[Verse 1]
We was a-d-d-d-drivin' d-downtown LA
About a-midnight hour
And it almost b-b-blew my mind
I got caught in a coloured shower
All those lights were t-t-twinkling on Sunset
I saw a sign in the sky
It said, "T-t-t-trip a t-trip, I trip, trip"
I couldn't keep up, up if I tried
Ah, we stepped down to reality company
To get some instant sleep
And the driver turned, I said, "Welcome back"
Smiled, and he said, "Beep-beep"

[Chorus]
What goes on? Chick-a-chick
What goes on? I really wanna know
What goes on all around me?
What goes on? I really wanna know

[Verse 2]
I went in, should come my, my dream a-woman
She gotta sequins in her hair
Like she stepped out of a, of a Fellini film
She sat in a white straw chair
But I thought I'd take a second look
Just to see what I could see
A-my scene had popped out like a bubble does
There was nobody there but me
I said, "Girl, you drank a lot of drink-me
But you ain't in a wonderland
You know, I might've been there to greet you, child
When your trippin' ship a-touches sand"
[Chorus]
What goes on? Chick-a-chick
What goes on? I really wanna know
What goes on? Chick-a-chick
What goes on? I really wanna know

[Verse 3]
A silver goblet of wine is-a to be
Held in a bejeweled glove
And her knights, they toast the tournament
The falcons they fly above
A-but the queen will a-drink of the dew tonight
But the jester, she cries alone
Because Merlin spoke of an instant spell
To make the devil's white knights moan
And-a all in all, the seagull said
"As I look to where I've been
The whole wide human race
Has a-taken far too much Methedrine"

[Chorus]
What goes on? Chick-a-chick
What goes on? I really wanna know
What goes on? So near
What goes on? I really wanna know
Yeah, well, come on
[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 4]
We sat in a velvet jewel case
With sparkles everywhere
And Julian, he sat on a diamond ring
And he talked of days gone by
We spoke of a common kaleidoscope
And the pros and the cons of Zen
And he spoke, and he said for a piece of cake
He really did have a yen
Bobby Dylan he sat "the Mad Hatter"
A broken hourglass in his hand
And-a Joanie sat in a white lace
Looking cool with a black lace fan

[Chorus]
What goes on? Chick-a-chick
What goes on? I really wanna know
What goes on? Yes! Please tell me
What goes on? I really wanna know