Things Goin' On

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:[1]

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 going on that you don't know

The first line of the song is particularly pertinent in that it asks the listener whether he has 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 the group became an established act.

The thinly veiled criticism of politicians' responsibility mentioned earlier in the song becomes more evident towards the end of the final verse:

I don't think they really care

I think they just sit up there ...