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.
Deed I Do
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to make my life a wonderful song
You brought sunshine just to brighten my loneliness
Is it any wonder in my happiness
I confess
Do I want you
Oh my, do I?
Do I need you?
Oh my, do I
Honey, 'deed I do
I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
That's why I'm always hangin' 'round you
Do I love you?
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do
There are lots of others that I have met
Those you meet today, tomorrow forget
You're the only one who ever could stand the test
That's the reason why I choose you from the rest
You're the best
Do I want you
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do
Do I need you?
Oh my, do I
Honey, 'deed I do
The lyrics to Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells's song Deed I Do express a sense of profound love and gratitude for a particular person. The singer begins by explaining that they were feeling blue until this person came into their life and made it a wonderful song. The person in question brings light and happiness into the singer's loneliness. The singer then goes on to confess that they want and need this person in their life, expressing their love for them. The singer also acknowledges that there are plenty of other people out there, but this one person stands out as the best and has passed the test.
The lyrics are simple but heartfelt, expressing a strong sense of affection for someone who has made a significant impact on the singer's life. The repetition of "do I want you?" and "do I need you?" emphasizes the depth of the singer's feelings, while also conveying a playfulness and musicality that is characteristic of the Motown sound.
Line by Line Meaning
I was oh, so blue till you came along
My life was miserable and depressing prior to meeting you
Just to make my life a wonderful song
You have brought joy and happiness to my life
You brought sunshine just to brighten my loneliness
Your presence has illuminated and eased the feelings of isolation that I had
Is it any wonder in my happiness
It's no surprise that you make me incredibly happy
I confess
I'm admitting my feelings about you
Do I want you
Am I desirous of you
Oh my, do I?
Yes, I truly do
Honey, 'deed I do
Absolutely, I definitely do
Do I need you?
Is it necessary for me to have you in my life
Oh my, do I
Without a doubt, I do
Honey, 'deed I do
Certainly, I completely do
I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
I feel fortunate that I'm the person who discovered and connected with you
That's why I'm always hangin' 'round you
Because I genuinely like being in your presence
Do I love you?
Do I have a deep affection for you
Oh my, do I?
Yes, I absolutely do
Honey, 'deed I do
Yes, I certainly do
There are lots of others that I have met
I've encountered many other people in my life
Those you meet today, tomorrow forget
But most of them I'll forget after a short amount of time
You're the only one who ever could stand the test
You're the sole person who proved to be compatible with me
That's the reason why I choose you from the rest
This is why I picked you over everyone else
You're the best
You're the greatest
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Fred Rose, Walter Hirsch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind