Marvin Gaye is undeniably a musical icon, and for many, including myself, his music has been a constant source of fascination and inspiration. Discovering his album ‘What’s Going On’ as a teenager was a transformative experience, solidifying his place as one of my all-time favorite artists. Even years after his passing, the depth and emotion in his voice felt incredibly compelling.
My first introduction to Marvin Gaye’s music, like many in the UK, came through popular commercials. The iconic Levi’s ad featuring Nick Kamen and the memorable California Raisins ad both used ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ as their soundtrack. These ads, while effective in selling jeans and snacks, presented an interesting contrast to the song’s actual meaning.
‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ is a deeply personal song about betrayal and heartbreak. Gaye’s raw vocal delivery conveys the pain of discovering infidelity from others, a situation mirroring his own marital troubles with Anna Gordy at the time. This ability to channel personal emotions into his music is a hallmark of Gaye’s artistry. From the sensual intimacy of ‘Let’s Get It On’ and ‘Sexual Healing’ to the vulnerable plea in ‘Piece Of Clay’ and the raw emotion of the ‘Here, My Dear’ album, Gaye’s music resonates because you feel his experiences. It prompts listeners to delve deeper, seeking the stories behind the songs and contemplating the complexity of Marvin Gaye Jr.
Marvin Gaye in a contemplative pose, highlighting his thoughtful and complex persona.
A Stubborn Kind of Fellow: From Love Songs to Social Commentary
Marvin Gaye’s complexity is central to understanding his music. His ability to blend the sacred and the profane was particularly striking. Growing up in a Pentecostal church, I felt a sense of transgression, yet also profound connection, to his later, more overtly sensual work. The more I listened and learned about him, the more I grasped the layers of his artistry.
While not a civil rights activist in the mold of Curtis Mayfield or Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye’s artistic journey took a significant turn towards social consciousness. His Motown contract and marriage to Berry Gordy’s sister, Anna, initially constrained his ability to express his views on racial and social justice directly. However, the social upheaval of the 1960s began to weigh heavily on him. In 1965, witnessing the Watts Riots, Gaye questioned his path, asking, “With the world exploding around me, how am I supposed to keep singing love songs?”
Marvin Gaye in a black and white portrait, emphasizing his serious and introspective nature during the 'What's Going On' era.
Conversations with his brother Frankie, who served in the Vietnam War, further intensified these feelings. Frankie’s experiences profoundly impacted Gaye, leading him to declare, “I didn’t know how to fight before, but now I think I do. I just have to do it my way. I’m not a painter. I’m not a poet. But I can do it with music.” This marked a turning point. Gaye approached Berry Gordy with the idea of recording a protest song. Gordy, protective of the Motown sound, initially resisted, saying, “Marvin, don’t be ridiculous. That’s taking things too far.”
Yet, Gaye, known for being a ‘stubborn kinda fellow,’ persisted. He recorded ‘What’s Going On’, which then paved the way for the groundbreaking album of the same name. The song’s origin story is itself rooted in social unrest. Four Tops singer Obie Benson witnessed an act of police brutality at an anti-war protest, inspiring him to write the initial version of ‘What’s Going On’. When the Four Tops declined to record it, feeling it was too much of a protest song, Benson gave it to Gaye. Gaye then infused the song with his own lyrical and musical vision, creating the iconic track we know today.
Decoding “What’s Going On”: Lyrics and Meaning
‘What’s Going On’ is sung from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran returning home to a nation grappling with division, injustice, and environmental issues. The song opens with the sounds of a homecoming party, cheerful chatter overlaying a deeper sense of unease. This atmosphere quickly transitions into the soulful saxophone melody, followed by Gaye’s poignant opening lines:
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
The song masterfully employs contrasts. The initial party ambiance clashes with the soulful, almost melancholic music, highlighting the disparity between outward appearances and underlying realities. As the song progresses, Gaye addresses protests and police brutality directly:
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
Interestingly, the title and repeated phrase are statements rather than questions. Marvin Gaye isn’t asking for an explanation; he is declaring and highlighting “what’s going on” in 1970s America. This declarative approach underscores the urgency and reality of the issues he addresses, encapsulating the central theme of the entire album.
The song and album were born from a confluence of personal and global turmoil. Gaye’s struggles with drug addiction, a troubled marriage, the tragic loss of his singing partner Tammi Terrell, and the backdrop of the Vietnam War and daily societal injustices all contributed to the album’s creation. ‘What’s Going On’, both the song and the album, is ultimately Marvin Gaye’s plea for empathy, understanding, and a new way forward.
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)
This verse carries particular weight, especially considering Gaye’s fraught relationship with his own father, Marvin Gay Sr., which tragically ended in his death. It can be interpreted as a haunting foreshadowing. Beyond personal strife, the verse speaks to authority figures and the establishment, urging them to choose peace and love over violence and conflict.
Marvin Gaye performing live, capturing the raw emotion and passion he poured into "What's Going On".
The Enduring Legacy of “What’s Going On”
The ‘What’s Going On’ album is cyclical, beginning and ending with the title track, seamlessly transitioning into ‘Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)’ and then back into ‘What’s Going On.’ It stands as Marvin Gaye’s most personal work, a significant departure from the Motown formula.
Beyond the Vietnam War and civil rights movement, the album delves into drug abuse, poverty, and environmental concerns, issues that were far from mainstream consciousness at the time. Listening to ‘What’s Going On’ as a single track feels incomplete; it’s intrinsically linked to the album as a whole, which unfolds as a cohesive narrative. It provides profound insight into Marvin Gaye’s inner world – his thoughts, emotions, and struggles – against the backdrop of a turbulent historical period. He pours his entire being into every song.
David Ritz, Gaye’s biographer, eloquently captured the album’s essence in the 1993 re-release sleevenotes:
This is sacred music. From the opening riffs of the kicked-back alto sax, sounds flow like a sensual stream of consciousness. For all his sincere complexity, Marvin’s message is startingly clear: love before it’s too late… It still stands as a monument, a masterpiece that has grown in stature. The issues raised are more relevant today than ever; and the sheer pleasure of listening to these thirty-five minutes of flawless music affords a satisfaction, a heavenly high, that has only intensified with time.
Marvin Gaye himself, in a Rolling Stone interview, articulated his shift in musical direction:
In 1969 or 1970, I began to re-evaluate my whole concept of what I wanted my music to say … I was very much affected by letters my brother was sending me from Vietnam, as well as the social situation here at home. I realized that I had to put my own fantasies behind me if I wanted to write songs that would reach the souls of people. I wanted them to take a look at what was happening in the world.
Marvin Gaye undeniably achieved this. His songs resonated deeply, prompting listeners to confront the realities of the world around them. Even in our post-pandemic era, ‘What’s Going On’ remains strikingly relevant. This enduring resonance speaks volumes about the state of our world and serves as a powerful reminder to continue striving for justice and embracing love, as Marvin Gaye so powerfully advocated through his music.
Listen to ‘What’s Going On’ here:
Sources:
What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye Album) – Wikipedia
What’s Going On – Genius lyrics
What’s Going On (song) – Wikipedia
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On | Lyrics Meaning and Song Review by Adam Mc Donald
