Ball of Confusion – adr-nb.org

Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)

“Ball of Confusion” deliver’s a powerful political message over 50 year ago. The lyrics illustrate a multitude of problems that were tearing the world apart in 1970: the Vietnam War, racial segregation, aids, drug abuse, crooked politicians, and more. The world stood by and did little to nothing and today – not much has changed.

If We do Nothing, who will Bring the Change?

The world is still in need of people that will take action to solve it’s problems. What can you do? Join ADR-New Beginnings and help find the solution.

“Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)“ is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in late 1969. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_of_Confusion_(That’s_What_the_World_Is_Today)

After more than 50 years the words ring true, the words are an upbeat message of sadness and despair. Yet the music moves us to hope we will overcome the adversity that is sung about in the song. Today we are fighting the same battles. Have me made any progress? Maybe, but, we need to work together more than ever if we are to succeed. We need a New Beginning – and that is what we are bringing to the World of Confusion!

These are some of the points the song makes:

Race: People moving out, people moving in Why, because of the color of their skin
Is violence a solution? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
The same old Political Voice: Vote for me and I’ll set you free
Education needs to be relevant: And it seems nobody’s interested in learning but the teacher
Just a Ball of Confusion; Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation
Not any more, this is from 1969: The sale of pills are at an all time high
The cities ablaze in the summer time
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything

https://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?id=847&lang=en

Like “Psychedelic Shack” before it, “Ball of Confusion” delves head-on into psychedelia, this time with a strong political message. The lyrics list a multitude of problems that were tearing the world apart in 1970: the Vietnam War, segregation, white flight, drug abuse, crooked politicians, and more. “Round and around and around we go”, the Temptations sing, “where the world’s headed/nobody knows.” The end of each section of the Temptations’ lists of woes is punctuated by bass singer Melvin Franklin’s line, “And the band played on.”

These are some of the points the song makes:

Race: People moving out, people moving in Why, because of the color of their skin
Is violence a solution? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
The same old Political Voice: Vote for me and I’ll set you free
Aids was being ignored – “and the band played on” just keep going and do nothing
Education needs to be relevant: And it seems nobody’s interested in learning but the teacher
Just a Ball of Confusion; Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation
Not any more, this is from 1969: The sale of pills are at an all time high
The cities ablaze in the summer time
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything

It Hurts to be reminded who little we did; this From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_of_Confusion_(That%27s_What_the_World_Is_Today)

Randy Shilts quoted the lyrics from “Ball of Confusion” when he named his award-winning journalistic account of the AIDS epidemic, And the Band Played On. In the song, the repeated usage of the phrase “and the band played on” signaled that no one was paying proper attention to world problems, in the same manner the AIDS epidemic was initially ignored.

How do you see yourself? Can you imagine making a difference? Work with us to make the world a better place.

These are the Lyrics:

One, two, one, two, three, four, ow

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

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

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

Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything

And the band played on

So, round and around and around we go
Where the world’s headed, nobody knows

Oh, great googa-looga, can’t you hear me talking to you
Just a ball of confusion
Oh yeah, that’s what the world is today
Woo, hey

Fear in the air, tension everywhere
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record’s a gas

And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation

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

And the band played on

Great googa-looga, 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
Ball of confusion