You see, war is not the answer/
For only love can conquer hate.

Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” is obviously a historically important song. It marked a turning point when one of Motown’s biggest artists deviated from the tried and true love song formula and started speaking out about the world around him. But that is not what this list is about. It is about great music. And “What’s Going On” still sounds amazing today. The message still resonates and there are some great lines in the song like: “Who are they to judge us/ Simply ‘cause our hair is long?”

Overall, the title is an interesting one. Gaye is asking, “Seriously, what is going on? Someone please tell me.” This song marked his disillusionment with the lack of progress with the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the fact that young voices weren’t being heard.

There are a lot of innovations on the record. I like the talking intro where it sounds like we’re entering a conversation among real people. It helps to give the impression that his message is more relatable. Rather than a solo instrument he sings scat over the background music…where he sings jibberish in the tune of the song.

There is excellent use of the bass, sax and the backup singers. And I am a sucker for the finger snapping. And of course, Gaye’s voice sounds perfect. He might be more well known for his sexy love songs, but his voice delivers a political message just as well. It sounds crisp, concerned and urgent.

Compare this song to some of the other Motown songs on this list to see just what a jump forward this was: The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, or early Stevie Wonder.

What’s Going On 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 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.

written by marvin gaye