a similar fashion in 1992. Peter White became a leading smooth jazz musician and joined the "Guitars & Saxes" tour together with jazz musicians such as Richard Elliot, Warren Hill and Craig Chaquico.
What's Going On
Peter White 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
The lyrics to Peter White's song 'What's Going On' address the social and political issues facing America in the 1970s, with particular focus on the racial divide and the Vietnam War. The song is a plea for peace and unity among all people, and a call to recognize the importance of love and empathy in solving the world's problems. The opening lines, "Mother, mother / There's too many of you crying / Brother, brother, brother / There's far too many of you dying" point to the widespread pain and suffering of individuals and families affected by the war.
The line "You know we've got to find a way / To bring some lovin' here today" highlights the songwriter's belief that love and understanding are key to resolving conflicts and building a better world. In contrast, the lyrics "Picket lines and picket signs / Don't punish me with brutality / Talk to me, so you can see / Oh, what's going on" suggest that violent and confrontational tactics like protests and demonstrations may not be as effective at creating lasting change. Instead, the songwriter advocates for communication and dialogue between opposing sides.
The final lines of the song, "Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong / Oh, but who are they to judge us / Simply because our hair is long" touch on the broader issue of social norms and stereotypes. By highlighting the narrow-mindedness and bigotry of those who judge others based on superficial factors like appearance or personal beliefs, the songwriter encourages listeners to reject such biases and work towards greater understanding and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, mother
Addressed to all mothers, there are too many of them crying and grieving.
There's too many of you crying
The number of grieving mothers is too high.
Brother, brother, brother
Addressed to all brothers, there are far too many of them dying.
There's far too many of you dying
The number of brothers who are losing their lives is too high.
You know we've got to find a way
It's important for us to find a solution.
To bring some lovin' here today, yea
We need to bring some love and happiness into our world today.
Father, father
Addressed to all fathers.
We don't need to escalate
We don't need to make the situation worse.
You see, war is not the answer
Warfare is not the solution.
For only love can conquer hate
Only love can prevail against hatred.
Picket lines and picket signs
People holding signs and walking in picket lines.
Don't punish me with brutality
Don't hurt me just because I'm protesting.
Talk to me, so you can see
Communicate with me so you can understand my point of view.
Oh, what's going on
What's happening?
Ya, what's going on
Yes, what's happening?
In the mean time
Meanwhile,
Right on, baby
That's great!
Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
People think we're wrong even though we are fathers.
Oh, but who are they to judge us
But who are they to criticize us?
Simply because our hair is long
Just because our hair is long?
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
We need to find a solution.
To bring some understanding here today
We need to bring some understanding into our world today.
Tell me what's going on
Please tell me what's happening.
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
I'll explain what's happening.
Right on baby
That's great!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alfred W Cleveland, Marvin P Gaye, Renaldo Benson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind