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.
Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' to hold back this feeling for so long
And if you feel like I feel, baby
Then, c'mon, oh, c'mon, whoa
Let's get it on
Ah, baby, let's get it on
Let's love, baby
Let's get it on, woo hoo
We're all sensitive people
With so much to give
Understand me, sugar (ooh ooh)
Since we've got to be here
Let's live
I love you
There's nothing wrong with me
Loving you, baby no no
And giving yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true, oh baby
Ooh don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be ooh (let me love you)
I'm asking you baby to get it on with me ooh ooh (let me love you)
I ain't gonna worry (let me love you)
I ain't gonna push, won't push you baby (let me love you)
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby
Stop beatin' 'round the bush, hey
Let's get it on (ooh ooh)
Let's get it on (ooh ooh)
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout
C'mon, baby, hey, hey
Let your love come out
If you believe in love
Let's get it on, ooh
Let's get it on, baby
This minute, oh yeah
Let's get it on
Please, please get it on
I know and you know what I've been dreaming of, don't you baby? (ah, ah, ah, ah)
My whole body makes that feelin' of love, I'm happy (my body wants ya, my body wants ya)
I ain't gonna worry, no I ain't gonna push (ah)
I won't push you baby, woo (ah ah)
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, darlin'
Stop beatin' 'round the bush
Oh, gonna get it on (ooh, ooh)
Threatenin' you, baby (ooh, ooh)
I wanna get it on (ooh, ooh)
You don't have to worry that it's wrong (ooh, ooh)
If the spirit moves ya (ooh, ooh)
Let me groove ya good (ooh, ooh)
Let your love come down (ooh, ooh)
Oh, get it on
C'mon, baby (ooh, ooh)
Do you know the meaning? (ooh, ooh)
I've been sanctified (ooh, ooh), hey hey
Girl, you give me good feeling (ooh, ooh) (so good)
So good, somethin' like sanctified (ooh, ooh)
Oh dear I, baby (ooh, ooh)
Nothing wrong with love (ooh, ooh)
If you want to love me just let your self go (ooh, ooh)
Oh baby, let's get it on (ooh, ooh)
Marvin Gaye’s "Let’s Get It On" is a timeless classic love song that is often played at weddings and other romantic settings. The lyrics of the song depict a passionate, romantic encounter between two people who are deeply attracted to each other. The opening lines of the song, “I’ve been really trying, baby, trying to hold back this feeling for so long” reveal the intensity of the attractions they have for each other, which they have tried to suppress for a long time.
The song speaks to the power of love and the importance of living in the moment. It encourages listeners to embrace their feelings and desires for someone special and act on them. Marvin Gaye went beyond the boundaries of traditional love songs and gave the listeners a heartfelt and emotional experience that continues to touch people even decades after its initial release.
Overall, "Let’s Get It On" is a beautiful love song that embodies the passion, emotions, and the beauty associated with being in love. It speaks to the universal nature of love and its ability to transcend all boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been really tryin', baby
I've wanted this for a long time, but I've held back until now
Tryin' to hold back this feeling for so long
I've suppressed these emotions, but I can't do it anymore
And if you feel like I feel, baby
If you feel the same way, then we should act on it
Then, c'mon, oh, c'mon, whoa
Let's not waste any more time, let's do this
Let's get it on
Let's have sex
Ah, baby, let's get it on
I'm eagerly asking you to have sex with me
Let's love, baby
Let's engage in an intimate sexual act
Let's get it on, sugar
Let's engage in an intimate sexual act, my dear
Let's get it on, woo hoo
Let's engage in an intimate sexual act, let's make love
We're all sensitive people
All of us have emotions and feelings that should be acknowledged
With so much to give
We have so much to offer each other emotionally and sexually
Understand me, sugar (ooh ooh)
Please empathize with me and understand my needs for intimacy
Since we've got to be here
Since we're alive and together, we might as well live passionately and intimately
Let's live
Let's make the most out of our time together by living passionately and intimately
I love you
I have strong romantic feelings for you
There's nothing wrong with me
There's nothing wrong with me wanting to engage in sexual activity with you
Loving you, baby no no
My love for you is perfectly acceptable and not something that should be shamed or hidden
And giving yourself to me can never be wrong
There's nothing morally wrong with engaging in consensual sex with me
If the love is true, oh baby
As long as our love is authentic, we should feel comfortable engaging in sexual activity
Ooh don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be ooh (let me love you)
Life can be amazing if we allow ourselves to love and be loved intimately, let me show you how
I'm asking you baby to get it on with me ooh ooh (let me love you)
I'm asking you to engage in sexual activity with me because I love you and I want to show you physically
I ain't gonna worry (let me love you)
I'm not going to stress or pressure you into anything, let me show you how much I care
I ain't gonna push, won't push you baby (let me love you)
I won't force or coerce you into anything, let me simply express my love
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby
Please join me in this intimate sexual act
Stop beatin' 'round the bush, hey
Let's stop wasting time and get to it already
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout
You know that I want us to have sex together
C'mon, baby, hey, hey
Please engage in sexual activity with me, my love
Let your love come out
Express yourself intimately and passionately
If you believe in love
If you believe in the power of love
Let's get it on, ooh
Let's have sex and make love
This minute, oh yeah
Right now, in this moment
Please, please get it on
Please engage in sexual activity with me
I know and you know what I've been dreaming of, don't you baby? (ah, ah, ah, ah)
I've been wanting and desiring this for a long time, and I know you know that
My whole body makes that feelin' of love, I'm happy (my body wants ya, my body wants ya)
My entire being longs for you and the love we share, which makes me very happy
Oh dear I, baby (ooh, ooh)
My beloved, kind and caring partner
Nothing wrong with love (ooh, ooh)
There's nothing wrong with engaging in sexual activity with someone you love
If you want to love me just let your self go (ooh, ooh)
If you want to express your love intimately, then let yourself go and surrender to passion
Oh baby, let's get it on (ooh, ooh)
Come on, let's have sex and make love together
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind