“Where is the Love?” – Hosea in this New Era

The song, “Where is the Love?”, is clearly a lament questioning where the love has gone in the world. The musicality and lyrics are reflective of Hosea’s prophetic message and delivery to the people of Judah. The artists, Black-Eyed Peas (with lyricist Justin Timberlake) use a hip-hop melody that expresses a sense of longing, disappointment, anguish, loss, exasperation, and sadness. But the underlying rhythm and some lyrics also suggests hope, expectation, and faith that the world will change. I chose this piece because I believe it speaks to many teenagers in a medium that they can connect with, and the message is very relevant for their age group. It challenges them to critically think about why there is suffering in the world.

The Feelings

The artists begin the song by reciting a litany of cases showing the problems that exist because we have not followed the Golden Rule: love thy neighbour. Some of the examples they highlight include terrorism (whether it is overseas or as the “CIA” in America), gang violence (Bloods vs. the Cripps), racism (KKK), bombs, chemical warfare, and generally, people killing and dying, and children crying.

The song brings a sense of nostalgia and longing through the question of “Where”, implying a loving world once existed, for example, “It just isn't the same, always unchanged. New days are strange, is the world insane?” or through the words, “So ask yourself is the loving really gone? So I could ask myself really what is going wrong?” Coupled with nostalgia is also disappointment and some anguish tinged with loss, “Whatever happened to the values of humanity? Whatever happened to the fairness in equality?”

The beginning lyrics, “What's wrong with the world mama? People living like they ain't got no mamas” shows some feelings of exasperation, even as the words continue with, “I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama, only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma.” You can almost feel the exasperation with an unvoiced question, “Why does it have to be this way?”

There is also a sense of feeling overwhelmed, “I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder. As I'm getting older, all people get colder.” Connected with the all the above feelings, ofcourse, is sadness, “That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under. That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down. There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under. I gotta keep my faith alive until love is found.” The last line about faith also shows a sense of hope and expectation; that love will surface and you just need to wait.

The hope is also evident in the questions they challenge us with in the chorus, “Can you practice what you preach? Would you turn the other cheek? FATHER FATHER FATHER help us! Send some guidance from above…” Black-Eyed Peas references the Gospel and acknowledges that there is a greater and Sacred presence of God that can inspire and guide us.

The Message

The message of the song is very clear. It identifies the causes of the problems in the world, the first being greed, “Most of us only care about money making. Selfishness got us following our own direction… In this world that we’re living in, people keep on giving in, making wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends (profit)” In addition to greed, they blame the influence of media, “Wrong information always shown by the media. Negative images is the main criteria. Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria. Kids want to act like what they see in the cinema.” Finally, they highlight the lack of respect we show to the “other”, those who are different from us: “But if you only have love for your own race, Then you only leave space to discriminate, And to discriminate only generates hate. And when you hate, then you're bound to get irate, yeah… Not respecting each other, deny your brother.” They believe there must be an active willingness to try to understand others, “Instead of spreading love we’re spreading animosity, Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity.”

Finally, calls on us to let go of anger and focus on love. They urge us with their warning and command, “ Badness is what you demonstrate and that's exactly how ANGER works and Operates. You’ve got to have love just to set it straight. Take control of your mind and meditate. Let your soul gravitate to the love…”

Thus, the song, “Where is the Love?” is reflective of Hosea’s prophetic style and message, appealing to the people to reflect on why the world has changed for the worse, and challenging them to reshape it through love.

WHERE IS THE LOVE? and the KKK. Black-Eyed Peas But if you only have love for your own race, (Lyrics by Justin Timberlake) Then you only leave space to discriminate, And to discriminate only generates hate. And when you hate, What's wrong with the world mama? then you're bound to get irate, yeah. People living like they ain't got no mamas, Badness is what you demonstrate and I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama, that's exactly how ANGER works and Operates. Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma. You’ve got to have love just to set it straight. Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism, Take control of your mind and meditate. But we still got terrorists here living in the USA, Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all, y'all. The big CIA, the Bloods and the Cripps Chorus: until love is found. People killing, people dying Children hurt, and you hear them crying Can you practice what you preach? Repeat Chorus until fade Would you turn the other cheek? FATHER, FATHER, FATHER help us! Send some guidance from above ‘Cause people got me, got me questioning, Where is the love (where is the love)? Where is the love? Where is the love, the love, the love?

It just isn't the same, always unchanged. New days are strange, is the world insane? If love and peace is so strong, Why are there pieces of love that don't belong? Nations dropping bombs; Chemical gasses filling lungs of little ones; With ongoing suffering as the youth die young, So ask yourself is the loving really gone? So I could ask myself really what is going wrong? In this world that we’re living in, people keep on giving in, Making wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends, Not respecting each other, deny your brother A war is going on but the reason's undercover. The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug If you never know truth then you never know love Where's the love y'all, come on (I don't know) Where's the truth y'all, come on (I don't know) Where's the love y'all?

Repeat Chorus

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder As I'm getting older, all people get colder. Most of us only care about money making. Selfishness got us following our own direction. Wrong information always shown by the media. Negative images is the main criteria, Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria. Kids want to act like what they see in the cinema. Whatever happened to the values of humanity? Whatever happened to the fairness in equality? Instead of spreading love we’re spreading animosity Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity. That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under. That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under. I gotta keep my faith alive This is a great song by the Black Eyed Peas. To Play along with the record you use the CAPO at 5. But I find for female voices the song works better at CAPO 2. But obvio. There is no strumming pattern for this song yet. Create and get +5 IQ. Where Is The Love? This is a great song by the Black Eyed Peas. To Play along with the record you use the CAPO at 5. But I find for female voices the song works better at CAPO 2. But obviously you play it however you want to play it. Enjoy! “Where Is the Love?†​ is a song by The Black Eyed Peas about police brutality, racism and terrorism. The song was released as the lead single from their third album, .… Read More. “Where Is the Love?†​ is a song by The Black Eyed Peas about police brutality, racism and terrorism. The song was released as the lead single from their third album, Elephunk. It was the band’s first song to feature Fergie as an official member of the group. "Where Is the Love?" is the first single from the Black Eyed Peas' third album, Elephunk, released in 2003. It was the first single to feature the new member, Fergie. The single peaked at #8 in the USA, becoming The Black Eyed Peas' first Top 10 hit; the single also peaked at #1 in Australia and the UK. The single is most known as the band's breakthrough single. You can change your settings at any time by using the consent settings module. Note that saving settings is linked to the particular browser and/or device you use to visit our Services. Saving your settings within one particular Service will not affect your choices on other ViacomCBS Services, or if you visit this Service with another device or from a different browser. In addition, it won’t affect any of your activities on third-party services. "Where Is the Love?" is a song by American hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas. It was released on May 12, 2003, as the lead single from their third album, Elephunk. The song was written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, , Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno and George Pajon. The track features vocals from Timberlake, although he is not officially credited on the single release. It was the group's first song to feature singer Fergie as an official member. The day after the show, "Where Is The Love?" went to #7 on the iTunes chart. More songs from The Black Eyed Peas. More songs performed at The Grammys. Stacey from Someplace, Australiathis song is bomb i love it cept' i think that the black eyed peas are sell outs seriously most their new songs sound the same and are all fergie dancing around in practically nothing ANYWAY this song is uber cool. Junsu from Rancho Cucamonga, CaTHE BEST SONG EVER! Will last throughout the time and still be one of the best song 100 years later! I love this song, the song is harmonious and meaningful. THE BEST. Joe from Chicago, Ari love this song and the black eyed peas aren't rap their hip hop rap is eminem and 50 cent hip hop is stuff like black eyed peas.