What's Going On
Harmony Amidst Chaos: Unveiling the Message in Joe Cocker's 'What's Going On'
Lyrics
Mother, mother
Expressing a maternal figure, addressing societal issues
There's too many of you crying
Observing widespread sorrow and distress
Brother, brother, brother
Addressing fraternity and the high number of deaths
There's far too many of you dying
Highlighting the excessive loss of lives
You know we've got to find a way
Calling for a solution to the problems
To bring some lovin' here today, yea
Advocating the need for love and compassion
Father, father
Addressing paternal figure, advocating against escalation
We don't need to escalate
Discouraging the use of force
You see, war is not the answer
Rejecting war as a solution
For only love can conquer hate
Emphasizing the power of love over hatred
You know we've got to find a way
Reiterating the need for finding a positive way
To bring some lovin' here today
Stressing the urgency of bringing love
Picket lines and picket signs
Mentioning protests and signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Opposing harsh treatment and violence
Talk to me, so you can see
Requesting communication for understanding
Oh, what's going on
Pose the question about current events
What's going on
Repeating the question about ongoing issues
Ya, what's going on
Repeating the question, seeking answers
Ah, what's going on
Expressing concern and inquiry
In the mean time
In the meantime
Right on, baby
Expressing approval and agreement
Right on
Reinforcing agreement
Right on
Further emphasizing agreement
Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Refuting societal judgment
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Questioning the right to judge based on appearance
Simply because our hair is long
Rejecting prejudice related to appearance
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
Advocating for understanding
To bring some understanding here today
Calling for empathy and comprehension
Oh
Emphatically expressing a need for understanding
Picket lines and picket signs
Mentioning protests and signs (repeated)
Don't punish me with brutality
Rejecting harsh treatment and violence (repeated)
Talk to me
Calling for communication (repeated)
So you can see
Emphasizing the need for dialogue (repeated)
What's going on
Pose the question about current events (repeated)
Ya, what's going on
Repeating the question about ongoing issues (repeated)
Tell me what's going on
Seeking answers to the question (repeated)
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Asserting the need for understanding
Right on baby
Expressing approval and agreement (repeated)
Right on baby
Further emphasizing approval and agreement (repeated)
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