On this day, May 21, 1971 Marvin Gaye’s album What’s Going On was released
What’s Going On is a concept album with most of its songs segueing into the next and has been categorized as a song cycle. The narrative established by the songs is told from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran returning to his home country to witness hatred, suffering, and injustice. Gaye’s introspective lyrics explore themes of drug abuse, poverty, and the Vietnam War. He has also been credited with promoting awareness of ecological issues before the public outcry over them had become prominent (Mercy Mercy Me).
“Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology),” was released as a single on 10 June.
Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain’t what they used to be (ain’t what they used to be)
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north and south and east
Why this matters
Before the 1986-1992 wave of concern (deforestation, ozone, greenhouse) there was another big wave of concern – 1969-1972. Same dynamics of media, legislative interest and organisations going up like a rocket and tumbling down like a stick. We should know this, while appreciating the genius of people like Gaye.
What happened next
Gaye was murdered by his father iin 1984.