[Verse 1]
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
War is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
Bring some understanding here today

[Chorus]
Ah, picket lines (Sister), picket signs (Sister)
Don't punish me (Sister) with brutality (Sister)
Talk to me (Sister), so you can see (Sister)
Oh, what's going on (What's going on?)
What's going on (What's going on?)
Oh, what's going on (What’s going on?)
Tell me, what’s going on (What's going on?)
Ooh, hoo hoo hoo (Right on, Marvin, right on)

[Verse 2]
Mother, mother, everybody thinks we’re wrong, baby
But who are they to judge us
Because our hair is long
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
[Chorus]
Look out, picket lines (Brother) and picket signs (Brother)
Don't punish me, baby (Brother) with brutality (Brother)
Come on, come on, come on (Brother), talk to me (Brother)
You can see what's going on (What’s going on?)
Yeah, what's going on (What's going on?)
Tell me what's going on (What's going on?)
I'll tell you what's going on (What's going on?)
Woo (Right on, Marvin, right on)

[Bridge]
Hey now, baby, what's going on
Oh baby
Woo, hoo-hoo-hoo
Oh baby, tell me what's going on
Honey, what's going on
What's going on, what's going on, what's going on

[Outro: Marvin Gaye, Wally Cox]
Ladies and gentlemen, you've been a marvelous audience
Thank you for coming
The next time I come to Oakland I ain't forgot about you
I love you so much, goodbye
God bless y'all

Marvin Gaye, Marvin Gaye
A legend in his own time
Marvelous Marvin Gaye, ladies and gentlemen
Making his first appearance here in the Bay Area after five years
Marvin Gaye
One more time for marvelous Marvin Gaye, ladies and gentlemen