Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born in 1939 to Marvin Gay, Sr. and Alberta Gay in Washington, D.C.. Gaye began his career in Motown in 1958, and soon became Motown's top solo male artist. He scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them "Ain't That Peculiar", "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", as well as several hit duets with Tammi Terrell, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"" and "You're All I Need to Get By", before moving on to his own form of musical self-expression.
Along with Stevie Wonder, Gaye is notable for fighting the hit-making—but creatively restrictive—Motown record-making process, in which performers, songwriters and record producers were generally kept in separate camps. Gaye forced Motown to release his 1971 album What's Going On, which is today hailed as one of the best albums of all time. Subsequent releases proved that Gaye, who had been a part-time songwriter for Motown artists during his early years with the label, could write and produce his own singles without having to rely on the Motown system. This achievement would pave the way for the successes of later self-sufficient singer-songwriter-producers in African American music, such as Luther Vandross and Babyface.
During the 1970s, Gaye would release several other notable albums, including Let's Get It On and I Want You, and released several successful singles such as "Come Get to This", "Got to Give It Up" and "Sexual Healing". By the time of his shooting death in 1984, at the hands of his clergyman father, Gaye had become one of the most influential artists of the soul music era.
Ain't That Peculiar
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain?
Ain't that peculiar?
Ain't that peculiar, baby?
Peculiar as can be
Oh, you tell me lies that should be obvious to me
But I'm so much in love with you, baby, 'til I don't want to see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger? (Stronger, stronger, stronger)
Ain't that peculiar?
Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar?
A peculiar-arity, hey, hey
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, hey, hey (hey, hey)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, hey, hey (hey, hey)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
Maybe, baby, you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears? (Tears, tears, tears)
Now ain't that peculiar baby?
Peculiar-arity
Ain't it peculiar, honey?
Peculiar as can be
Said I don't understand it baby
It's so strange sometimes
Ain't it peculiar, darling?
In Marvin Gaye's song "Ain't That Peculiar," the singer expresses his confusion and frustration over a tumultuous love affair. He acknowledges that he is being mistreated by his lover but can't seem to let go of his feelings for her. Despite the pain she causes, he keeps coming back to her, and each time he does, his love for her only grows stronger. He wonders why love has to be so painful and why he can't seem to escape this cycle.
The lyrics of the song convey a sense of cognitive dissonance. Gaye is aware that his lover is lying to him and trying to make him miserable, yet he remains committed to her. He suggests that love is a paradox, capable of surviving both rain and pain. The repeated refrain, "Ain't That Peculiar," emphasizes the peculiarity of the situation, questioning why we fall in love with those who hurt us.
The lyrics of the song could be interpreted in different ways, but overall they convey a mixed feeling of love, joy and pain. This song serves as a commentary on the difficulty of maintaining relationships, even when they cause us pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey, you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
You hurt me but I'm still in love with you
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
I miss you too much when you're gone
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
You keep hurting me over and over again
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
Your hurt makes me love you more
I know flowers go through rain
I know things get tough sometimes
But how can love go through pain?
But how can love endure all this pain?
Ain't that peculiar?
Isn't that strange?
A peculiar-arity
An oddity
Ain't that peculiar, baby?
Isn't it strange, my love?
Peculiar as can be
As strange as it gets
Oh, you tell me lies that should be obvious to me
You lie to me and I should see through it
But I'm so much in love with you, baby, 'til I don't want to see
I'm blinded by love and don't want to see your lies
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
You do and say things that make me sad
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all your lies seem true
It's unfortunate that my love for you makes me believe your lies
But if the truth makes love last longer
But if honesty makes love stronger
Why do lies make my love stronger? (Stronger, stronger, stronger)
Why do your lies make me love you more?
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, hey, hey (hey, hey)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, hey, hey (hey, hey)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
I cried a lot like a child who lost its home
Maybe, baby, you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
Maybe you think my tears of sadness are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
A child's tears can manipulate you
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
But my tears don't help me manipulate you
I know love can last through years
I know love can endure a long time
But how can love last through tears? (Tears, tears, tears)
But how can love last through all this sadness?
Now ain't that peculiar baby?
Now isn't that strange, my love?
Peculiar-arity
Oddity
Ain't it peculiar, honey?
Isn't it strange, my darling?
Peculiar as can be
As strange as it gets
Said I don't understand it baby
I don't comprehend it, my love
It's so strange sometimes
It's exceedingly strange at times
Ain't it peculiar, darling?
Isn't it strange, my love?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, William Robinson Jr., Robert Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unc1589
Motown ushered in what I called “finger poppin music.”
That sort of stop and go, space between the beat that leaves room for the “snap” kinda music.
Very “hip” when it came out.
The secret sauce was James Jamersons bass.
So percussive and melodic at the same time.
He’s got this song swinging so hard and you don’t even realize it.
Absolute American genius!
Smartest bass player that ever lived.
That stop and go effect is created by him alone.
@frankrusk6172
Lyrics
Honey, you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain?
Ain't that peculiar?
A peculiar-arity
Ain't that peculiar, baby?
Peculiar as can be
Oh, you tell me lies that should be obvious to me
But I'm so much in love with you, baby, 'till I don't want to see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger? (stronger, stronger, stronger)
Ain't that peculiar?
Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar?
A peculiar-arity, hey, hey
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, hey, hey (hey, hey)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, hey, hey (hey, hey)
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
Maybe, baby, you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears? (tears, tears, tears)
Now ain't that peculiar baby?
Peculiar-arity
Ain't it peculiar, honey?
Peculiar as can be
Said I don't understand it baby
It's so strange sometimes
Ain't it peculiar, darling?
@Wolfhoundersful
You do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain
Ain't that peculiar
A peculiar ality
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I've been so much in love with you baby 'til I don't wanna see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a dog gone shame my love for you makes all your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger
Ain't that peculiar
A peculiar ality
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its toy
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears
@carlsgarioto8494
75 years old, bad heart, metal in my leg...Marvin's music makes me feel 19 again
@hiphop2u
RIP 🙏
@crystalbaca1521
@@hiphop2u0:45
@user-nb1dw7px9y
Brother, clap your hands and show us you can snap your fingers.
@thomasgray9939
Me too age 64 heart surgery and metal rod in left femur bone😂
@millarstoke
I was dancing to this song fifty years ago and still my feet are tapping as I write this, terrific!
@paulcrowley8594
.......if you DON"T tap your feet, to this jam......you have a toe tag on....in the morgue!!!!
@JTG323
💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💯
@archangelvvv
ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL! One of his best Tracks EVER! Great lyrics, great story, paired with a Great beat!
@stephenwilliamson9051
Great song ❤