Gets to me every time.

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, hey

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

Picket lines - sister
and picket signs - sister
Don't punish me - sister
with brutality - sister
Talk to me - sister
so you can see - sister
Oh, what's goin' on
what's goin' on,
what's goin' on
what's goin' on
Heah, what's goin' on
what's goin' on
oh, what's goin' on
what's goin' on
Ah ah - ay-ay-ay-ay-ay
right on
right on
ay-ay-ay-ay-ay

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 - brother
and picket signs - brother
Don't punish me - brother
with brutality - brother
Come on, talk to me - brother
so you can see - brother
Now what's goin' on -
what's goin' on, yeah,
what's goin' on
what's goin' on
Tell me what's goin' on
what's goin' on,
I'll tell you now what's goin' on
what's goin' on
Ooooh - right on
right on - ay-ay-ay-ay-ay

In 1970, Benson, inspired by a police brutality scene he had witnessed in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, penned the lyrics for the song that became Marvin Gaye's classic "What's Goin' On."

Benson, having realized that the serious nature of the song wouldn't work for the upbeat Four Tops, turned it over to Gaye, who went on to make it one of the most celebrated cultural statements in pop music history, despite protests from Gordy, who initially believed that it would never sell.

Even the covers of this song bring a tear to my jaundiced eye.

Farewell, Obie. And thanks for the groove, Brother.