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.
Chained
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
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And in a special way you touched my heart with all your charms
And now you're gone (now you're gone)
Oh, and I find myself (I find myself)
Honey, I'm all alone (I'm all alone)
And there's no love left (there's no love left)
Hey, don't know why I failed
I did all I know to win your love and make it so
Always stay but you turned away
Honey, what could I say?
How could you, how could you, how could you do me this way?
'Cause I'm chained
To your love and affection
'Cause I'm chained
'Cause your love is my only direction
Oh, uh-uh-uh
I, I, I, I've got to make it right
Somehow it all went wrong
Somewhere down the line
The love I lost, I've got to find
(Whoah, and it won't be long)
Gonna make it right, baby (gonna make it right, baby)
And carry you tenderly back home
'Cause I'm chained
To your love and affection
Girl, I'm chained
Yeah, when I hear your name
I tremble, how I tremeble, yeah (can't, can't, can't help loving you)
Oh, you know, oh, you know (can't, can't, help yourself)
Baby, oh, baby
Oh, now I admit that I
Haven't been the perfect guy
For a girl as sweet as you but my heart and soul cries out to you
(One more chance, that's all I need)
I'm gonna make it right, baby (gonna make it right, baby)
If you'll just stay, stay with me
'Cause I'm chained, chained
Oh, I'm chained
To your love and afection
'Cause I'm chained, chained
The song "Chained" by Marvin Gaye is a melancholy ballad about lost love and heartbreak that came out in 1968. The first verse sets the scene of an idyllic past where the singer and his lover were happy and complete. However, now the lover has vanished, leaving the singer lonely, hurt, and wondering what he could have done differently. The chorus reinforces the singer's current state: he's "chained" to his lover's love and constantly feels her absence keenly.
The second verse continues the theme of the singer's devotion to his lover, emphasizing that he did everything he could to make their relationship work. He implores his lover to explain why she left, but ultimately acknowledges that she is gone for good. The chorus then repeats itself twice, driving home how much the singer still craves his lover's affection.
The final verse shifts into a more hopeful tone, with the singer proclaiming that he will find a way to make things right and win back his lover's heart. He admits his mistakes and begs for a second chance, confident that he can carry her home if she returns to him. The chorus then repeats for the final time, emphasizing the singer's sense of entrapment by his own emotions.
Overall, "Chained" is a powerful song that conveys the intense pain and longing of lost love. Marvin Gaye's emotive vocals and soulful lyrics make it a classic example of his unique style, and its timeless themes continue to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems just yesterday, you were in my arms
It feels like only yesterday that I held you in my arms
And in a special way you touched my heart with all your charms
You had a special way of touching my heart that nobody else had
And now you're gone (now you're gone)
You're not here with me anymore
Oh, and I find myself (I find myself)
I realize that I'm in a new situation
Honey, I'm all alone (I'm all alone)
I'm alone and it hurts
And there's no love left (there's no love left)
I feel like there's no more love for me
Hey, don't know why I failed
I don't understand why I didn't succeed
For you I've always cared
I've always had feelings for you
I did all I know to win your love and make it so
I tried my best to get you to love me too
Always stay but you turned away
I was always there for you, but you left
Honey, what could I say?
I didn't know what to say
How could you, how could you, how could you do me this way?
How could you treat me like this?
'Cause I'm chained
I'm stuck
To your love and affection
I can't break away from my feelings for you
Girl, I'm chained
I'm stuck on you
Yeah, when I hear your name
Just hearing your name makes me emotional
I tremble, how I tremble, yeah (can't, can't, can't help loving you)
I can't help but love you, even though it's hurting me
Oh, you know, oh, you know (can't, can't, help yourself)
You know how I feel and you can't help yourself either
Baby, oh, baby
My love for you is strong
Oh, now I admit that I
I realize and accept
Haven't been the perfect guy
I wasn't always the best for you
For a girl as sweet as you but my heart and soul cries out to you
But my heart and soul long for you
(One more chance, that's all I need)
Just give me one more chance
I'm gonna make it right, baby (gonna make it right, baby)
I'll fix things and make them right if you give me another chance
If you'll just stay, stay with me
Please stay with me
'Cause I'm chained, chained
I'm still stuck
Oh, I'm chained
I can't break free
To your love and affection
I'm still in love with you
'Cause I'm chained, chained
I'm still stuck on you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FRANK EDWARD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind