Things Goin' On

Things Goin' On was written in 1973 by Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington, the lead vocalist and guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd. It appeared on the band's first album Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd and expressed concerns about social and environmental issues. The song was distinct from other contemporary protest-songs in that it utilized a Western-style Honky Tonk melody, though this was in keeping with Lynyrd Skynyrd's country-rock image.

The first verse, which expressed concern about 'life in the ghetto' is repeated at the end of the song thereby placing emphasis on this particular issue. It also contains the line that gives the song its title:

Well, have you ever lived down in the ghetto

Have you ever felt that cold wind blow

Well, if you don't know what I mean

Won't you stand up and scream

Cause there's things goin' on that you don't know

The first line of the song is particularly pertinent in that it asks the user whether they have ever lived down in the ghetto. Support for segregation was still widespread in the southern United States at the time and Lynyrd Skynyrd risked alienating a large number of potential fans before they became an established act.