If you haven’t listened to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On from start to finish in a while, you should. If you’ve never listened to this album straight through, dare I say I demand that you do so. Despite being over 50 years old, “What’s Going On” is as relevant today, if not more so, than it was in 1971.

Before I dive into the details, I’d like to remind everyone that What’s Going On? is the true definition of a classic rock concept album. This isn’t an album you toss on while washing dishes. The orchestral backdrops, combined with Marvin’s enchanting vocals, make it easy to zone out and forget that there’s an emotional story being told, so I encourage you to set aside 36 minutes to actually listen to it without distractions.

The Concept – A Soldier’s Story

Although Gaye wrote WGO? from the eyes of a Vietnam veteran returning home to America, the album is far more focused on the depressing state of the world during the 60s and 70s (particularly in the inner city) than it is an anti-war sentiment. The soldier aesthetic serves primarily as a means of narration, but it’s an excellent decision that gives Gaye the freedom to address the literal and figurative climate shift occurring in the U.S. at the time.

Gaye could have directed the same story from his own perch, but it works far better from the perspective of a soldier who left to fight a war for America (at a time when there was nothing more American than killing commies for Uncle Sam), only to return and discover that the country appears to have gone to shit in his absence. Parades have been replaced with protests. Whereas soldiers from previous wars were welcomed home with open arms, he’s berated and labeled a pawn of the military complex.

It’s an interesting dynamic that keeps the album from sounding preachy in the midst of some dreary gospel backdrops. You get the impression that this soldier has a right to feel the way he does, and commend him even more for remaining hopeful as the world seems to crumble around him.

Our soldier’s experiences overseas also plays a role in his interpretation of what’s unfolding around him. There’s a sense of despair throughout the first half of the album — both lyrically and musically — as the character seeks asylum from the world’s crushing abnormality by leaning on drugs and alcohol.

The Message

Despite all the sadness and negativity, Marvin makes it clear that this isn’t a lost cause. He uses Right On and Wholy Holy to offer actual solutions, not just complaints, with lyrics like…

“We can conquer hate forever. We can rock the world’s foundation.”

“Ah true love can conquer hate every time. Give out some love and you’ll find peace sublime.”

His soldier remains optimistic. Yes, he’s often troubled and cynical, but he’s still hopeful that a new spirit of love and unity will rise from the ashes.

I do find Gaye’s decision to end with Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) curious. Perhaps he felt things were getting a bit cheery toward the end and he wanted to be more realistic about America’s future. Maybe his attitude and faith in God’s ability to save us was waning. Or perhaps his intent was to leave us in the shadow of darkness from the start.

Inner City Blues closes the album with the only track on the record that is absent of all hope. There isn’t an ounce of optimism in the whole glass. It’s apocalyptic, gritty, and hopeless. But perhaps this was Gaye’s intention all along. He begins by introducing us to a world absent of equality that seems to be imploding. Next he notes some of the potential positive changes that may result and provides possible solutions. Then Inner City Blues comes in and rains all over that f—–n parade with lyrics like…

“Make me wanna holler. And throw up both my hands.”
“Panic is spreading. God knows where we’re heading.”
“Everybody thinks we’re wrong, who are they to judge us. Simply cause we wear our hair long”

There’s a reason that “make me wanna holler” became a rally cry in the black community, and that it’s frequently quoted in hip hop. At this point in the narrative, Gaye’s soldier is deflated and angry. Hell, if it wasn’t for the upbeat piano, congas, and Marvin’s smooth delivery, this song could be a Rage Against The Machine cut. It’s almost as if Gaye is telling us… “This soldier who’s been narrating this whole time. Ya know, the guy who was all depressed because he fought in an unjust war and returned to find the country on fire. The guy who couldn’t make sense of what was going on around him so he tried to numb himself with drugs and alcohol… but then found Jesus and his outlook changed. Yeah, well he waited and he prayed, and he woke up each day with a positive attitude, and not a damn thing changed. In fact, things just got worse. More bills, more taxes, less opportunity, more corruption and greed, and even less people in the middle and upper class who seemed to give a shit.

For all I know, Gaye chose to end with Inner City Blues because it felt right to him. I just think he easily could have moved it to the beginning of the album where conceptually it mirrors the messages of What’s Going On? and What’s Happening Brother?. That fact that he didn’t do this leads me to believe that it was strategic. “What’s Going On?” and Inner City Blues are damn near the same song thematically, and so what he appears to be suggesting is that nothing really changes. It’s all just a vicious cycle. There are a million ways to deal with the pain, and all of those coping strategies and devices only provide temporary relief, so if you’re looking for a solution or clinging to hope, don’t waste your time. Control what you can control and learn to live with the rest.

Of course I’m a cynic, and it’s just my interpretation… but that’s what I’m going with.

The Music

I assume that most people don’t listen to What’s Going On? from start to finish. They’re more likely to catch one or two of the famous cuts from this album while streaming, and in doing so, they miss out on the musical flow that binds all nine tracks.

Some of these songs blend so seamlessly that you’d think they were the same song, if not for a slight pause between tracks. What’s Going On? and What’s Happening Brother? are practically the same song. Both contain similar melodies, moods, and orchestral backdrops.

The musical landscapes Gaye chooses to accentuate his narrative often lack a distinct rhythm, but his vocals are so fluid, you rarely notice. Instruments bounce around as if they’re segments of a movie soundtrack. But despite the lack of a rigid tempo, it never feels disjointed. It’s as if Gaye intended for the album to be performed as a musical… each song transitioning into the next without interruption. It’s all very organic and as a result, the music never outshines the lyrical content.

What’s Going On? – How Relevant is it Today?

Heck yeah it’s relevant. I know I’m not the only person confounded by the developments over the last 3 to 6 years. It’s downright depressing. And it’s this constant sense of confusion, and our efforts to escape it, that makes the themes of What’s Going On? just as potent today. Shit… I’ve said some variation of the phrase “what’s going on?” at least six times today and it’s not even noon. “What the fuck is going on?” “What in the fuck is going on?” “Are you fuckin kidding me?” I think you get the point.

Records that make you think aren’t in high demand these days, so I don’t expect anyone to interrupt their instagram trolling to listen to a whole album from start to finish. It’s even more depressing when you consider that this was written over 50 years ago, and not much has changed.

But there is a bright side to all the despair. Gaye does appear at times to have a refreshing amount of faith in humanity. Without it, What’s Going On? could be a soul sucking ride. Instead, it’s empathetic, soulful, and even highly optimistic. Perhaps some of that optimism was warranted, although I’d be curious as to his sentiments today if he were still with us.

We’ve certainly come a long way since the civil rights movement, but we’ve also backtracked in a lot of areas due to technological advancements, the internet, and social media. But it is what it is, right?

Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.” It’s a quote that I would argue is the underlying message of What’s Going On?. I’m sure some would argue that Gaye was simply trying to paint a picture of the inner city and the hardships of being black in America. Perhaps he felt his message would give people hope for a brighter future, and help white folks begin to understand what it was like to be seen as inferior.

That very well may have been his initial plan, but I think reality got the best of him. And unfortunately, I think many of us have come to the same conclusion lately. It’s all FUBAR, and there ain’t much you can do about it, so…. you might be better off just letting things go.

Tyler Durdin from Wolves & Sheep