Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Album: What's Going On (1971)
Charted: 9
Play Video
  • Rockets, moon shots
    Spend it on the have nots
    Money, we make it
    Fore we see it you take it
    Oh, make you wanna holler
    The way they do my life
    Make me wanna holler
    The way they do my life
    This ain't livin'
    This ain't livin'
    No, no baby, this ain't livin'
    No, no, no

    Inflation no chance
    To increase finance
    Bills pile up sky high
    Send that boy off to die
    Make me wanna holler
    The way they do my life
    Make me wanna holler
    The way they do my life

    Hang-ups, let downs
    Bad breaks, set backs
    Natural fact is
    I can't pay my taxes
    Oh, make me wanna holler
    And throw up both my hands
    Yea, it makes me wanna holler
    And throw up both my hands

    Crime is increasing
    Trigger happy policing
    Panic is spreading
    God knows where
    We're heading
    Oh, make me wanna holler
    They don't understand
    Make me wanna holler
    They don't understand Writer/s: James Nyx, Marvin Gaye
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Owen from Eugene, OregonGreatest libertarian song of all time
  • Jordan from Omaha, Nebeautiful song. shows the horrors of reality in its time. weird how not alot has changed since then though.
  • Dave from Rockford, IlMarvin was greatly troubled by the Viet Nam War. He had a brother and friends from Detroit that had served and begun to return home. "What's Going On" , (note the abesent question mark)was to be a suite, a compostion that was directed to one sinuglar idea. Barry Gordon would not allow Marvin to record it at Motown; thus, Marvin recorded it on his own, with his own money, and he slipped it by Gordy. Not until it became a hit with the title track did Gordy capitulate.
  • David from Reading, EnglandI really like Sevendust's cover of this; the singer seems to have captured the feeling of the song well, particularly during the "make me wanna holler" part.
  • Larry from New York City, Ny"Inner City Blues" is a realistic song about the enforced poverty and brutality so many Americans must endure in this the richest country in the history of the world, all the while watching their children being used as cannon fodder in foreign wars or succumbing to a culture of ignorance and criminality at home. This song is a strange companion to the fantasy song "Trouble Man," also by sung by Marvin Gaye. "Trouble Man" is the theme song for movie, an urban crime drama, in which a black anit-hero (played compellingly by Robert Hooks) uses brutality and guile to successfully overcome all the exploitative societal traps bemoaned in Marvin Gaye's song "Inner City Blues."
  • Mel from Riverbank, CaI dedicate this song to the Republican party..
  • Yos from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republicyup, if they kept the beat going for about 30 seconds more
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaGreat song. As with all Marvin Gaye's songs, I wish it lasted longer, to keep that aura going.
  • Konstantin from San Marcos, TxMy favourite song by Gaye. Even better than whats going on simply becuase of the way it sounds.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.