Fifty years ago, Marvin Gaye came out with two songs (with links below) on the themes of ecology and social justice. Listen to the songs as you read the lyrics below. Take notes as you listen to answer the following question: Are these songs relevant today?
Write an essay to explain your answer.
1. Essay Structure:
It should be at least four developed paragraphs.
Here is a possible way to organize it:
Paragraph 1 Introduction
Paragraph 2 Mercy Mercy Me
Paragraph 3 Whats Going On
Paragraph 4 Conclusion
2. Please cite any additional sources you use with APA or MLA guidelines.
3. Please write about a page or 250 words.
4. Submit your work in WebCampus.
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Here are the song links:
https://youtu.be/uxMRgponxD0 Marvin Gaye- Mercy Mercy Me
https://youtu.be/ohz6rvWZXRQ Marvin Gaye- Whats Going On
Other version:
https://youtu.be/o5TmORitlKk Whats Going On with current scenes
https://youtu.be/gov1WDIgybk Usher Medley of both tunes/ Updated remix
https://youtu.be/JEp7QrOBxyQ Whats Going On -Playing for Change
Here are the lyrics:
Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye
Whoa, ah, mercy mercy me
Oh things ain’t what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east
Whoa mercy, mercy me,
Oh things ain’t what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
Ah, oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain’t what they used to be, no no
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Oh mercy, mercy me
Oh things ain’t what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh, no no, na, na na, na
My sweet Lord, na, na, na
My Lord, my sweet Lord
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Marvin Gaye
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) lyrics Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
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, eh eh
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, oh oh oh
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
Yeah, what’s going on
Ah, what’s going on
In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on brother
Right on babe
Mother, mother, everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply ’cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh oh oh
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
C’mon talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on
Yeah, what’s going on
Tell me what’s going on
I’ll tell you what’s going on, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Right on baby
Right on baby
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alfred W Cleveland / Marvin P Gaye / Renaldo Benson
What’s Going On lyrics Sony/ATV Music Publishing
