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Why (What’s Goin On?) Lyrics by The Roots

The Tipping Point

2004

[Hook]
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
[Verse 1: Black Thought]
Sky's the limit so you know I'm gonna rise and shine
I gotta do my thing, I'm kinda getting a little tired of all that's hidden
That's the reason I'ma speak my mind, keep from going insane
Now work with it, we in the last innin'
The world keeps spinnin', my peoples steady losin' while the rich keep winnin'
It's like we never smilin' and the devil steady grinnin'
Killin' what we representin'
Even our children and women, 2K4, livin' above and under the law
Young teen joins the marines, says he'll die for the corps
Inducted up into the government's war
Is it for land, or money, or oil?
Funny how ain't none of it yours
I can't sleep, yo, I'm paranoid, it's code orange
It's far from right, I guess that's why it feels so wrong
To see the world get stripped out of every resource
And people pray to Coca-Cola now instead of the gods
What's goin' on?
[Hook]
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
[Verse 2: Black Thought]
Keepin' your head above water, hustlin' to survive
Some people chasin' a dream, others just chasin' a high
Some people blind leading the blind, they chasin' a lie
Some people chokin', backs broken, barely makin' it by
But still, they workin' all they life, they pushin' for the light
Givin' everything they got to stitch them swishes on ya Nike's
Puttin' pockets on our jeans, mining diamonds for them rings
Rewarded with small change and bullets in the brains
And it make me feel strange, everything we take for granted
At times, I feel stranded on this planet of mine
Now should I pull the hammer, clap it out, and laugh about it
Or stand up, be counted while I cast my ballot
When the undertaker's busy and the prisons is crowded
People livin' in fear because they vision is clouded
But the sky's the limit, I ain't cryin' you a river
Gotta move me a mountain, I'ma get up and shout it
[Hook]
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
[Verse 3: Black Thought]
When I dream, it's hounds on my heels gainin' momentum
I'm tired, can't get uninspired or quit runnin'
I can feel they only inches behind, I escape, I survive
Some how I gotta decide how much I want it
Or is anybody listenin' without a pot to piss in
If I disappear, I wonder if the world will know I'm missin'
Who my support system, it's not the court system
Got a letter, it said that you're not avoiding prison
People 'neath the microscope 'cause we defining the culture
They smile and insult you like you shinin' their loafers
Them old heads say we need a modern day Moses
When the leaders is posers, we needing some soldiers
It's the X generation, the anger in the nation
Got the writing on the wall so clear that I can taste it
Like a kid sniffing glue somewhere trying to escape
'Cause we vulnerable and naked
Gotta show 'em we can make it
[Hook]
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
[Scatting instrumental outro]
Credits
The Roots

The Roots

About “Why (What’s Goin On?)” by The Roots

Read the complete lyrics to "Why (What’s Goin On?)" by The Roots from the album "The Tipping Point" in 2004. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Jazz Rap, East Coast Rap, Conscious Hip-Hop.

"Why (What’s Goin On?)" is performed by The Roots. from the album "The Tipping Point" in 2004 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Why (What’s Goin On?)", explore more songs by The Roots using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Why (What’s Goin On?)" is credited to The Roots. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Why (What’s Goin On?)" appears on "The Tipping Point" in 2004.

Visit the The Roots artist page at /artist/the-roots for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.