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4 Non Blondes - What's Up




"What's Up?" is a song by American rock group 4 Non Blondes from their 1992 debut album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More! It was released as the album's second single in 1993. It was successful in the United States and in several European countries, peaking at number one in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.


The title does not appear in the song's lyrics. However, the phrase "what's going on?" is prominently included in the chorus. The title was chosen to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye's 1971 song "What's Going On". Linda Perry talked to Rolling Stone and said that she heavily disliked the song's production. Perry revealed on Behind the Music that she hated David Tickle's reworked version (with different lyrics) intended to be used for their album.


She had told this to Jimmy Iovine, who agreed, preferring Perry's demo version over Tickle's. Tickle's instrumental (over the original vocals) could be heard on Perry's episode of Behind the Music; Tickle's version was never released. The final version was recorded in one day after Iovine allowed 4 Non Blondes to re-record Perry's demo version. The music video was directed by Morgan Lawley.





Lyrics


25 years and my life is still

Tryin' to get up that great big hill of hope

For a destination


I realized quickly when I knew I should

That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man

For whatever that means


And so I cry sometimes when I'm lying in bed

Just to get it all out what's in my head

And I, I am feeling a little peculiar


And so I wake in the morning and I step outside

And I take a deep breath and I get real high

And I scream from the top of my lungs

"What's going on?"


And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said "Hey, a-what's going on?"

And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said "Hey, a-what's going on?"


Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Ooh, uh huh

Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Ooh, uh huh


And I try

Oh my God, do I try

I try all the time

In this institution


And I pray

Oh my God, do I pray

I pray every single day

For revolution


And so I cry sometimes when I'm lying in bed

Just to get it all out, what's in my head

And I, I am feeling a little peculiar


And so I wake in the morning and I step outside

And I take a deep breath and I get real high

And I scream from the top of my lungs

"What's going on?"


And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said "Hey, what's going on?"

And I say, hey-ey-ey

Hey-ey-ey

I said "Hey, a-what's going on?"

And I say, hey-ey-ey

(Wake in the morning and step outside)

Hey-ey-ey

(Take a deep breath and I get real high)

(And I scream)

I said "Hey, a-what's going on?"

And I say, hey-ey-ey

(Wake in the morning and step outside)

Hey-ey, yeah yeah yeah

(Take a deep breath and I get real high)

(And I scream)

I said "Hey, a-what's going on?"


Ooh, ooh

Ooh

Ooh, uh huh


25 years and my life is still

Tryin' to get up that great big hill of hope

For a destination, mmm




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