The Moody Blues: Question Lyrics

"Question" is a 1970 single by the English progressive rock band The Moody Blues. It was written by guitarist Justin Hayward, who provides lead vocals. "Question" was first released as a single in April 1970, and was later featured as the lead track on the 1970 album 'A Question of Balance'.

Originally, the song itself was also to have been named "A Question of Balance," but was shortened to "Question."

The lyrics of the chorus, which are...

..."Why do we never get an answer, when we're knocking at the door?

With a thousand million questions about hate and death and war!"...

...represented the feelings and attitude toward the Vietnam War.

The single also features the song "Candle of Life" on its B-side, which was from the Moody Blues previous album 'To Our Children's Children's Children'.

"Question" was recorded in one take!

Justin Hayward: acoustic guitar, vocals

John Lodge: bass guitar

Mike Pinder: mellotron

Ray Thomas: tambourine

Graeme Edge: drums, percussion

At the time, "Question" was a simple recording for the Moody Blues. Their previous album, To Our Children's Children's Children, featured songs which included many different sounds provided by overdubbing and double-tracking. Unfortunately, this made most of the songs on the album unable to be performed live. For this reason, "Question" was recorded in one take, and did not need any overdubbing or double-tracking, making it easy for the Moody Blues to perform live.

written by Justin Hayward

Why do we never get an answer

When we're knocking at the door

With a thousand million questions

About hate and death and war?

'Cos when we stop and look around us,

There is nothing that we need,

In a world of persecution

That is burning in its greed.

Why do we never get an answer

When we're knocking at the door

Because the truth is hard to swallow

That's what the war of love is for

It's not the way that you say it

When you do those things to me

It's more the way that you mean it

When you tell me what will be

And when you stop and think about it

You won't believe it's true

That all the love you've been giving

Has all been meant for you.

I'm looking for someone to change my life,

I'm looking for a miracle in my life

And if you could see what it's done to me,

To lose the love I knew

Could safely lead me through.

Between the silence of the mountains,

And the crashing of the sea,

There lies a land I once lived in,

And she's waiting there for me,

But in the grey of the morning,

My mind becomes confused,

Between the dead and the sleeping,

And the road that I must choose.

I'm looking for someone to change my life,

I'm looking for a miracle in my life

And if you could see what it's done to me,

To lose the love I knew,

Could safely lead me to

The land that I once knew,

To learn as we grow old

The secrets of our soul.

It's not the way that you say it

When you do those things to me

It's more the way you really mean it

When you tell me what will be

Why do we never get an answer

When we're knocking at the door

With a thousand million questions

About hate and death and war?

'Cos when we stop and look around us,

There is nothing that we need,

In a world of persecution

That is burning in its greed.

A Question of Balance is a 1970 album by The Moody Blues. The album was an attempt by the group to strip down their well-known lush, psychedelic sound in order to be able to better perform the songs in concert. In order to be able to play as many new songs as possible from their new album live, the group decided (temporarily) to abandon their method of heavy overdubbing for A Question of Balance.

For the first time, The Moody Blues used political strife as a basis for songwriting with the UK number two hit in May 1970, "Question", which dealt with the controversy resulting from the ongoing Vietnam War.

Released in 1970, the album reached #1 in the UK and #3 in the U.S. However, the group would abandon the stripped-down sounds of A Question of Balance for the lusher sounds of their next two albums, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and Seventh Sojourn.

In March 2006 the album was remastered into SACD format and repackaged with six extra tracks.

Side one

1. "Question" (Justin Hayward) - 5:40
2. "How Is It (We Are Here)" (Mike Pinder) - 2:48
3. "And The Tide Rushes In" (Ray Thomas) - 2:57
4. "Don't You Feel Small" (Graeme Edge) - 2:40
5. "Tortoise And The Hare" (John Lodge) - 3:23

Side two

1. "It's Up To You" (Hayward) - 3:11
2. "Minstrel's Song" (Lodge) - 4:27
3. "Dawning Is The Day" (Hayward) - 4:22
4. "Melancholy Man" (Michaël Pinder) - 5:49
5. "The Balance" (Edge/Thomas) - 3:33

Bonus tracks

on the SACD version:

1. Mike's Number One (Previously Unreleased)
2. Question (Alternate Version)
3. Minstrel's Song (Original Mix)
4. It's Up To You (Original Mix)
5. Don't You Feel Small (Original Mix)
6. Dawning Is The Day (Full Original Mix)

So, I tried this one and it is excellent. All the old Moodies cuts are here, especially:

• I'm Just A Singer
• Nights in White Satin
• Legened of A Mind
• Question
• Ride My See-Saw

This is a fabulous collection.