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-makingโbut creatively restrictiveโMotown 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.
Where Are You?
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta be where you are, oh
I want to be where you are, ooh yeah
Ooh, I've got to be where you are
Ah
Ooh
Goodnight little Frankie, Nona
'Night, little Marvin
I love you all
I'll always love you, Janis
I want to be where you are, ah
I've got to be where you are, baby
Oh, my children, I'll always be where you are
Oh
The lyrics to Marvin Gaye's song I Wanna Be Where You Are express his strong desire to be with someone he loves. He repeats the phrase "I wanna be where you are" multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the intensity of his feelings. The phrase is paired with adjectives like "baby" and "yeah," which add to the romantic tone of the song. By expressing that he "gotta" be where the person he loves is, Gaye is highlighting the importance of being close to them.
Towards the end of the song, Gaye says goodnight to a few people before declaring that he will always love his children and will always be where they are. This shift in focus from a romantic partner to his children speaks to the larger theme of the song, which is the desire to be near and protect the people we love. Gaye's emotional delivery of these lyrics makes it clear just how deeply he feels about this sentiment.
The repetition of the title phrase gives the song a catchy and memorable quality that has allowed it to stand the test of time. The soothing melody and Gaye's smooth vocals only add to its appeal. Overall, I Wanna Be Where You Are is a touching tribute to the power of love and the importance of cherishing the relationships we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, I wanna be where you are, ooh baby
The singer expresses his desire to be near the person he loves by saying that he wants to be wherever they are. He uses a passionate tone in his voice and emphasizes how much he wants to be with them.
I gotta be where you are, oh
The desire for the singer to be with the person he loves becomes more urgent as he says he has to be with them. He can't resist his feelings and needs to be close to them as soon as possible.
I want to be where you are, ooh yeah
The singer reiterates his desire to be close to the person he loves. The use of 'ooh yeah' shows his excitement and eagerness to be with them and how much he is looking forward to it.
Ooh, I've got to be where you are
The singer repeats his urgency to be close to the person he loves by saying he has to be with them. He stresses the importance of his desire and emphasizes how he cannot be happy without them around.
Goodnight little Frankie, Nona
The singer says goodnight to his loved ones and mentions specific names such as Frankie and Nona. This shows his affection for them and how he wants to include them in his emotions, conveying that he loves everyone around him.
'Night, little Marvin
The singer shows his love towards a child named Marvin by saying goodnight to him using the term, 'little Marvin'. This represents a sense of care in his language and how he wants to show affection towards kids, old and young.
I love you all
The singer expresses his love towards everyone around him with these words, alluding that he cares a lot about them. This takes the underlying message of the entire song beyond the scope of romance and focusses on a broader theme of love and affection.
I'll always love you, Janis
The singer addresses someone named Janis and tells her that he'll always love her. The depth of the singer's love shines through his voice, accentuating how his affection drifts off from his initial target and is now being expressed towards someone new.
I want to be where you are, ah
The singer repeats his desire to be with the person he loves. This time, however, he uses the word 'ah', stressing the urgency of his yearning and portraying his anxiety to be taken seriously about how seriously he feels for the person he loves.
I've got to be where you are, baby
The singer uses a term of endearment, 'baby', to express that he has to be close to the person he loves. His voice conveys the excitement and thrill towards being with them and the way he sings signals the importance of his love.
Oh, my children, I'll always be where you are
The singer addresses his children and tells them he'll always be there for them. This line emphasizes how love transcends boundaries and is not limited to romantic interests, but it also entails a feeling of responsibility and care towards family and close relations.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Moved to Gibbouschild
This was my dadโs favorite song by Marvin. I played this for him on a record player at the hospital when he was in his last hours in hospice. He held my hand and told me โsee you laterโ he passed away about an hour after that. It always brings a tear to my eye hearing this now, but I canโt stay sad long because I can picture him in my head pretending to play all the instruments lol Miss you dad โฅ๏ธ
S0671 Mamba
May your Dad Rest in Peace. Beautiful story right there. โค๏ธ
Wall Trap Sports
Don't worry, one day you will be where he is and he will be where you are! #Inshallah
LEWIS JONES
HAPPY MARVIN GAYE DAY 2 ALL!
Brigitte Mrosek
๐๐๐
Silver Harvester
God Bless
Kim Thompson
A friend gave me this cd about 5 years ago and I could not stop playing it for weeks. I love this album the man was a genius.
Debora Morena
Simply perfect
Femmefatale32000
I did the exact same thing!!
Terri Nelson
When this LP came out I was in my early 20 tโs and we would play it over and over each day after work sipping wine and candle like. The good ole days