In the mid-60s, Terrell released a series of minor R&B chart hits, among them "I Can't Believe You Love Me", "Come On and See Me", and "This Old Heart of Mine" (putting on her own spin on The Isley Brothers' classic). In 1967, she was selected to replace Kim Weston as Marvin Gaye's recording partner, with Gaye being one of Motown's biggest singer-songwriters and being hungry to try more. This teaming produced Gaye's most successful duets, and the pair issued a stream of hit singles between 1967 and 1969. Tracks such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "You're All I Need To Get By" epitomized their style, as Gaye and Terrell wove around each other's voices, creating an aura of romance and eroticism that led to persistent (yet false) rumors that they were in a secret relationship.
Being such close friends and strong admirers of each other's talents, the partnership's non-singles and b-side releases have attracted critical praise as well, with many commenting that both of them sing like passionate actors on a stage totally into their roles. Most of the Gaye/Terrell duets were crafted by two songwriting/production teams: Ashford & Simpson and Harvey Fuqua & Johnny Bristol. Though productions could be intense, given the number of talented musicians in one space at one time, the duo recorded track after track. Yet it all would come to a sudden end soon.
While on tour with Gaye in Virginia during the summer of 1967, Terrell fainted onstage. She was diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumor, much to the shock of her and her friends. Despite a series of major operations over the next three years, her health steadily weakened to the point that she could barely sing. By 1969, Terrell was too weak to perform in public or in the studio, and the duo's co-producer, Valerie Simpson, subbed for Terrell on many of the duo's final recordings. Ironically, one of these tracks, called "The Onion Song", proved to be the most successful of the Gaye/Terrell singles in the U.K.
Tammi Terrell died on March 16, 1970. Her burial service attracting thousands of mourners, including many of her Motown colleagues, numerous musicians in Motown and elsewhere felt shocked. Over the years since, her work with Gaye has proved deeply influential on many later soul and rnb artists. As well, Marvin Gaye's spiritual wanderings and self-reflection upon the passing of such a beloved friend proved a significant life event, and he would soon release his critically acclaimed 'What's Going On' album soon afterward.
Official Motown artist page: http://classic.motown.com/artist_pages/marvin-gaye-tammi-terrell/
Sad Wedding
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A very sad wedding
And the tears came tumblin' from my eyes
We fell in love
First day we met
Then later on we were wed
And as we stood there
Here's what I heard somebody say
It was a sad wedding
Oh, how I cried
Oh, how beautiful was the bride
It was a sad wedding
A very sad wedding
And the tears came tumblin' from my eyes
I was so nervous, I just couldn't wait
To see you walk down the aisle
Then suddenly there was music, and all my fear was gone
And you came walking with a smile
We had our reception
Then we were on our way
Off to our honeymoon
When you threw your bouquet
And rice flew over our heads
I overheard somebody say
It was a sad wedding
Oh, how I cried
Oh, how beautiful was the bride
It was a sad wedding, a very sad wedding
And the tears, tears, tears
And the tears, tears, tears
And the tears came tumblin' from my eyes
And the tears, tears, tears
And the tears, tears, tears
The song 'Sad Wedding' by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell is a ballad about a couple's bittersweet wedding day. The lyrics depict a narrative about a couple who fell in love at the first sight and later got married. The couple is greeted by their friends at the reception, and someone comments on how sad the wedding is, despite the beautiful bride and ceremony. The song's lyrics convey the sadness experienced by the couple on their wedding day, despite the wedding being a happy occasion.
The lyrics evoke an emotional response, describing how the tears came tumbling from the eyes of the singer. The wedding is described as sad, and the emotions experienced by both the bride and groom are conveyed in the song. The song's lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and heartbreak and provide an insight into the complex range of emotions that a couple can experience on their wedding day.
Overall, 'Sad Wedding' is a well-crafted song that offers a deeper understanding of the emotional complexities surrounding one of the happiest days in a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a sad wedding
The occasion of my wedding was filled with sorrow and unhappiness.
A very sad wedding
The atmosphere at the wedding was extremely gloomy, unhappy, and melancholic.
And the tears came tumblin' from my eyes
I was overcome with emotion and began to cry uncontrollably.
We fell in love
We developed romantic feelings for each other.
First day we met
The day we first set eyes on each other.
Then later on we were wed
We got married after some time had passed.
And as we stood there
As we were standing at the altar on our wedding day.
Greeting all our friends
Welcoming and acknowledging all of our acquaintances who had attended the wedding.
Here's what I heard somebody say
I overheard someone saying the following.
Oh, how beautiful was the bride
The bride was stunningly beautiful and breathtaking.
I was so nervous, I just couldn't wait
I was feeling incredibly anxious and could not wait for the ceremony to start.
To see you walk down the aisle
To catch a glimpse of you walking towards me as you made your way down the aisle.
Then suddenly there was music, and all my fear was gone
The music began playing and I suddenly felt more relaxed and at ease.
And you came walking with a smile
You walked down the aisle with a beaming smile on your face.
We had our reception
We had our wedding party and celebration after the ceremony.
Then we were on our way
After our reception, we left on our honeymoon.
Off to our honeymoon
We embarked on our romantic getaway after the wedding.
When you threw your bouquet
When the bride threw her bouquet of flowers to the single women guests.
And rice flew over our heads
When the guests threw rice over our heads as we left for our honeymoon.
And the tears, tears, tears
The continued theme of tears throughout the song, representing the sadness and unhappiness felt on the wedding day.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACKEY BEAVERS, JOHNNY WILLIAM BRISTOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind