Got to Give It Up
harmony.fm: Marvin Gaye Lyrics


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[Chorus: x4 Krayzie Bone]
There's always something you got to give up (Yeah, I know)
If you want everything you want (But shit I don't know, I don't know)

[Krayzie Bone]
My life is a jungle, I struggle hustle Monday through Sunday
They tell me the world is mine but shit I don't want it, who want it?
How could it be mine and I'm still hungry, still hungry
Lost and lonely, so I holler at the voices of the wind as a friend
But I predicted this ending, back in the day
Cause I had visions of bad decisions knew niggas would go astray
Although we pray and we pray and we pray
We do but still want to make the loot
No more united, divided we fall, nigga and hard
We all dealt fucked up cards but don't complain;
Just play the hand that you was dealt
You play 'em right you prevail, you play 'em wrong then you fail
It ain't hard to tell, when you been headed for self destruction
Cause I, could look at the piece of the puzzle
It ain't no love involved, everything we was dissolved
We all hard as one, but together we raw
And there ain't a nigga that can fuck wit that
We split up, we tied up, my nigga whats up with that
Letting the devil get in, to the pen
Devils pretending to be friends
We was taken by that snake in the grass
Should of stuck the nigga fast
Yeah, that motherfucking snake in the grass
We dropped our guards and he got inside us like a virus
Now our family reunion done turned into a family crisis

[Chorus: Bizzy Bone]

[Bizzy Bone]
I was never on some solo shit
Always down to roll and blow a head off
He dead off and don't know me, don't tell me you love me
When I was lonely and my daddy died
All of my niggas came to the church
And thanks for coming, I'm still stressed out over the death
When I take my breath and puff my cigarette
I think the world is just collapsing
But I'm still rapping get it all off my chest
So I came back to the action
When the bird was flying, low, and laughing
Family bashing 'til it just happened
Then Wally passed, and he asked me, "Wasn't it tragic?"
Louie asking me if he'll ever come back so hard
We tell the truth, no use in beating around the bush
Baby I'm sorry.. it's all in the game
Throwing up blood, fuck it Layz'
Let's sign our life away

[Wish Bone]
Now see me? I ain't giving up a motherfucking thing
It's hard to come by, and I ain't no bitch nigga
Shit been in some robberies and walk-bys
And you don't want that, neither do I
But I will, I will, cause I'm a hustler, hustler
High 'til I die, I'm goin' get mine
Even if it mean murder, getting caught, fuck it let me fry
Know it's hectic, niggas start shit nowadays..
But I'm a hustler just like you, don't bring that shit my way

[Chorus: x4]

[Layzie Bone]
Hell no I'll be thugged out nigga, turned out nigga
Running with niggas that's killers,
The realest that be shermed out nigga
Spitting my prophecy ain't no stopping me
I'm coming through with the motherfucking shotty
I really don't want to hurt nobody, just kill off Illuminati
Fuck the D-E-A and the F-B-I
I-R-S can kiss my ass, U-C-P-D, F-C-C
Y'all better quit too 'fore a nigga come blast you
Blast you "Hit 'Em Up" like 'Pac did
Take 'em hostage, terrorize and torture
Your ghetto resource'll be pay back, pay back
Little Lay that, young nigga with scrilla
And bitch I thought you knew
You got a beam on me? I got a beam on you
You fuck wit me? I'ma fuck wit you
Beeitch! Like it always be
Y'all bitches gon' have to kill me, feel me!
You gon' have to pop me, to even try to stop me from grinding
I'm leaving you blinded by the size of Mo Thugs 'til you find us
All the nigga know what the hood like
In the streets gotta get that good life
Selling that yea up under the street light
It's the hood life, don't fight
A nigga want out but just can't get out,
So I guess I gots to face it
All them dreams of having big things, I'm still gon' chase it

[Chorus: x4]

[Flesh-N-Bone]
Here they come, wait can I barktalk Bone, jumping it feeling
Better now, better hit 'em with the future shot
But feeling like Pac, that's what the guy thought
But this shit don't stop, I send much love to the pop
Dropping this shit today, we kicking this thug music
Better love us, so when I love smoking buds on the bus
See we gone sells out that'll make you lust
My nigga don't play too close, my thugs in heaven and shit
My niggas'll pop with the pistols, and snap out the holsters
And cover a snitch all wet
Why the fuck could not he write me S-E-T for the second sincerely
We bagging 'em up rolling niggas and throwing 'em in the wasteland
Soldier, told ya nigga we gone have our time
Like daughters in heaven don't tell him, on his knee
He's fell, he better hope he don't fall victim
Niggas pick up another, then they run
But I'm through with the body bitch ah
But when they want it, yea he just in the business
Flesh giving you pain or pleasure, whatever you want I'ma bring
Young, but them package you'll be impressed

[Repeats]
If it was something you can't give up
Yea I know (Would ya give it up)




To get everything you want
But shit I don't know I don't know (I can feel the pump)

Overall Meaning

Marvin Gaye’s song “Got To Give It Up” is an upbeat party song with a steady disco beat. Gaye originally wrote and recorded the song in 1977, and it was released the following year. While it was not an instant hit, the song’s popularity grew over time and it eventually became one of Gaye’s most recognized tracks.


The lyrics are primarily about dancing and partying, with Gaye’s smooth voice encouraging listeners to get up and move to the beat. The chorus proclaims that “you’ve got to give it up” if you want everything you want, suggesting that in order to truly enjoy life, one must be willing to let go of their inhibitions and just dance.


Despite its upbeat nature, the song is tinged with a sense of melancholy as well. Gaye sings about feeling lost and lonely, and how music is often the only friend he has. The bridge of the song is a saxophone solo, which further adds to the sense of yearning in the lyrics.


Overall, “Got To Give It Up” is a playful and fun song that encourages listeners to let go of their worries and just dance.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FLESH-N-BONE, ANTHONY HENDERSON, L.T. HUTTON, CHARLES SCRUGGS, BRYON MCCANE, STEVEN HOWSE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@teeoh9192

You have the patience of a damn saint to learn all those off beat notes! LOVE IT!

@FusilliJerryBass

Thanks for watching.

@Ssargent888

Easily one of my favorite bass songs and I play six string. That high walk down bit on the upper frets gets me every time

@msqtpie2471

Thank you SO MUCH!! The BASS contributes just as much as Marvin's voice does in This song!! From the very beginning to the end! I can't Help but to listen to it (sometimes even more than to the lyrics lol) everytime I hear this song. Excellent job!! 👍🏽

@JohnHancotte

Great transcription and playing. Really love what looks to be an Aerodyne with those block inlays. Don’t see them with that neck often.

@TbzlFoshzl

Hello! I had to learn this for a show and it ended up sounding so good we just added it to our set. Marvelusband Charlotte NC
But I bet ya I have watched this vid a million times😂 ! It even came up number one on my yearly recap 😂 . But this bass line was, I believe, played on a keyboard by Marvin himself, that's the story I heard SO Its not a natural rhythm for that reason. You just have to memorize it, as you have.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
I don't think I could have done it without you! Nice Fender!
Fenders RULE! ✌️

@2HimTru

Great command of rhythm and smooth bass playing! Thanks for posting!

@rossco420

Excellent ‘one of my favourite tracks from Marvin Gaye, fantastic bassline and very well played 👌🏽🔥🔥💯

@williecooper1368

That off beat reading 2 bars at a time was tough nice job

@thecrow4731

YOU DEFINITIVELY SAVED MY LIFE.♥️

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