Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
Barry White / Marvin Gaye Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Listen to me people
I ain't got time to think about Money
Or what it can buy
And I ain't got time to sit down and wonder
What make the birdies fly

And I don't have time to think about
What makes the flowers grow

And I've never given it a second thought
To where the rivers flow

And I ain't got time for nothin' else

I ain't got time to discuss the weather
And how long it's going to last
And I ain't got time to do no studying
Once I get out of class

I'm telling you I'm just a fellow with a one track mind
And when it comes to thinkin' about
Anything but my baby
I just don't have the time

Oh yeah
And I ain't got time for nothin' else
Don't you know I, I'm thinking about my baby
I ain't got time for nothin' else

Yeah the world could ever match her wealth
She's some kinda wonderful
Got heaven right here on earth

'Cause I'm just a fellow with a one track mind
And when it comes to thinkin about
Anything but my baby
I just don't have the time

I'm too busy thinkin' about my baby
Oh I ain't got time for nothin' else

Too busy thinkin' about my baby
Ain't got time for nothing else

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" by Barry White / Marvin Gaye talk about the power of love and how it can consume someone's thoughts and actions completely. The singer of the song is essentially saying that he is too preoccupied with thoughts of his lover to pay attention to anything else in the world, including money, the weather, nature, and time itself. He admits that he has a one-track mind and that his thoughts are solely focused on his sweetheart.

At its core, this song is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and how it can completely transform someone's outlook on life. The singer is essentially saying that he is so smitten with his lover that he is no longer interested in anything else. He feels that his partner is the most valuable thing in the world, and he is content to spend all of his time thinking about her. This message is particularly impactful because it speaks to the profound impact of love on an individual's emotional wellbeing.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen to me people
Pay attention everyone

I ain't got time to think about Money
I'm not interested in money

Or what it can buy
Or the things that money can purchase

And I ain't got time to sit down and wonder
I don't have free time to ponder

What make the birdies fly
What causes birds to take flight

And I don't have time to think about
I haven't thought about

What makes the flowers grow
The process behind the growth of flowers

And I've never given it a second thought
I haven't considered it at all

To where the rivers flow
The path that rivers take

And I ain't got time for nothin' else
I am only focused on one thing

I ain't got time to discuss the weather
I'm not interested in talking about the weather

And how long it's going to last
Or how much longer the weather will persist

And I ain't got time to do no studying
I don't have time for education

Once I get out of class
After I complete school for the day

I'm telling you I'm just a fellow with a one track mind
I'm a focused individual

And when it comes to thinkin' about
My thoughts are only consumed by

Anything but my baby
Anything other than my significant other

I just don't have the time
I simply cannot spare a moment

Oh yeah
Indeed

And I ain't got time for nothin' else
I am completely devoted

Don't you know I, I'm thinking about my baby
I'm consumed by thoughts of my significant other

I ain't got time for nothin' else
There is nothing else occupying my attention

Yeah the world could ever match her wealth
My baby is priceless

She's some kinda wonderful
She is absolutely amazing

Got heaven right here on earth
With her, I am in paradise

'Cause I'm just a fellow with a one track mind
I am solely focused

And when it comes to thinkin about
I only think about

Anything but my baby
Anything besides my significant other

I just don't have the time
I cannot spare a moment

I'm too busy thinkin' about my baby
My attention is undivided

Oh I ain't got time for nothin' else
There is nothing else occupying my attention

Too busy thinkin' about my baby
My significant other is all I can focus on

Ain't got time for nothing else
I am fully devoted

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, JANIE BRADFORD, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@michaelparmes8931

3y↑5

The great Norman Whitfield was one of the writers of Too Busy Thinking About My Baby.

@malexander2147

3y↑13

The background vocals were done by a group of three ladies called "the andantes" they were Motown's background singers who literally sang on almost all of Motown's biggest hits back in the day. You can tell from their distinctive sound. Sadly nobody really knows who they are and they never got the recognition they truly deserve.

@sistervluv3556

If you search for them (The Adantes) on YouTube you will find information as well as their music.

@jeffcrawford3032

2y↑1

His emotion, vocally,was top notch...he gets more intense ,from verse to verse...

@caseybrown6848

3y↑1

Big MOTOWN,FUNK BROZ,Marvin,& The Andantes-Classic SOUL 4ever!!

@leroywilliams6380

3y↑6

Mother Pop, you're really blowing the dust off this song. I remember first hearing this song when I was either 14 or 15 years old; and I have been loving it ever since.....classic song request....

@caseybrown6848

Stanx LW,this iz Mother Pop!!

@kencody4287

Marvin was so great him and Stevie Wonder and the 60s Version of the Temptations were the kings.

@christinamitchell6796

2y↑3

This is honestly my favorite Marvin song, I love the transitions on the verses into the chorus.

@SPTO

3y↑4

If I were to rank Marvin's '60s solo efforts this is easily in the top 5 to me. Marvin's vocals are just so beautifully done. A youtuber a long time ago (over 10 years ago) did a really nice extended version of this song. There's a sweetness to the song that really shines through. You wouldn't know that Marvin was starting to become disenchanted with the music he was making at the time listening to it.

Here's the insane thing though, if you asked someone what was Marvin's 2nd biggest hit of the '60s they would NOT say this song. Yep "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was Marvin's 2nd biggest hit of the decade.

@patrickwellington4214

Well done my friend.One of Marvin Gaye's gems from the 1960s. The music of the orchestra is fabulous, the Motown orchestra could hold their own.We cannot forget the Andantes singing in the background,these three ladies were great.I don't think they recorded many songs of their own,that was a pity. The chorus really sets the tone of this song,it was well written and melodious.Those were the days my friend my friend,keep searching for these treaures.

@bmw3842

32w

Motown was so damn tight .The songs and singers and the production was top notch.That is why these songs do not sound dated after 50 plus years .

@vancelubben5300

2y↑1

This song is 🔥🔥🔥

@scanlon1201

Thanks buddy for reacting to this song by Marvin Gaye he’s one of my favorite singers

@codeblood2000

3y↑1

Classic classic classic

@skip3687

3y↑2

rip Marvin

@johnneils9084

I ❤ Marvin! ☮

@kevbrown341

3y↑5

Hi JJ! Nice reaction! 70’s Marvin was a Bad Man! But this is my favorite version of Marvin! U put in work today Motha P, Thanks! Peace!

@caseybrown6848

Stanx KB!!

@kevbrown341

@@caseybrown6848 👍🏽

@black40sunrise

3y↑1

It just takes you back don’t it❤️‍🔥💖💝💞💓 I love this album cover too😘🥰😍

@darlenealvino8799

Marvin Gaye is my soulmate! ❤️ … Great choice! … His version of The Shadow of Your Smile from the album Romantically Yours.
… His voice is just so beautiful. 🤍

@samfandecine4492

3y↑2

Sound Motown 👊👊

@ellerootz6702

My jam!

@billtmarchi4320

Don't know much about Marvin gayes music but he has a hit called "sexual healing" in the late 80s that was very good with a nice little bass line that sounded smooth coming through my car stereo speakers. Not sure how it ranks among his other hits.

@MightMouse2174

That was his ' comeback ' hit song

@sandramiller6752

🔥🔥🔥🔥🎶🎶💯💯

@tonianthony3292

You should react to You by Marvin Gaye

@ryanking6335

3y↑1

I'd like to hear you do his songs off of What's Goin On and Here My Dear albums

@petemarshy1677

3y↑2

👍

@shyphyre

3y↑1

This is actually a cover version of the song. The original was done by the Temptations w/ Eddie Kendricks on lead vocals. You should do video just to compare the two.

@sistervluv3556

The Temptations may have done it on one of their albums or it might have been the "B" side to one of their promoted single releases but as far as I know it was only Marvin's version that was the promoted released single. It was common for Motown artists to have songs on their albums and sometimes as the "B" side of their promoted single when the song was also the promoted single release "A" side for another Motown artist. It was a rare occasion for more than one artist to release and promote a single of the same songs with the "A".side being same for both artists.
One of those rare occasions was the song "I Heard it Through the Grapevine". It was first released as an up tempo song by Gladys Knight and the Pips and was on its way to being a really big hit for them when about a month or so later, Marvin came out with a slower more mellow version of the song. His version took off and surpassed the air play that Gladys' version was getting. Now when 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine"is mentioned people automatically think of Marvin Gaye's record first if they even remember or know that not only did Gladys Knight and the Pips do the song, they actually did it first.

@shyphyre

3y↑2

It was originally on the Temptations "Getting Ready" album from 1966, which includes their singles "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and "Beauty's only Skin Deep"
As for Grapevine. I heard that that song has the distinction of being a number one hit at both the start and finish of the same year, 1968, w/ both versions of the single.

@sistervluv3556

@@shyphyre i actually saw Gladys Knight and the Pips in November 1967 at the Uptown Theater in Philly. Grapevine had been out for a few weeks and it was a smash hit, They were the headlining act.My sister in law took me and It was my first show that I distinctly remember( i have a vague memory of going there with my parents and maybe seeing Jackie Wilson when I was much, much younger.)

@shyphyre

3y↑1

@@sistervluv3556 That is a great memory to share.. I was all of three years old in 1967. But I do remember that my cousins had the single and played it often, this was around Christmas time of that year. Interestingly. I can vividly remember hearing this version more so than Marvin's which was on the radio the following year.