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.
Little Darling
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I don't want to let you go
Little darlin' I need you (little darlin' I need you)
Little darlin' I love you (little darlin' I love you)
Little darlin' I want you (little darlin' I want you)
Little darlin' I've got to have you (little darlin' I've got to have you)
And if it means giving up my life
I'm willing to give it up (give it up) give it up
But I don't mind, I don't mind
I'm willing to pay the price
Have your love at any sacrifice
Little darlin' I need you (little darlin' I need you)
Little darlin' I love you (little darlin' I love you)
Little darlin' I want you (little darlin' I want you)
Oh, little darlin' got to have you (little darlin' got to have you)
I know there's two or three in your life
You like as well as me
So if I have to be your number one fool
Before you care, care about me
Then I'm willing to pay the price
Be your number one fool, make that sacrifice
Oh baby
(Little darlin' I need you)
(Little darlin' I love you)
(Little darlin' I want you)
(Little darlin' got to have you)
Oo-hoo, only my pillow knows
How many tears I've cried, baby
Only my heart knows the awful hurt I feel inside, baby
My life is so lonely, waiting for you to love me only
Now I'm willing to pay the price
Be your number-one fool at any sacrifice
Little darlin' I need you (little darlin' I need you)
Little darlin' I love you (little darlin' I love you)
Little darlin' I want you (little darlin' I want you)
Little darlin' got to have you (little darlin' got to have you)
It's so hard, loving you, baby
It's so hard, loving you, baby
Now, little darlin' I need you (little darlin' I need you)
Little darlin' I love you (little darlin' I love you)
The lyrics of Marvin Gaye's Little Darling expresses the struggles and sacrifices of loving someone deeply who may not reciprocate those same feelings. The singer describes his love for his partner as strong and intense, willing to give up his own life for them. He acknowledges that there may be other people in his partner's life, but he's willing to be their number one fool and make sacrifices for them to care about him. The song portrays the loneliness and hurt that comes with loving someone who may not love you back, where you hope to be loved only by the person you love.
The chorus features the repetition of "little darlin' I need you, I love you, I want you, I've got to have you" to emphasize the singer's need for his partner. The use of the word "darling" also portrays a sense of endearment and affection. The last lines of the song show the pain the singer feels with this unrequited love, as he reveals that his pillow knows how many tears he's cried and his heart knows how hurt he feels.
Overall, Little Darling showcases the themes of unrequited love, sacrifice, and the pain that comes with loving someone deeply but not receiving that same love in return.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so hard lovin' you
Loving you is extremely difficult for me
But I don't want to let you go
Despite the difficulty, I don't want to end our relationship
Little darlin' I need you (little darlin' I need you)
I need you, my little darling
Little darlin' I love you (little darlin' I love you)
I love you, my little darling
Little darlin' I want you (little darlin' I want you)
I want you, my little darling
Little darlin' I've got to have you (little darlin' I've got to have you)
I absolutely must have you, my little darling
And if it means giving up my life
If it's necessary, I'm willing to sacrifice my life
I'm willing to give it up (give it up) give it up
I'm willing to give up everything for you
There's always one who loves more than the other
In any relationship, one person usually loves the other more
But I don't mind, I don't mind
I don't mind being the one who loves more
I'm willing to pay the price
I'm willing to face any consequences for loving you
Have your love at any sacrifice
I'm prepared to do anything to earn your love
I know there's two or three in your life
I know there are others you're interested in
You like as well as me
You have feelings for them, just like you have for me
So if I have to be your number one fool
I'm willing to look like a fool for you
Before you care, care about me
Before you love me, I need to prove my love for you
Then I'm willing to pay the price
I'll do anything to prove my love
Be your number one fool, make that sacrifice
I'll be your most devoted lover, dedicating everything to you
Oo-hoo, only my pillow knows
I cry myself to sleep over our relationship
How many tears I've cried, baby
I've cried countless tears for you
Only my heart knows the awful hurt I feel inside, baby
My heart is pained by my love for you
My life is so lonely, waiting for you to love me only
My life is empty without your love
It's so hard, loving you, baby
It's really difficult to love you
Now, little darlin' I need you (little darlin' I need you)
I still need you, my little darling
Little darlin' I love you (little darlin' I love you)
I still love you, my little darling
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHILIP PARRIS LYNOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charles-th5in
R.I.P Marvin your music lives on🙏🙏♥️♥️
@frankiehunter.
Just after a few bars I recognized it was a H-D-H song. They were the invincible and best composers of the 20th century. It's sad that Lamont Dozier passed away this month, in August of 2022, being only 81 years old.
@rdoc
I wore out my record player with this 45 back in 66 when I was 8 years old.
@francinejohnson1345
I Just "LOVE" This
Song..... PERIODT!!
💖💖💖💖💖💖
Thank you... for sharing!!
@patrickpowell3499
How did I ever miss this song? Thanks for posting.
@Booker1477
Never gets old.
@clarissacoby2653
DC’s Pride and Joy , Dear Sweet Marvin! Rest with the KING✨🙏🏽🙏🏽🎼✨🙏🏽🙏🏽
@jordanzilla7900
Great great song so under rated
@captainblue1811
thanks you brought a lot of good memories this made me think of my mother I was a kid down the shore she's gone but can't thank you for that.
@Doowopsid
Thanks for posting this. Always liked Marvin Gaye’s music and just heard this one on an oldies station for the first time this morning. It has a Four Tops sound.