Ball of Confusion
Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong; 1968


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 'bout '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
That's what the world is today, hey hey

The sale of crack's at an all time high
Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky
The cities ablaze in the summertime
And 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 head is at, nobody knows 

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, hey 

Fear in the air, tension everywhere
Unemployment rising fast, the Temps 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 Googamooga, can't you hear me talking to you
It's a ball of confusion 

That's what the world is today, hey
Let me hear you, let me hear you, let me hear you 

Ball of confusion 
That's what the world is today, hey

Oh, let me hear you 
Ball of confusion 
That's what the world is today 
Hey Hey

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) What events do you suppose this song refers to?

2) Just by looking at the lyrics, what musical style does this
song look like?


3) Specifically when might this song have been written (i.e.
this year, last year, 1985, etc, ) and why do you suppose this
is?

Some Background

Ball of Confusion" - The Temptations (Lyrics of "Run, run, run,
but you sure can't hide" implied running from: the draft and the
Vietnam War; "confusion" refers to young adult alienation,
inability of young people to effect change) 

Specifically the song refers to the Tet Offensive, which was a
coordinated attack by the North Vietnamese, January 30, 1968, on
major U.S. facilities in South Vietnam. The Viet Cong
infiltrated Saigon, seized the perimeter of the U.S. embassy,
and captured the Citadel at Hue. While Tet was a military
disaster for the Communists [they lost 10,000 men and did not
accomplish many objectives], it marked a victory in altering a
great many Americans' perception of the Vietnam War. 

(This example can be used to introduce the concept of a Pyrrhic
Victory)

Extension:
Drama--put this song to a rap.
Art-do a collage around this song

If you have Vietnamese students, as I do, their parents may
remember this event at first hand. It is interesting to send
these students home to ask their parents about their memories of
it, and emotions surroundiong it.

RESPONSE QUESTIONS

Explain the significance to you of the following sets of 
words:

Run, run, run but you sure can't hide
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An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth 
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Rap on, brother, rap on 

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Is the following set of lyrics true in your opinion? Why or why
not?

Well, the only person talking 'bout 'love thy brother' 
Is the preacher
And it seems nobody's interested in learning
But the teacher 
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This song seems to imply that adults and adult society are
inflexible, and can't change. Is this true? Why or why not?

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