What's Going On

Lyrics: Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson
Music: Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson

This was sung by Hall and Oates with the Dead at the Rainforest Benefit on 24 September 1988. It was also played at least once as an instrumental by Jerry Garcia with Merl Saunders in 1974. It was sung more recently by Jackie Greene with Phil Lesh & Friends and with Ratdog in 2014. It was also sung by Matty Michna with Bob Weir and Wolf Bros in 2021 (first two verses and chorus only).

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

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
What's going on
What's going on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
But who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
What's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on