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.
How Can I
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
More than the earth could quake
If you should ever go
You know my heart would break
If I lost your sweet embrace
Even time could not erase
The memories of you
Tears would cover up my face
Oh, how I'd miss you
Baby, I need you so
Oh how I'd miss you
Baby, never go
I'll never leave
My world would cease to be
Without the love you give to me
The chains around my heart
Would never set me free
When my life had just begun
My sky didn't have a sun
You fill my every need
So if you ever leave
Oh, how I'd miss you
Baby, I need you so
Oh, how I'd miss you
Baby, never go
I'll never leave
(Oh, how I'd miss you, baby, baby)
(Oh, how I'd miss you, baby, baby)
Oh you're always on my mind
Losin' you would leave me blind
Fill my heart forevermore
Never leave my love behind
With the joy your love can bring
To you I'll always cling
If you took away your love
It would be the end of things
And oh, how I'd miss you
Oh, baby
Oh, how I'd miss you
Marvin, I need you so
Oh, how I'd miss you
The lyrics to Marvin Gaye's song I Want You express his deep devotion to the person he loves. In the first stanza, he says that his love is so powerful that it could shake his heart more than an earthquake if that person ever left. He emphasizes that even time could not erase the memories of the person he loves, and tears would cover his face if he lost their sweet embrace. In the chorus, he repeats how much he would miss the person if they were ever to go, and that he would never leave.
The second stanza goes deeper into how important this person is in Marvin Gaye's life. He says that his world would cease to be without the love that they give him, and that the chains around his heart wouldn't ever set him free. He emphasizes that when his life had just begun, his sky didn't have a sun until that person came along and filled his every need. In the final stanza, he declares that this person is always on his mind, and losing them would leave him blind. He ends by saying that if they took away their love, it would be the end of things.
Overall, the song conveys the idea that the person Marvin Gaye loves is everything to him, and he couldn't live without them. The lyrics are delivered with a sense of urgency and heartfelt passion, which underscores the importance of the message.
Line by Line Meaning
My lovin' heart would shake
If you were to leave me, it would cause me great emotional distress
More than the earth could quake
This emotional distress would be more intense than even an earthquake
If you should ever go
If you were to leave me
You know my heart would break
My heart would be shattered
If I lost your sweet embrace
If I no longer felt your loving embrace
Even time could not erase
No amount of time passing could ease the pain of your absence
The memories of you
The memories of our time together
Tears would cover up my face
I would cry uncontrollably
Oh, how I'd miss you
I cannot express how much I would miss you
Baby, I need you so
I need you more than anything
I'll never leave
I will always be here for you
My world would cease to be
My entire world revolves around you
Without the love you give to me
Your love is what sustains me
The chains around my heart
I feel trapped by my love for you
Would never set me free
I can never escape my feelings for you
When my life had just begun
At the beginning of my life
My sky didn't have a sun
I felt lost and alone before I met you
You fill my every need
You complete me
So if you ever leave
But if you were to leave
Oh, how I'd miss you
I cannot express how much I would miss you
Baby, I need you so
I need you more than anything
Oh you're always on my mind
I think about you all the time
Losin' you would leave me blind
Without you, I would be lost
Fill my heart forevermore
Your love will always be in my heart
Never leave my love behind
I will never let go of my love for you
With the joy your love can bring
Your love brings me so much happiness
To you I'll always cling
I will always hold onto you
If you took away your love
If you were to stop loving me
It would be the end of things
My world would come crashing down
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANK WILSON, FRANK EDWARD WILSON, HAL DAVIS, VANCE WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Randy R
This one of my favorites! Love those horns! Thanks for posting!
Jonathan Peters
@Adrian Fisher One of the more underrated Whitfield/Strong compositions from this era. The Temptations original, with Paul on lead, is just as good, but in a slow type of way. Your channel is great! Keep 'em coming.
kelamo
Classic!!
Cynthia's Channel
THAT'S RIGHT!!
Jerome Lange
Northern Soul Juke Box BANGA
Phyllis Hardy
Jan claims to be Marvin's wife but she is not his wife she's his ex-wife they divorced before he died she slept with his friends