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.
You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your diamond rings
St. Louis man
You just
You just don't mean a thing
You came a long way from St. Louis
You climbed the ladder of success
Parked out in front of yo' fancy address, baby
You came a long way from St. Louis
You broke a lotta hearts between
I met a gang of gloomy girls, who were doing alright
Until ya came on the scene, my baby
(Huh)
You blew in from the Middle West
Certainly impressed the population hereabouts
Now listen
I got news for you, I'm from Missouri too
So naturally I got my doubts
You got 'em dropping by the wayside
A feeling I ain't gonna know
You came a long way from St. Louis
And you still got a long way to go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, hoo
St. Louis woman
With your diamond rings (now listen)
St. Louis man
You just
You just don't mean a thing
You blew in from the Middle West
And certainly impressed the population hereabouts, yeah
Well baby
I got news for you, I'm from Missouri too
Naturally I got my doubts
You got 'em dropping by the wayside, yeah
A feeling I ain't gonna know
You came a long way from St. Louis, but baby
And you got a long way to go
You came a long way
You got a long way to go
Get yo' hat and get yo' coat, my man
Go on back to St. Louis
Gon' back Mary
I'm not gonna take my tie
The lyrics of Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells's song You Came A Long Way From St. Louis are about someone who has moved from the middle west to make it big in the city. The singer observes that the person has climbed the ladder of success and now lives in an impressive house that attracts town and country cars. But the singer also notes that this person has broken a lot of hearts along the way, leaving a gang of gloomy gals in their wake. While the person may have impressed the population, the singer, who is also from Missouri, is naturally skeptical and has doubts about their true character. Despite the person's success, the singer acknowledges that they still have a long way to go.
The song captures the essence of the American Dream and the struggles one goes through to achieve it. It highlights the sacrifices one has to make to rise to the top while acknowledging the fact that these sacrifices may cause pain to others. It also underscores the importance of staying grounded and not forgetting where you come from.
Line by Line Meaning
You came a long way from St. Louis,
You have made great progress from where you came from in St. Louis,
You climbed the ladder of success,
You worked hard to achieve your success and climb up the social ladder,
I've seen the town and country cars
I have witnessed the luxurious cars parked outside of your fancy address in both the city and countryside, symbolizing your wealth and success,
That were parked out in front of your fancy address.
Those cars were parked outside of your elaborate and expensive home,
You broke a lotta hearts between,
You have hurt many people emotionally during your journey to success,
I've seen a gang of gloomy gals
I have witnessed a group of sad and depressed girls who were doing well until you appeared in their lives,
Who were doing alright till you came on the scene.
Those girls were previously happy and content until you entered their lives and caused emotional damage,
You came here from the middle west,
You originated from the Midwest and arrived here in the present location,
And certainly impressed the population hereabouts.
You have definitely impressed the surrounding population with your achievements and success,
Well, baby, I got news for you, I'm from Missouri too.
I have a surprise for you, I am also from Missouri like you,
So natcherly I got my doubts, you got `em dropping by the wayside,
Therefore, I naturally have my doubts about your success and whether you truly earned it, but you have proven me wrong and made me drop my doubts on the side of the road,
A feeling I ain't gonna know.
I am not going to experience that same feeling of success and achievement,
You came a long way from St. Louis,
You have come a significant distance from St. Louis,
But baby, you still got a long way to go.
However, you still have a lot more to accomplish and many more goals to achieve despite your current success.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kanjian Music
Written by: John Benson Brooks, Sidney Keith Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind