Music and Us

When you attend a high school in Detroit in the early 60s, Motown music is a staple in your life.

Just as Ron Stutts posts music on his Facebook page to reflect his feelings, it struck me that in these troubled times in which we live, some Motown hits might provide guidance.

So Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On? What I read, hear and see these days means that The Miracles know about the Tracks of My Tears. The hate out there causes The Supremes to ask everyone to Stop in the Name of Love, because Brenda Holloway told us Every Little Bit Hurts.

Even back then, the Temptations knew that the world today is A Ball of Confusion and Martha and the Vandellas said that there’s Nowhere to Run. We want a better world and as the Temptations made clear, We Ain’t Too Proud to Beg and Smokey Robinson personally said, I Second that Emotion. Why can’t our days be filled with people that give life to Stevie Wonder’s You Are the Sunshine of My Life and travel with Gladys Knight on The Friendship Train?

What we are experiencing is just what the Spinners said, It’s a Shame! If we listen to Eddie Kendricks and Keep on Truckin’ We will see what Mable John knew, Actions Speak Louder Than Words.

Stevie will take us to Higher Ground and I must believe the Four Tops because I Can’t Help Myself and we should Reach Out and hopefully, find ourselves Standing in the Shadows of Love.

Yes, Marvin, Mercy, Mercy Me, I don’t want Sad Tomorrows. So let’s just Love One Another!

— Fred Black

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