Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she entered the music business at the age of 13, regularly performing live. In 1961 she was signed to the fledgling Scepter Records (later Wand Records), recording under the name "Tammy Montgomery". After coming to the attention of James Brown she recorded one single apiece for Brown's own Try Me record label and, in 1964, Checker Records. The year after that, she was spotted by Berry Gordy Jr. while playing live, and signed to his Motown label. Attractive and talented, she became romantically linked with both James Brown and David Ruffin, lead singer of The Temptations.
Tammy Montgomery changed her name to "Tammi Terrell" at the time of her Motown signing, and was teamed with producers Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol. After releasing a pair of minor R&B chart hits, "I Can't Believe You Love Me" and "Come On and See Me," Terrell was chosen to replace Kim Weston as Marvin Gaye's duet partner. The duo recorded a number of successful hits which remain popular today: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "You're All I Need to Get By", all written (and in the case of the latter two, produced by) Ashford & Simpson.
While on tour with Gaye in Virginia in mid-1967, Terrell fainted on stage, and was later diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor. While Terrell endured several operations and continued to record new material, her health steadily deteriorated. Fuqua and Bristol resorted to having Gaye overdub archived Terrell solo tracks to fill out the Gaye/Terrell duets albums. The final album attributed to Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "Easy" (1969), actually features co-producer Valerie Simpson subbing for Terrell on all but two of the tracks.
Twelve of Tammi Terrell's solo Motown recordings, including "I Can't Believe You Love Me", "Come On and See Me," and a minor hit cover of The Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", were issued as Terrell's only solo album, "Irresistible," in January 1969. Terrell died of brain cancer at age 24 on March 16, 1970.
If I Would Marry You
Tammi Terrell Lyrics
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You say you're gonna take me to the best places in town
You say you're gonna put all your other girls down
If I, I would marry you, oh yeah
I said if I, I would marry you, wo, wo, wo, wo
I couldn't care less 'bout this ol' town
You could keep those chicks up, you know that I've got 'em down
I said that I, I won't marry you, wo, wo, wo, wo
You say you're gonna give to me the key to your heart
You say you're gonna give me, baby, all the money that you have got
If I, I would marry you, oh yeah
I said if I, I would marry you, wo, wo, wo, wo
You know that I'm gonna take the key to your heart
You know I'm gonna take all the money, honey, you have got
'Cause I, I will marry you, oh yeah
I said that I, I will marry you, wo, wo, wo, wo
I said that I, I will marry you, oh yeah
I said that I, I will marry you
Wo, I said that I, I, I will marry you
I said that I, I will marry you, oh yeah
I said that I, I will marry you
Wo, I said that I, I, I will marry you
The song "If I Would Marry You" by Tammi Terrell is a playful and sarcastic response to a man who is trying to win her affection by promising her the world. The lyrics begin with the man promising to take Tammi to the best places in town and declaring that he will put all of his other girls down if she agrees to marry him. Tammi responds by saying that she couldn't care less about the town or the other girls, and that she has no intention of marrying him.
The man then tries a new tactic, offering Tammi the key to his heart and all of the money he has. Tammi responds by turning the tables on him, saying that she will take the key and the money because she has decided to marry him after all. This sarcastic response is a rejection of the man's attempts to control her through promises of material wealth and a lavish lifestyle.
Overall, "If I Would Marry You" is a lighthearted and humorous examination of gender roles and power dynamics in relationships. Tammi's refusal to be swayed by the man's promises and her eventual turnabout show that she is not a passive object of desire, but rather an active participant in the game of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Acknowledging the conversation and being engaged in it.
You say you're gonna take me to the best places in town
Offering to take her to places that are enjoyable and pleasant to be at.
You say you're gonna put all your other girls down
Promising to leave all other women and focusing only on her.
If I, I would marry you, oh yeah
Indicating that marriage is the main reason for being in a relationship and is a non-negotiable option.
I said if I, I would marry you, wo, wo, wo, wo
Reiterating the point of wanting to get married before being fully committed.
I couldn't care less 'bout this ol' town
Expressing a disinterest in the place they are in or the people in it.
You could keep those chicks up, you know that I've got 'em down
Stating that the person believes they are better and more desirable than anyone else in the conversation.
So I, I won't marry you, no, no
Making a decision not to get married to the other person.
I said that I, I won't marry you, wo, wo, wo, wo
Reiterating their decision not to get married to the other person.
You say you're gonna give to me the key to your heart
Promising to become emotionally connected with the person and share their thoughts and feelings.
You say you're gonna give me, baby, all the money that you have got
Promising to share all financial resources with the person you love.
You know that I'm gonna take the key to your heart
Asserting that the person is ready to take emotional control over the other person and be in charge of their emotional state.
You know I'm gonna take all the money, honey, you have got
Stating that they will take and control all financial resources of the other person once they are married.
'Cause I, I will marry you, oh yeah
Indicating a willingness to marry the person only for their financial and emotional support.
I said that I, I will marry you, wo, wo, wo, wo
Reiterating the person's decision to marry the other person only for their benefits.
I said that I, I will marry you, oh yeah
Reaffirming the desire to marry only for benefits and not for love.
Wo, I said that I, I, I will marry you
Using repetition to stress the intention to marry the person for monetary and emotional gains.
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.