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.
Lonely Lover
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ahh baby so I can love you good
Ohh baby baby
I'll make you feel so good
Oh sugar just like you want me to
Oh baby you sure do love to ball
Oh baby you sure do love to ball
Oh honey I hope you never freeze
Oh baby baby don't ever go no way
Oh stay with me baby I'll love you night and day
Oh baby you sure do love to ball
Oh honey you sure do love to ball
Oh now I just love you that's all
I've got my mind made up baby
Ah there are no doubts (oh baby)
That you're my foxy lady, foxy lady
Ohh baby you sure do love to ball
Ohh sugar you sure do love to ball
All, all I know now baby
Hey baby is love you some more
Oh come on in and let me love you
Oh baby come for more
Oh baby you sure love to ball
Oh baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
All I know, I know if we had to ever part
Ahh that one day would surely break my heart
Got to get ready, got to get ready
Oh baby you sure love to ball
Oh baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
You sure love to ball
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
The song "Lonely Lover" by Marvin Gaye is a sensual and intimate track that speaks about a passionate and affectionate relationship between two individuals. The song is narrated by a man who expresses his love for his partner and his desire to please her in whatever way she wants. The opening lines of the song, "Oh baby please turn yourself around, Ahh baby so I can love you good", immediately set the tone for the song with its seductive and suggestive lyrics. The singer encourages his partner to stay with him, promising to love her day and night.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Oh baby you sure do love to ball" several times, which can be interpreted as a reference to the act of lovemaking. The singer's partner is described as a "pretty little sexy baby" who enjoys this activity as much as he does. The song's theme of intimacy is further emphasized when the singer says that if they ever had to part, it would break his heart.
The song's lyrics are coupled with a slow and soulful melody, which adds to the sensuality of the track. From the opening lines to the final bars, "Lonely Lover" is a love song that speaks about the passion and connection between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh baby please turn yourself around
Asking the partner to turn around and make a change to improve the relationship
Ahh baby so I can love you good
Willingness to put in effort to love the partner in a fulfilling way
Ohh baby baby
Admiration and affection towards the partner
I'll make you feel so good
Promise to provide satisfaction and happiness
Oh sugar just like you want me to
Willingness to fulfill the partner's desires
Oh baby you sure do love to ball
Acknowledgement of the partner's enjoyment of sexual activities
Oh honey I hope you never freeze
Desire for the partner to always be open and passionate
I love you I love you so much
Expressing intense love and affection towards the partner
Oh baby baby don't ever go no way
Pleading the partner to stay in the relationship
Oh stay with me baby I'll love you night and day
Promise to provide love and affection at all times if the partner stays
Oh now I just love you that's all
Professing love without any conditions or expectations
I've got my mind made up baby
Commitment to the relationship and partner
Ah there are no doubts (oh baby)
Feeling confident and sure about the relationship
That you're my foxy lady, foxy lady
Complimenting the partner's attractiveness and desirability
Ohh sugar you sure do love to ball
Acknowledgement of the partner's enjoyment of sexual activities
All, all I know now baby
Acknowledgement of the knowledge and feelings towards the relationship
Hey baby is love you some more
Expressing desire to continue the love and affection
Oh come on in and let me love you
Invitation for the partner to experience love and affection
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Complimenting the partner's physical appearance and sexual appetite
All I know, I know if we had to ever part
Awareness of the potential end of the relationship and the heartbreak it may cause
Ahh that one day would surely break my heart
Expressing the intensity of the emotional pain from the end of the relationship
Got to get ready, got to get ready
Acknowledgement of the need to emotionally prepare for the possible end of the relationship
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
Complimenting the partner's physical appearance and sexual appetite
You sure love to ball
Acknowledgement of the partner's enjoyment of sexual activities
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Complimenting the partner's physical appearance and sexual appetite
Pretty little sexy mama you sure love to ball
Complimenting the partner's physical appearance and sexual appetite
Pretty little sexy baby you sure love to ball
Complimenting the partner's physical appearance and sexual appetite
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joe Rocha
Marvin' you hit those notes high i luv Motown music 🎶 RIP Marvin Gaye
Nepalese Jam
Prefer the Jimmy McFarland version but it is still nice to hear this one again. Class tune
Russ Bates
Nice but not as good as the Four Tops version. Levi Stubbs' vocal is just immense.
ALAIN DEWAELE
top brico