I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Barry White Marvin Gaye Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys
You know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby

I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you loved some one else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby

People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?

Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
I'm just about to love my mind
Honey, honey, yeah




I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah

Overall Meaning

In Barry White Marvin Gaye's song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," the singer recalls how he found out about his lover's plan to make him blue by leaving him for someone else. The news did not come from her but from other sources, likely rumors (the grapevine). The singer, who loved her more than the other guy, is devastated by the news and cannot hold back his tears. The possibility of losing her would end his life because she means so much to him. As he awaits confirmation of the rumor, he asks whether she plans to let him go for the other guy. The song ends with the repetition of the refrain, "Not much longer would you be mine," and the singer on the brink of losing his mind.


Line by Line Meaning

I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
You're probably wondering how I found out


'Bout your plans to make me blue
About your intentions to make me sad


With some other guy you knew before
You're seeing another man you've known before


Between the two of us guys
As men who both loved you


You know I loved you more
You know I loved you more than the other man


It took me by surprise, I must say
I was surprised when I heard it


When I found out yesterday
I heard it yesterday


Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
I heard it through gossip and rumors


Not much longer would you be mine
You'll leave me soon


Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh, I heard it through gossip and rumors


Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
I'm going crazy thinking about it


Honey, honey yeah.
My dear


I know a man ain't supposed to cry
Men aren't supposed to cry


But these tears I can't hold inside
But I can't help crying


Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would be devastating for me


'Cause you mean that much to me
Because you mean so much to me


You could have told me yourself
You should have told me directly


That you loved someone else
That you loved someone else


Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Instead, I heard it through gossip and rumors


And I'm just about to lose my mind
I'm going insane thinking about it


People say believe half of what you see
People say to only believe part of what you see


Son and none of what you hear
And none of what you hear


But I can't help but be confused
But I'm still confused


If it's true please tell me dear
If it's true, please tell me


Do you plan to let me go
Do you plan to break up with me


For the other guy you loved before?
To be with the other man you loved before?


Not much longer would you be mine, baby
You won't be with me much longer, baby


I'm just about to lose my mind
I'm on the verge of going crazy


Honey, honey yeah
My dear


I heard it through the grapevine
I heard it through gossip and rumors


Not much longer would you be mine, baby
You won't be with me much longer, baby




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@way2real364

There will NEVER EVER be another Marvin Gaye.... The Brother is PURE GENIUS on a SPIRITUAL Level.... ALL of his Music Lyrics TOUCHED your SOUL, if u have a SOUL.... The Music we have Today is PURE GARBAGE.... The Music Today does nothing for your SOUL or SPIRIT in a Positive way...

@arch3223

Franky, not the friend you want, but the friend you need.
That's a bro.

@marcocepek

how do you get better than this? no amount of technology can replace this kind of greatness

@oliverplato

just thinking the same thing...the computer will never be tribal..let's use the machines for efficiency, then leave them on the shelves like books... Stirling Boy

@mysticman9331

He poured his heart and soul to this song (as he always does any other song). He actually went into a trance and the guitar man had to check on him. Marvelous Marvin Gaye

@Chinyjackson89

Are you serious?

@cmilliones

"Something funky goin down man" ...I wish folks still talked like that today

@teeteejack1035

I'm glad I had the opportunity to grow up listening to the BEST,Funky soul,can you dig it

@robertpenn1948

It just let's you know how great times were back then !

@mysoncrumphaseveryinjury3853

@Music Guy *homie

More Comments

More Versions