What’s Going On

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a direct, almost desperate plea to familial figures – Mother, Brother, Father – painting a stark picture of widespread suffering. The repetition of "too many of you crying" and "far too many of you dying" immediately establishes a tone of profound grief and urgency. It’s a raw, unfiltered cry for help, suggesting a world overwhelmed by loss and conflict, desperately seeking a path toward peace and connection. The central tension lies in the contrast between escalating violence and the simple, yet profound, solution of love. The narrator directly confronts the futility of war, stating "war is not the answer," and counters it with the power of "only love can conquer hate." This isn't a complex philosophical argument, but a fundamental, almost childlike, assertion of what is right and necessary. The repeated call to "find a way / To bring some loving here today" acts as a persistent refrain, a hopeful but challenging directive. The most striking craft element is the persistent, almost hypnotic repetition of the title phrase, "What's going on." This isn't just a question; it’s an expression of bewilderment and a demand for explanation in the face of perceived injustice. The juxtaposition of this questioning chorus with the specific grievances in the verses – "picket lines and picket signs," "Don't punish me with brutality," and the judgment based on "hair is long" – highlights the disconnect between the societal chaos and the narrator’s plea for dialogue and understanding. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they articulate a universal yearning for peace and empathy through direct, unadorned language. The appeal to fundamental human connections – family, love, understanding – grounds the broader societal critique in something deeply personal. The song doesn't offer easy answers but insists on the necessity of asking the question and the potential for love to be the answer, making its plea both powerful and enduring.