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Marvin Gaye Quotes

Marvin Pentz Gaye was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is " and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell, later earning the titles "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".

During the 1970s, he recorded the albums What's Going On and Let's Get It On and became one of the first artists in Motown to break away from the reins of a production company. His later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo soul. Following a period in Europe as a tax exile in the early 1980s, he released the 1982 Grammy Award-winning hit "Sexual Healing" and its parent album Midnight Love.

On April 1, 1984, Gaye's father, Marvin Gay Sr., fatally shot him at their house in the West Adams district of Los Angeles. Since his death, many institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with awards and other honors—including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

✵ 2. April 1939 – 1. April 1984
Marvin Gaye photo
Marvin Gaye: 23 quotes2 likes

Famous Marvin Gaye Quotes

“Oh, I've got news for you
Baby, that I've made plans for two
I guess I'm just a stubborn kind of fellow
Got my mind made up to love you.”

Marvin Gaye

Stubborn Kind of Fellow, co-written with William "Mickey" Stevenson and George Gordy.
Song lyrics, That Stubborn Kinda Fellow (1962)

“Ooo remember, baby, how you made me feel just like a king?
Ah, I've been waiting
I'm ready for you to start doin' the things
So I'll know you're mine.
You're so fine, so petite, oh candy sweet.
Ah, I've been waiting.
Come here, baby, get to this.”

Marvin Gaye

Come Get to This.
Song lyrics, Let's Get It On (1973)

“Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today.”

Marvin Gaye

What's Going On.
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“Father, father
We don't need to escalate.
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate.
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today.”

Marvin Gaye

What's Going On.
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)
Variant: Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying.
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying.
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today.

“Distant lover, ooo, sugar
How can you treat my heart so mean and cruel?
Didn't you know, sugar, that I dream
Of what I spent with you?
I treasure it like it was a precious jewel, oh baby.
Lord have mercy!”

Marvin Gaye

Distant Lover, co-written with Gwen Gordy and Sandra Greene.
Song lyrics, Let's Get It On (1973)

“Stop beatin round the bush,
Let's get it on.”

Marvin Gaye

Let's Get It On.
Song lyrics, Let's Get It On (1973)

Marvin Gaye Quotes about babies

“You are my pride and joy
And I just love you, little darlin'
Like a baby boy loves his toy
You've got kisses sweeter than honey
And I work every day to give you all I know
And that's why you're my pride and joy.”

Marvin Gaye

Pride and Joy, co-written with William "Mickey" Stevenson and Norman Whitfield.
Song lyrics, That Stubborn Kinda Fellow (1962)

“Ooh, baby let's get down tonight
Baby I'm hot just like an oven
I need some lovin'
And baby, I can't hold it much longer
It's getting stronger and stronger
And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing.
Sexual Healing, baby
Makes me feel so fine
Helps to relieve my mind.
Sexual Healing baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me.”

Marvin Gaye

Sexual Healing, co-written with Odell Brown and David Ritz.
Song lyrics, Midnight Love (1982)

“Hey baby, what'cha know good?
I'm just gettin' back, but you knew I would.
War is hell, when will it end?
When will people start gettin' together again?”

Marvin Gaye

What's Happening Brother, co-written with James Nyx, Jr.
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“Oooh, oh, how many eyes
Have seen their dream?
Oh, how many arms
Have felt their dream?
How many hearts, baby…
Have felt their world stand still?”

Marvin Gaye

If I Should Die Tonight.
Song lyrics, Let's Get It On (1973)

“My baby ohhh
Come take control, just grab a hold
Of my body and mind; soon we'll be making it
Honey, oh we're feeling fine
You're my medicine. Open up and let me in.
Darling, you're so great;
I can't wait for you to operate.”

Marvin Gaye

Sexual Healing.
Song lyrics, Midnight Love (1982)

“I've been really tryin, baby
Tryin to hold back these feelings for so long
And if you feel, like I feel baby
Come on, oh come on,
Let's get it on.”

Marvin Gaye

Let's Get It On, co-written with Ed Townsend
Song lyrics, Let's Get It On (1973)

Marvin Gaye Quotes

“Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand.”

Marvin Gaye

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
'Fore we see it you take it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler.”

Marvin Gaye

Inner City Blues, co-written with James Nyx, Jr.
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“Oh mercy, mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh, na na…
My sweet Lord… No.”

Marvin Gaye

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology).
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“Woo ah, mercy mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no.
Where did all the blue skies go?”

Marvin Gaye

Mercy Mercy Me.
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“I've come of heart, baby, but now I'm cool
I didn't make it surely, playin' by the rules
I've come of heart, baby, but now I'm fine
I'm checkin' trouble, sure movin' down the line
I've come of heart, baby, but that's OK
'Cause Trouble Man don't get in my way.”

Marvin Gaye

Trouble Man
Song lyrics, Trouble Man (1972)

“Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up, let's make love tonight
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, 'cos you do it right.”

Marvin Gaye

Sexual Healing.
Song lyrics, Midnight Love (1982)

“Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on.”

Marvin Gaye

What's Going On.
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“Won't you rather make love, children
As opposed to war, like you know you should?”

Marvin Gaye

Keep Gettin' It On, co-written with Ed Townsend.
Song lyrics, Let's Get It On (1973)

“I just want to ask a question:
Who really cares?
To save a world in despair
There'll come a time, when the world won't be singin'
Flowers won't grow, bells won't be ringin'
Who really cares?
Who's willing to try to save a world
That's destined to die?”

Marvin Gaye

Save the Children, co-written with Al Cleveland and Renaldo Benson.
Song lyrics, What's Going On (1971)

“By the look in your eye I can tell you're gonna cry.
Is it over me?
If it is, save your tears
For I'm not worth it, you see.
For I'm the type of boy who is always on the roam,
Wherever I lay my hat that's my home,
I'm telling you that's my home.”

Marvin Gaye

Wherever I Lay My Hat, co-written with Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield.
Song lyrics, That Stubborn Kinda Fellow (1962)

“Oh, If I should die tonight
Oh baby, though it be far before my time
I won't die blue, sugar yeah
'Cause I've known you.”

Marvin Gaye

If I Should Die Tonight, co-written with Ed Townsend.
Song lyrics, Let's Get It On (1973)

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