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.
I Wonder
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, well, well, little darling
Where can you be
This moonlit night
Are you holding someone tight
I wonder
My heart is aching
I'm a fool to let it go on breaking
I wonder
I wonder
I've been through Lovers Lane
There's nothing there for me only rain
You've been traveling but will it last
While I'm traveling nowhere fast
I wonder
I wonder
Well, well, well, little darling
If this new love dies
Where will you be
Will your heart come running back to me
I wonder
In Marvin Gaye's song "I Wonder," the singer is questioning the whereabouts of his "little darling" on a moonlit night. As he wonders where she may be, he reveals that his heart is aching and he feels like a fool for letting it continue to break. He hopes that he will wake up and realize that he is mistaken, but he continues to wonder.
In the second verse, he mentions that he has been down "Lovers Lane," but he finds nothing there for him except for rain. He wonders if the person he is singing to has found a new love and whether it will last. The singer admits that he is "traveling nowhere fast" and that he wonders if this new love fails, if his former love will come back to him.
The lyrics of this song speak to the universal experience of heartbreak and the desire to cling on to a past love while also knowing that it may not be healthy to do so. The use of the moonlit night as a backdrop to the singer's longing and questioning adds to the overall sense of loneliness and isolation that comes with a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder
The singer is wondering and pondering about a particular situation or event.
Well, well, well, little darling
The singer addresses the person of interest and refers to them as 'little darling'.
Where can you be
The singer is expressing curiosity and pondering about the whereabouts of the person of interest.
This moonlit night
The singer refers to the current time of day, which is nighttime with a visible moon, as a point of reference.
Are you holding someone tight
The singer is feeling anxious and wonders if the person of interest is affectionately embracing or holding on to someone else.
I wonder
The singer is once again wondering and pondering about a particular situation or event.
My heart is aching
The singer is experiencing emotional pain and distress.
I'm a fool to let it go on breaking
The singer admits to being foolish for allowing his heart to continue experiencing pain instead of trying to move on.
Maybe I'll awake and find that I'm mistaken
The singer is expressing a small glimmer of hope that the situation or event they're pondering may not be as bad as they think it is.
I wonder
The singer is once again wondering and pondering about a particular situation or event.
I wonder
The singer is once again wondering and pondering about a particular situation or event but this time adding emphasis.
I've been through Lovers Lane
The singer reflects on going through a previous romantic experience or period in life.
There's nothing there for me only rain
The singer feels that his past romantic experiences offered him nothing but pain and emotional distress.
You've been traveling but will it last
The singer acknowledges that the person of interest has been moving or progressing in life but wonders if this progress will last in the long run.
While I'm traveling nowhere fast
The singer compares his own stagnant and unexciting life to the person of interest's more active and progressive life.
I wonder
The singer is once again wondering and pondering about a particular situation or event.
I wonder
The singer is once again wondering and pondering about a particular situation or event but this time adding emphasis.
Well, well, well, little darling
The singer addresses the person of interest and refers to them as 'little darling' once again.
If this new love dies
The singer is wondering if the new love the person of interest is experiencing will fail or end.
Where will you be
The singer wonders where the person of interest will be if their new love fails or ends.
Will your heart come running back to me
The singer is expressing hope and desire that if the person of interest's new love fails or ends, they will return to the singer and reignite their romantic relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CECIL GANT, RAYMOND LEVEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
musicismagic
Imo the greatest tune by MG that few have heard. The band- Basie is smiling - that is how a band swings. Sooo good.
Lincoln Ross Music
some great arrangements on this album too by Ernie Wilkins, Melba Liston and Jerome Richardson .. a big improvement on Marvin's first jazz album .. Marvin was so so soulful he could do it all ... unfortunately the public wasn't havin' it but I love this !
David Taylor
Brilliant just like everying he did GENIUS
David Taylor
Which is why this is BRILLIANT
90s kid in effect
My fav song he killed this song he put his heart and soul in this one here.
David Taylor
It weren't just M G what about the musicians they are the REAL STARS
9577frasier
the greatest
Cedric Bigby
Mr Marvin Gaye Jr doing his jazz thing on Motown in 1964 little did people know he hated doing r and b music
James Hughey
Cedric Bigby Yes sir Ur right Marvin Gaye inspired to Be the Black Version of Frank Sinatra!!!
Shanna Boone
go Marvin