: "What's Going On?" A Vietnam-Era Song Rings True Today

In case you haven't noticed, most all the protest songs, from back in the day, fit just as well today, as many of them are as timeless as the abject stupidity of war. itself.

AlterNet: "What's Going On?" A Vietnam-Era Song Rings True Today:

In 1971, singer Marvin Gaye raised hackles when he tried to make sense of the madness of the Vietnam War by asking, 'What's Going On?' He sang:

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 -- Ya/ 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.

The song, told from the perspective of a returning Vietnam veteran, was inspired by Gaye's brother who had recently returned from that disastrous war.