[Verse 1]
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's too many of you dying
We have got to find a way
To bring some loving here today

[Verse 2]
Father, father
We don't need to escalate
War is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate, yeah
We have got to find a way
To bring some loving here today
C'mon, sing with me, y'all

[Pre-Chorus]
You got picket lines and picket signs
Don't you bother me with your brutality
Come talk to me so you can see

[Chorus]
What's going on, yeah, what's going on
What's going on, yeah, what's going on (Oh)
[Verse 3]
Father, father
Why does everybody say we're wrong?
Who are they to judge us
Just because our hair is nappy, naturally long?
Yeah, we have got to find a way
To bring some loving here to stay

[Pre-Chorus]
We got picket lines and picket signs
Don't you bother me with your hostility
Come and talk to me so you can see

[Chorus]
What's going on, yeah, what's going on
What's going on, yeah, what's going on
What's going on, what's going on
What's going on, yeah, what's going on
What's going on, what's going on

[Post-Chorus]
What's going on (What's going on)
What's going on (What's going on)
What's going on (What's going on)
What's going on (What's going on)
What's going on
What's going on
What's going on
What's going on, alright
[Rhodes Solo]

[Chorus]
What's going on, yeah, what's going on
What's going on, yeah, what's going on
What's going on, what's going on

[Post-Chorus]
What's going on (What's going on)
What's going on (C'mon, what's going on)
What's going on
What's going on
When was the last time, baby, that you spoke to your neighbor
Said hey my friend, how you been?
Won't you tell me, tell me now, what's going on?
Nobody can use you, yeah, unless you're born to love, born to love
Do you stand around, yeah, or do you stand on your butt? (Oh)

[Outro]
What's going on
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Somebody please tell me, yeah
What the hell is going on