What's Going On

by Marvin Gaye

🎹 Loading song
Preparing player…
1
Play in Full ModesMore Songs for Kids

Lyrics

(Cmaj7)Moth er, moth er,

there’s too man y (Am7)of you cry ing.

You see (Cmaj7)Broth er, broth er, broth er,

there’s far too man y (Am7)of you dy ing.

You you know we’ve (Dm7)got to find a way

to to bring some (Dm7)lov in’ here to day, yeah.

(Cmaj7)Fa ther, fa ther,

we don’t need to (Am7)es ca late.

ing.

Ah, but (Cmaj7)war is not the an swer,

for on ly love can (Am7)con quer hate.

ing.

You you know we’ve (Dm7)got to find a way

to to bring some (Dm7)lov in’ here to day,

yeah.

(Dm7)lov in’ here to day, oh.

(Dm7)Pick et lines

and (Dm7)pick et signs

don’t (Dm7)pun ish me

with bru (Dm7)tal i ty.

(Dm7)Talk to me

so (Dm7)you can see, oh, what’s (Cmaj7)go ing on,

what’s (Am7)go ing on, yeah, what’s (Cmaj7)go ing on, oh, what’s (Am7)go ing on.

Ah, ah, (Fm9)ah, ah, ah.

I, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, ya, ya, ya, ya.

I, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya.

Be, doot, de doot; Be, be, be, doot; Be be, be, doot; Bu, doot, be, be, be, doot; Be be, be, be, be, doot.

Be, be, be, be, be, doot.

What's Going On by Marvin Gaye — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “What's Going On by Marvin Gaye in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of C at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "What's Going On" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "What's Going On"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.