Marvin Gaye Asks "Who Really Cares?" In His 1971 Song "Save The Children"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about Marvin Gaye and showcases his 1971 song "Save The Children".

The content of this post is presented for cultural, motivational, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Marvin Gaye for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/songs-from-marvin-gayes-whats-going-on.html for a 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Five Songs From Marvin Gaye's 1971 "What's Going On" Album". A link to a 2017 pancocojams post showcasing two Marvin Gaye songs is also included in that post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT MARVIN GAYE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye
"Marvin Gaye born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984)[2] was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell, later earning the titles "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".

During the 1970s, he recorded the albums What's Going On and Let's Get It On and became one of the first artists in Motown (joint with Stevie Wonder) to break away from the reins of a production company. His later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo soul.[3] Following a period in Europe as a tax exile in the early 1980s, he released the 1982 Grammy Award-winning hit "Sexual Healing" and its parent album Midnight Love.

On April 1, 1984, Gaye's father, Marvin Gay Sr., fatally shot him at their house in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.[4][5] Since his death, many institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with awards and other honors—including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[6]

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From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_Going_On_(Marvin_Gaye_album)
"What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971, on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records.[1] Recording sessions took place in June 1970 and March–May 1971 at Hitsville U.S.A., Golden World and United Sound Studios in Detroit and at The Sound Factory in West Hollywood, California. What's Going On was the first Marvin Gaye album for which Gaye is credited as producer and Motown Records' main studio band, the session musicians known as the Funk Brothers, received a credit.

What's Going On is a concept album consisting of nine songs, most of which segue into the next. It has been categorized as a song cycle; the album ends with a reprise of the album's opening theme. The story is told from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran returning to the country he had been fighting for, and seeing only hatred, suffering, and injustice. Gaye's introspective lyrics discuss themes of drug abuse, poverty, and the Vietnam War. He has also been credited with promoting awareness of global warming before the public outcry against it had become prominent.

What's Going On was an immediate success, both commercially and critically. Having endured as a classic of 1970s soul, a deluxe edition set was released on February 27, 2001, and featured a recording of a May 1972 concert shot at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center. Worldwide surveys of critics, musicians, and the general public have shown that What's Going On is regarded as one of the landmark recordings in pop music history, and one of the greatest albums of the 20th century.[2] The album was ranked number six both on Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and in the magazine's update nine years later.[3]"

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LYRICS: SAVE THE CHILDREN
(Marvin Gaye)

[Verse 1]
I just want to ask a question:
Who really cares, to save a world in despair?
Who really cares?
There'll come a time (There'll come a time)
When the world won't be singing (When the world won't be singing)
Flowers won't grow (flowers won't grow, no)
Bells won't be ringing (the bells won't be ringing)
Who really cares? (Who really cares?)
Who's willing to try? (Who is willing to try?)
To save the world, (to save the world)
That's destined to die (that is destined to die)
When I look at the world (when I look at the world)
It fills me with sorrow (it fills me with sorrow)
Little children today (children today)
Are really going to suffer tomorrow (really suffer tomorrow)
(Oh!) What a shame (what a shame)
Such a bad way to live (such a bad way to live)
Oh, who is to blame? (Who is to blame?)
We can't stop living, (when we can't stop living)
Live, (Live)
(Live for life) Live for life
(But let live everybody)
Live life for the children (live life for...the children. Oh, for the Children)
You see, let's...let's save the children
Let's...let's save all the children, (Save the babies, save the babies!)
(And if you want to love, you got to....save the babies)
(Oh you've got the feeling, you've got the feeling)
(You will save the babies, all of the Children)


Source: https://genius.com/Marvin-gaye-save-the-children-lyrics

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Marvin Gaye - LIVE Save The Children 1972



Nicolas Bouhelier, Published on Sep 14, 2017

Marvin Gaye LIVE Save The Children
At The Kennedy Center
1972

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Example #2: What's Going On + Save the Children LIVE



ClassicSoulRadio, Published on Feb 1, 2012

From his Live in Amsterdam 1976 concert.

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Example #3: Save The Children Marvin Gaye



showzono100, Published on Feb 22, 2011

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Example #4: What's Going On + Save the Children LIVE



ClassicSoulRadio, Published on Feb 1, 2012

From his Live in Amsterdam 1976 concert.