What’s Going On with Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On?

Christofer Smith • November 7, 2025 • 827 Words

Introduction

Released on May 21, 1971, “What’s Going On” is the product of the personal and societal context surrounding the track’s singer and producer Marvin Gaye. Following the devastating passing of duet partner Tammi Terrell (Moon), Gaye sought to develop an anthem to convey the pressing necessity of social awareness within the nation. With lyrics preaching the notion of deescalation during a period marked by societal tension surrounding poverty, the wake of the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing Vietnam War that the United States was deeply entrenched within (Moon), “What’s Going On” undoubtedly contains an embedded anti-war message, but decades after the national conversation has evolved, does Gaye’s exploration of the nation he saw remain efficacious as a song of protest?

Criteria Measured Against

“What’s Going On” may be evaluated based on the merits of five predominant metrics relating to the message at the track’s core and its intrinsic musical composition. These measurements, despite being arguably subjective, serve to develop an overall profile of whether this song stands closely to the category of music intended to invoke protest or change.

The Message of the Track

“What’s Going On” presents a clear message, with both the first and second verses serving to highlight Gaye’s outlook against war. In the first verse, he sings “Mother, mother / There's too many of you crying” (Gaye), highlighting the grief surrounding him as he produced the track as a result of the loss of life from the Vietnam War. This point is further elaborated in the lyric immediately proceeding, where he asserts “Brother, brother, brother / There's far too many of you dying” (Gaye). This is continued in the second verse, where he explicitly communicates his thesis: “... war is not the answer / For only love can conquer hate” (Gaye). For this clear relaying of his idea, Gaye earns a point. Also addressable is whether this song stands against the grain of the society it aimed to be heard by. Despite being substantially shared among the American population, the direct stance portrayed against the warring policies of the United States’ government in “What’s Going On” earns the track its second point in this category for being countercultural — even if the majority of culture believed in the same side.

The Composition of the Track

With a simple, repeatable — even chantable — melody in the bright, brilliant key of E Major, in tandem with Gaye’s own gentle yet groovy vocals, it can certainly be quantified that “What’s Going On” is easily memorable. These same aspects of the track are vital to the delivery of the song’s content, as well: while a loud, punk-inspired song designed to stand out may be a common image of “protest songs,” Gaye’s employment of a tender disposition layered above the faint vocals of a family serve to allow this track to blend seamlessly into the musical landscape of the time — to spread unfettered by refusing to clash against society. For these creative uses of delivery and composition to achieve his desired goal, Gaye earns two points.

Effectiveness and Conclusion

By peaking at second on the Billboard Hot 100 and permanently altering the musical style of his label’s parent, Motown Records, it is certain to say that Gaye not only reached masses with his message, but that his execution was substantial to the extent that it proved that music with meaningful messages could be projected with success. For this, “What’s Going On” earns its fifth and final point, allowing for a ranking of five out of five in regards to matching the category of effective songs of protest.

Works Cited

Gaye, Marvin. What’s Going On. Tamla Records, 21 May 1971.

Moon, Tom. “The Story of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On.’” NPR.org, National Public Radio, 7 Aug. 2000, https://www.npr.org/2000/08/07/1080444/npr-100-whats-going-on. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

Russell, Melody. “The Enduring Meaning behind Marvin Gaye’s Signature Hit ‘What’s Going On?’” American Songwriter, 21 Aug. 2023, https://americansongwriter.com/the-enduring-meaning-behind-marvin-gayes-signature-hit-whats-going-on/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

“‘What’s Going On’: A Departure That Defined a Generation.” NPR.org, National Public Radio, 1 June 2011, https://www.npr.org/2011/06/01/136818199/whats-going-on-a-departure-that-defined-a-generation. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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