Two of the most prolific songs were written and sung by legendary Marvin Gaye. These lyrics are profoundly relevant today, and each far outshines the significant meanings of the Star Bangled Banner that promotes war for its relevance.
There is one stanza in What’s Going 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],
where the word ‘long’ can be substituted with ‘strong’ as translated for today’s significance. Other than that, this stanza reflects how each younger generation believes that they have answers toward healing America and the world, but the older generation rarely listens and is too judgmental on the ideas expressed by the emerging populous.
Lyrics – Here we have something for you folks, we hope You enjoy it as we enter our social section, thank you. – Songwriter: Marvin Gaye
Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain’t what they used to be (ain’t what they used to be)
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north and south and east
Woah mercy, mercy me, yeah
Ah, things ain’t what they used to be (ain’t what they used to be)
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas
Fish full of mercury
Oh Jesus, yeah, mercy, mercy me, ah
Ah, things ain’t what they used to be (ain’t what they used to be)
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Hey, mercy, mercy me, oh
Hey, things ain’t what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh, na, na, na
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Hey, ooh, woo
Source: Musixmatch
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, 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
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alfred W Cleveland / Marvin P Gaye / Renaldo Benson