Frankie began his music career composing the soundtrack to the 1972 film Penitentiary. He would spend time singing on and off for his brother onstage as part of Marvin's touring band. During one of Marvin's first tours back from a six-year hiatus in 1973, Marvin had Frankie come on the stage to fool fans of his that Frankie was actually Marvin. When Marvin showed up, fans were understandably confused about the brothers' eerie similarities to each other. Frankie's most notable moment on any of Marvin's records was singing in the background of Marvin's 1977 hit, "Got to Give It Up", featured on Marvin's Live at the London Palladium album. He released two singles, "Extraordinary Girl" in 1989 and "My Brother" in 1990 and released the album of the same name on the latter year for Motorcity Records.
In 2000, he began composing the autobiography depicting the times and travails of his life with his older brother titled Marvin Gaye: My Brother. There's no telling on whether or not he was done with the biography, when on December 30, 2001, Gaye died of cancer at the age of 59. The book was finally released in 2003 to mixed reviews.
Marvin's youngest child, Frankie Christian Gaye (born in November 1975), was named after Frankie.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Frankie Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'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
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
The song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Frankie Gaye is a soulful, heart-wrenching ballad about the singer's realization that his lover is planning to leave him for someone else. The lyrics convey his shock and pain upon hearing this news through rumors and gossip. He is devastated by the thought of losing her, a feeling that is underscored by his repeated assertions that he loves her more than his rival does. He is begging for her to tell him the truth and to spare him the pain of hearing it from someone else.
The song is a poignant commentary on the human experience, particularly the feeling of betrayal that can arise when one discovers that a partner has been unfaithful. The lyrics touch on themes of love, heartbreak, and the power of rumors and gossip. The repeated refrain "I heard it through the grapevine" is a clever metaphor for the ways in which information can be transmitted between people, often in ways that are distorted or unreliable.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
You might be curious how I found out
'Bout your plans to make me blue
About your intention to hurt me
With some other guy you knew before
You're seeing someone else that you knew previously
Between the two of us guys
Between the two of us, including the other guy you're seeing
You know I loved you more
I loved you more than the other guy you're seeing
It took me by surprise I must say
I was surprised to hear the news
When I found out yesterday
When I heard the news yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
I heard the news through someone else
Not much longer would you be mine
You'll be leaving me soon
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
I heard the news through someone else
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
I'm about to go crazy over this
Honey, honey yeah.
A term of endearment
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
I'm aware that men aren't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
But I can't contain my tears
Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would be devastating
'Cause you mean that much to me
You're very important to me
You could have told me yourself
You should have told me directly
That you loved some one else
That you have feelings for someone else
People say believe half of what you see
People say to only believe half 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 honestly
Do you plan to let me go
Are you planning to break up with me
For the other guy you loved before?
For the other guy you have feelings for?
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
You won't be mine for much longer, my love
I'm just about to love my mind
I'm about to go crazy over this
Honey, honey, yeah
A term of endearment
I heard it through the grapevine
I heard the news through someone else
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alicio Martinho
GOOD,SUPERB JOB,FRANKIE!!!! RIP,BRO!! Greetings from Brazil!!