Amid an array of sombre but delicate songs on Marvin Gaye’s album “What’s going on” rests one of the prominent singles (‘mercy me’) which oozes so much concern for the world, all the while standing buoyantly on a smooth melody working in unison to create a moody disco atmosphere. The album was a change in tone for the ‘prince of soul’; it wasn’t necessarily an album that inspired the same juiciness as some of his other work, but it was such an important piece.
The reason I mention it is because it was released in 1971 well over four decades ago now and the ideas and sentiments are still of grave concern for us now as humans sojourning on earth.
The poignant thoughts expressed by Marvin in ‘Mercy Me’:
WHERE DID ALL THE BLUE SKIES GO?
POISON IS THE WIND THAT BLOWS FROM THE NORTH AND SOUTH AND EAST
OIL WASTED ON THE OCEANS AND UPON OUR SEAS, FISH FULL OF MERCURY
RADIATION UNDERGROUND AND IN THE SKY
ANIMALS AND BIRDS WHO LIVE NEARBY ARE DYING
WHAT ABOUT THIS OVERCROWDED LAND
HOW MUCH MORE ABUSE FROM MAN CAN SHE STAND?
I had the feeling that Marvin was a prophet of some sort; that things weren’t as bad as he made out in 1971, and if they were how have we possibly survived to this point? How much more abuse can she stand?
The natural world seems to have an undying spirit that we cannot comprehend, even while our burgeoning ignorance makes it harder for her to thrive and provide she remains strong, she continues to keep us undeserving humans alive.
We’re so distant from what is happening in the natural world, and the things that we are close to are too subtle to fathom, not because we are stupid maybe we are just desensitised and the society we live in demands our attention elsewhere.
But for all the pleading sown into the song, we are still struggling for answers.
R.I.P Marvin Gaye
gentlemaanjames 