Ball of Confusion: The Temptations

The lyrics of Motown R&B singing groups such as the Temptations epitomized the consciousness of young people growing up in the mid 1960s that were a part of the anti-Vietnam war era. Youth in previous generations have always defied parental controls that sought to define their world view and patterns of behavior. The Temptations 1970 hit single “Ball of Confusion” can almost be seen as a type of whole earth, conservationist, anti-imperialist, anti-poverty anthem for the current batch of disaffected American youth seeking to regain their parents drive to make change in the world they inhabit. Today’s youth should not seek to fight the battles of old or mimic the actions of young people forty years ago. It is a new world they inhabit but there is a need for them to continue the work of CHANGE. Many of these young people recognizing that something is amiss in American society and the world have begun to cut their political/social consciousness by participating in the Barack Obama presidential campaign or expressing themselves via library 2.0 platforms like blogs, wikis and the like.

Ball of Confusion

1, 2… 1, 2, 3, 4, Ow!
Eddie: People moving out, people moving in. Why, because of the color of their skin.
Run, run, run but you sure can’t hide. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Vote for me and I’ll set you free. Rap on, brother, rap on.
Dennis: Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the…(preacher.)
And it seems nobody’s interested in learning but the…(teacher.)
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation.
Ball of confusion. Oh yeah, that’s what the world is today. Woo, hey, hey.
Paul:
The sale of pills are at an all time high.
Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky.
The cities ablaze in the summer time.
And oh, the beat goes on.
Dennis:
Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul.
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon.
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything.
Melvin:
And the band played on.
So, round and around and around we go.
Where the world’s headed, nobody knows.
[Instrumental]
Oh, great GoogaMooga, can’t you hear me talking to you.
Just a ball of confusion.
Oh yeah, that’s what the world is today.
Woo, hey, hey.
Eddie:
Fear in the air, tension everywhere.
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record’s a gas.
Dennis:
And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation.
Melvin:
And the band played on.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors,
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills,
Hippies moving to the hills. People all over the world are shouting, ‘End the war.’
Melvin:
And the band played on.
[Instrumental]
Great GoogaMooga, can’t you hear me talking to you.
Sayin’… ball of confusion.
That’s what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin’… ball of confusion.
That’s what the world is today, hey, hey.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya.
Sayin’… ball of confusion.