Ball of Confusion

The Undisputed Truth

About Ball of Confusion

"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. The song was used to anchor the 1970 Greatest Hits II LP. It reached #3 on the US pop charts and #2 on the US R&B charts. Billboard ranked the record as the #24 song of 1970. It reached #7 in the UK Singles Chart. Although a nearly eleven minute long backing track was recorded by The Funk Brothers, only slightly more than four minutes was used for the Temptations' version of the song. The full backing track can be heard on the 1971 LP The Undisputed Truth. 


Year:
1971
10:20
55 
#2

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People movin' out, people movin' in.
Why, because of the color of their skin.
Run, run, run, but you sho' 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 talkin' '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 (yeah, yeah)
The sale of pills is at an all time high 
young folks walkin' 'round with their heads in the sky 
Cities aflame in the summer time, and oh the beat goes on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
City inspectors, bill collectors,
Evolution, revolution, gun control, the sound of soul,
Shootin' rockets to the moon, kids growin' up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will solve ev'rything, and the band played on.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a 
Ball of Confusion that's what the world is today. (yeah, yeah)
 
Fear in the air, tension ev'rywhere
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatle's 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 movin' to the hills
People all over the world are shouting end the war and the band played on.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a 
Ball of Confusion that's what the world is today
Let me hear you, let me hear you, let me hear you
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today
 

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The Undisputed Truth

The Undisputed Truth was a 1970s Motown recording act, assembled by record producer Norman Whitfield as a means for being able to experiment with his psychedelic soul production techniques. Joe Harris served as main lead singer, with Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Joyce Evans, formerly of The Delicates, on additional leads and background vocals. more »

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Written by: NORMAN WHITFIELD, BARRETT STRONG

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


2 facts about this song

The Temptations" version
"Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. - It was produced by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, known for creating socially-conscious and politically-charged songs. - The song reached #3 on the US Pop Charts and #2 on the US R&B charts. - The track was one of the final recordings by the original lineup of the Temptations, with Paul Williams and David Ruffin making their last appearances. - It was an early example of psychedelic soul music, a style that Whitfield and The Temptations had been innovating since 1968's "Cloud Nine". - The song touches on several controversial subjects of the time including the Vietnam War, racial tensions in America, the drug abuse crisis, and political corruption.
The Undisputed Truth" version
Motown labelmate The Undisputed Truth released a cover version of "Ball of Confusion" in 1971. - Their version was produced by the same creative team of Whitfield and Strong and featured a different musical arrangement. - It was one of the many successful Whitfield-Strong collaborations for The Undisputed Truth, who also scored hits with "Smiling Faces Sometimes" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone". - The Undisputed Truth's version of "Ball of Confusion" remained relatively obscure, not charting nationally, but achieving some regional success. - The group's cover version was often lengthy, with the recorded version reaching over 10 minutes, and included a more prominent use of synthesizer and special effects. - The Undisputed Truth's rendition focused more on the psychedelic soul aspect of the song and was much darker and more experimental than The Temptations' original.

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