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.
Baby Don't You Do It
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't break my heart, don't do it babe (baby, don't you do it)
Don't break my heart, please don't do it babe (baby, don't you do it)
Don't you break my heart (baby, don't you do it)
Well, I've sacrificed to make you happy
Get nothin' for myself
Now you wanna leave me
For the love of someone else
I believe you, baby, better keep on keepin' on
Girl, I try to do my best (baby, don't you do it)
Girl, I try to do my best, don't do it babe (baby, don't you do it)
Don't break my heart, oh don't do it baby
Don't break my heart
My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much
And lettin' you know
'Cause now you've got me where you want me
And you're gonna let me go
My heart was made glad when you chose me
Heartaches and misery you've been causin' me
Said, I try to do my best (baby, don't you do it)
Girl, I try to do my best (baby, don't you do it)
Don't you do it, don't break my heart
Go down to the river and there I'll be
I'm gonna jump in, baby, if you don't see by me
Open up your eyes, can't you see I love you?
Open up your heart, can't you see I need you?
I'm no good without you, can't go on without you
Life's no good without you, what'm I gonna do without you?
Yeah, baby don't do it, don't you break my heart
Don't you do it, baby, don't you break my heart
What'm I gonna do without you?
Got to go on, baby
Ha, baby don't you do it
The lyrics to Marvin Gaye's song "Baby Don't You Do It" depict the plea of a man to a woman he loves to not break his heart by leaving him for someone else. He expresses how he has sacrificed to make her happy and hasn't received anything for himself. He goes on to say that his pride is all gone, and whether right or wrong, he believes in her and urges her to keep on keeping on. He confesses that his biggest mistake was loving her too much and letting her know. Now, she has him where she wants him, and she's going to let him go, causing him heartache and misery. In desperation, he tells her that he's no good without her, and his life is no good without her. He pleads with her not to break his heart and to open up her eyes and see that he loves her and needs her.
The lyrics capture the agony and desperation of a man in love, who would do anything to keep his lover from leaving him. The song's melody and Gaye's soulful vocals intensify the emotions conveyed in the lyrics, making it relatable to anyone who has ever been in love and felt the fear of losing their lover.
Overall, "Baby Don't You Do It" is a powerful song that speaks to the depths of people's emotions when they are in love. Gaye's soulful voice and the song's catchy melody make it an enduring classic that is still popular today.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, baby don't you do it, don't do it babe
Don't break my heart, don't do it babe (baby, don't you do it)
Please don't hurt me by leaving me for someone else.
Don't break my heart, please don't do it babe (baby, don't you do it)
Don't you break my heart (baby, don't you do it)
Don't make my heartache by leaving me for someone else.
Well, I've sacrificed to make you happy
Get nothin' for myself
Now you wanna leave me
For the love of someone else
My pride is all gone, whether right or wrong
I believe you, baby, better keep on keepin' on
I've given up my own happiness to make you happy, yet you want to leave for someone else. I have no pride left, but I still have faith in you to do the right thing.
Girl, I try to do my best (baby, don't you do it)
Girl, I try to do my best, don't do it babe (baby, don't you do it)
Don't break my heart, oh don't do it baby
Don't break my heart
I've put in my best efforts to make you happy, so please don't leave me for someone else. It would break my heart.
My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much
And lettin' you know
'Cause now you've got me where you want me
And you're gonna let me go
My heart was made glad when you chose me
Heartaches and misery you've been causin' me
Said, I try to do my best (baby, don't you do it)
Girl, I try to do my best (baby, don't you do it)
Don't you do it, don't break my heart
I made a mistake by loving you so much and telling you so. Now, you have the power to leave me for someone else which is causing me misery. Even though I have tried my best, please don't hurt me.
Go down to the river and there I'll be
I'm gonna jump in, baby, if you don't see by me
Open up your eyes, can't you see I love you?
Open up your heart, can't you see I need you?
I'm no good without you, can't go on without you
Life's no good without you, what'm I gonna do without you?
If you leave me, I will be devastated and won't be able to live without you. Please see how much I love and need you to stay with me.
Yeah, baby don't do it, don't you break my heart
Don't you do it, baby, don't you break my heart
What'm I gonna do without you?
Got to go on, baby
Ha, baby don't you do it
Please, please don't leave me. I don't know what I would do without you. I have to keep on living, but I need you to stay with me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ju
Baby don't you do it, don't do it babe
Don't break my heart, don't do it babe
Don't break my heart, please don't do it babe
Don't you break my heart
'Cause I sacrifice to make you happy
Get nothin' for myself
Now you wanna leave me
For the love of someone else
My pride is all gone, whether right or wrong
I believe, baby, you'd better keep on keepin' on
Girl, I try to do my best
Girl, I try to do my best, don't do it babe
Don't break my heart, oh don't do it baby
Don't break my heart
My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much
And lettin' you know
'Cause now you've got me where you want me
And you're gonna let me go
My heart was made glad when you strolled, you see
Heartaches and misery you've been causin' me
Girl, I try to do my best
Girl, I try to do my best
Don't you do it, don't break my heart
Go down to the river and there I'll be
I'm gonna jump in, baby, if you don't see by me
Open up your eyes; can't you see I love you?
Open up your heart; can't you see I need you?
I'm no good without you, can't go on without you
Life's no good without you, what'm I gonna do without you?
Baby don't do it, don't you break my heart
Don't you do it, baby, don't you break my heart
What'm I gonna do without you?
Got to go on, baby
Raheel Razvi
I only recently learned Marvin did this first. The Band live version is incredible
TheGenreman
The bands version is better, especially from the last waltz.
fauzia issaka
@TheGenreman I have no interest in even hearing it. It can't help but be corny compared to this. White folks live in a different world and it seems like their ears hear different stuff. Y'all can keep The Band. I will catch them in their own lane. Doing "Take The Weight Off Me". White folks aren't privileged when it comes to music... Thanks
fauzia issaka
I went and listened to The Band's version. Just out of curiosity. Oh my god. It's corny as shit. White folks really do hear with different ears. Levon Helm. Poor guy. He really did try. It doesn't cut it guys. You're welcome to that version. I'll take this one.
Austin Hutto
@fauzia issaka the only good version by the band is rock of ages , it’s the best concert I’ve heard of they’re material , every other version I’ve heard of them playing is mediocre , but the rock of ages one is really good
chromefree
Incredible song considering it's only one chord,...all rhythm and soulful vocals...
Nightmare Nate 😎
2021 got me turning to great music!!! 👍🎶
Karen Blueford
Love it STILL dance music ❤️🌹❤️🥰👍👍
Carl Gold
I hadn't heard this on ages. It's great. It seems completely forgotten that this was Marvin's song. I've been listening regularly to Soul Town and 60s on Sirius for almost 3 years and have never heard it.
Robert Velez
Holland/Dozier/Holland openly admitted that this song is one of their all time favorites hearing the desperation of Marvin's voice backed by The Andantes!