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.
At Last
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ahh, ohh-ohh, ooh-ooh, ooh
I think this is my last chance
My last chance
My last chance
My last chance with you
May I have this dance?
I've been waiting all night
For the song to be right
Now they've turned down the lights
Hey, darling
May I have this dance?
Oh, baby
And there's how you feel
My love is real
For you, oh, baby
May I have
Hey, baby
Dance with me
And maybe you'll see
What I feel is really real
For you
Hey, baby
May I have this dance?
This is my last chance
To get close to you
If you only knew
What I've been going through
Oh, baby
I'm just a shy guy
I'm so nervous
Girl, but I got to try
Girl, please, take my hand
Dance with me, baby
Please dance real close to me
Oh, baby, yeah
Can I go with you, baby?
Oh, oh
Hey
Don't leave me here
Feelin' this way
Oh, ohh
Oh, baby, baby
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
The lyrics of Marvin Gaye's song My Last Chance are centered around a man who is trying to muster up the courage to ask a woman to dance with him. He feels that this is his last opportunity to be with the woman he desires, and the repetitive nature of the lyrics reflect his desperation and sense of urgency. The use of the phrase "my last chance" throughout the song emphasizes the man's fear that he may never have the opportunity to be with the woman he desires again.
The lyrics also express the man's hesitancy and shyness, as he admits to being a "shy guy" and feeling nervous. However, he is willing to lay his feelings on the line and take a risk because he knows that he may not get another chance. The lyrics are filled with pleas for the woman to dance with him and to take a chance on his love.
Overall, the lyrics of My Last Chance capture the intense emotions of a man who has been pining after a woman but has never had the courage to make a move. He knows that this is his last chance to be with her, and he is willing to put himself out there in order to make it happen.
Line by Line Meaning
Ohh, ohh, ohh-ohh
Background vocals and sounds
Ahh, ohh-ohh, ooh-ooh, ooh
More background vocals and sounds
I think this is my last chance
I believe that this is the only opportunity I have left to make things right
My last chance
This is the final attempt I have at achieving my goal or desire
My last chance
This is the last possible chance I have at achieving what I want
My last chance with you
This is my final opportunity to be with you
Hey, baby
Expression of affection towards the person being spoken to
May I have this dance?
Request to dance with the person being spoken to
I've been waiting all night
I have been waiting for this chance for a long time
For the song to be right
Waiting for the perfect moment or timing
Now they've turned down the lights
The environment is being prepared for a romantic moment
Hey, darling
Term of endearment for the person being spoken to
And there's how you feel
I am genuinely interested in your feelings and emotions
My love is real
The affection and love I have for you is true and genuine
For you, oh, baby
All the love and affection is directed only towards you
May I have
Requesting permission to continue with the intended action or activity
Hey, baby
Expression of affection towards the person being spoken to
Dance with me
Requesting the person to join in the dance
And maybe you'll see
Hoping that the other person will realize how strong their feelings are
What I feel is really real
The emotions and feelings expressed by the person are genuine
For you
All the love and affection is directed only towards you
Hey, baby
Expression of affection towards the person being spoken to
May I have this dance?
Request to dance with the person being spoken to
This is my last chance
The artist feels that this is the final opportunity to be with the other person
To get close to you
The singer wants to be physically and emotionally close to the other person
If you only knew
The singer thinks that if the other person knew the truth, they would respond positively
What I've been going through
The singer has experienced a lot of emotions and stress trying to get closer to the other person
Oh, baby
Expression of affection towards the person being spoken to
I'm just a shy guy
The artist is shy and may be finding it difficult to fully express themselves
I'm so nervous
The singer is feeling anxious or uneasy
Girl, but I got to try
The singer still wants to make an attempt to get closer to the other person despite feeling fearful
Girl, please, take my hand
Request for help of the person being spoken to
Dance with me, baby
Requesting the person to join in the dance
Please dance real close to me
Request to be physically close to the person
Oh, baby, yeah
Expression of affection towards the person being spoken to
Can I go with you, baby?
Requesting to leave with the other person
Oh, oh
Background vocals and sounds
Hey
Expression of attention towards the other person
Don't leave me here
The singer is afraid of being left alone
Feelin' this way
The artist is feeling emotionally vulnerable
Oh, ohh
Background vocals and sounds
Oh, baby, baby
Expression of affection towards the person being spoken to
Ooh-ooh
Background vocals and sounds
Ooh-ooh
Background vocals and sounds
Ooh-ooh
Background vocals and sounds
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Background vocals and sounds
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin P Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind