Marvin Gaye
Every Great Motown Hit

Click on a song title to view lyrics

1. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
2. Your Precious Love
3. Ain't That Peculiar
4. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You
5. That's the Way Love Is
6. You're All I Need to Get By
7. I'll Be Doggone
8. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
9. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
10. What's Going On
11. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
12. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
13. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
14. Trouble Man
15. Let's Get It On
16. Distant Lover
17. Got to Give It Up

Other Items of Interest:

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs
and there you were
With sweet love and devotion
deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I close my eyes at night,
wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore,
everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
But you brightened up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I want to stop and thank you baby
I want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

You were better to me than I've been to myself
For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby

(repeat and fade):
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

MARVIN:
Every day there's something new
Honey, to keep me lovin' you
And with every passin' minute
Ah baby, so much joy wrapped up in it

CHORUS:
TAMMI: Heaven must have sent you from above
BOTH: Wo, heaven must have sent your precious love

T:
And I, I've got a song to sing
Tellin' the world about the joy you bring
And you gave me a reason for livin'
And ooo, you taught me, you taught me the meaning of givin'

(chorus)

M: To find a love like ours is rare these days
'Cause you've shown me happiness, yes, in so many ways
T: I look in the mirror, and I'm glad to see
Laughter in the eyes where tears used to be

M: What you've given me I could never return
'Cause there's so much, girl, I have yet to learn
T: And I wanna show, I wanna show my appreciation
'Cause when I found you, I found a new inspiration

(repeat chorus and fade)

Honey you do me wrong but still i'm crazy about you
Stay away too long and i can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain

Ain't that peculiar
A peculiar ality
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be

You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I've been so much in love with you baby til i don't wanna see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a dog gone shame my love for you makes all
Your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger

Ain't that peculiar
A peculiar ality
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be

I cried so much just like a child thats lost its home
Maybe baby you think these tears i cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears

(repeat chorus)

M:
If I could build my whole world around you, darlin'
First I'd put heaven by your side
Pretty flowers would grow wherever you walk, honey
And over your head would be the bluest sky
And I'd take every drop of rain
And wash all your troubles away
I'd have the whole world built around you
And that would be all right, oh yes it would

T:
If I could build my whole world around you
I'd make your eyes the morning sun
I'd put so much love where there is sorrow
I'd put joy where there's never been love
And I'd give my love to you
To keep for the rest of your life
And happiness would surely be ours
And that would be all right, oh yes it would

BOTH: Doo doo doo doo...

M: Oh, if I could build my whole world around you
I'd give you the greatest gift any woman could possess
T: And I'd step into this world you've created
And give you true love and tenderness
And there'd be something new with every tomorrow
To make this world better as days go by

(repeat and fade):
M: If I could build my whole world around you
T: If I could build my whole world around you
BOTH: Then that would be all right, oh yeah

Ah baby
After many tears fall from your eyes
A thousand times you ask yourself why
The one guy you love has departed
You're left alone and broken-hearted
Love just comes and goes
How long it's gonna last nobody knows

CHORUS:
That's the way love is, baby [or honey, or other endearing term]
(That's the way love is, sugar, how it is)
That's the way love is, baby
(That's the way love is, sugar, how it is)
That's how it is

I know you're walkin' down a lonesome road
And your heart is carryin' a heavy load
I know you feel like you ain't got a friend (ain't got a friend)
And your whole world's cavin' in (cavin' in)
Ah, but now is the time to be strong (to be strong)
You better forget him now that he's gone (now that he's gone)
Remember...

(chorus)

(instrumental)

Listen to me, little darlin'
The road of love is rough sometimes
But don't let it get the best of you
I've been hurt by love so many times
I know just what you're goin' through
You wish you were never born
You better forget him now that he's gone

(chorus)

Wipe away your tears
Love is here today and gone tomorrow
(That's the way love is, sugar, how it is)
All your joys turn to sorrow
(That's the way love is, sugar, how it is)
One day gladness, and the next day sadness
(That's the way love is, sugar, how it is)
...and fade

You're all I need to get by.
Like the sweet morning dew, I took one look at you,
And it was plain to see,
you were my destiny. With my arms open wide,
I threw away my pride
I'll sacrifice for you
Dedicate my life for you
I will go where you lead
Always there in time of need
And when I lose my will
You'll be there to push me up the hill
There's no, no looking back for us
We got love sure 'nough, that's enough
You're all, You're All I need to get by.
I all, you're all I want to strive for and do a little more
All, all the joys under the sun wrapped up into one
You're all, You're all I need to get by.

You're all I need to get by.
Like an eagle protects his nest, for you I'll do my best,
Stand by you like a tree, dare anybody to try and move me
Darling in you I found
Strength where I was torn down
Don't know what's in store but together we can open any door
Just to do what's good for you and inspire you a little higher
I know you can make a man out of a soul that didn't have a goal
Cause we, we got the right foundation and with love and determination
You're all, You're All I need to get by.
I all, you're all I want to strive for and do a little more
All, all the joys under the sun wrapped up into one
You're all, You're all I need to get by.

Well, I'll be doggone if I wouldn't work all day
And I'll be doggone if I wouldn't bring you my pay
But if I ever caught you running around
Blowing my money all over this town

Then I wouldn't be doggone
Hey, Hey! I'd be long gone
Then I wouldn't be doggone
I'd be long gone

Now hey, hey, hey!
I'll be doggone if you ain't a pretty thing
And I'll be doggone if you ain't warm as a breath of spring
And if we live to be a hundred years old
If you ever let that spring turn cold

Then I wouldn't be doggone
Hey! I'd be long gone
Oh I wouldn't be doggone
I'd be long gone

Now did you hear what I say ?
Well now what I say
Oh, believe me Well, every woman should try
To be what ever has man wants her to be

Ooh, I bet you're wondering how I knew
'bout you're plans to make me blue
with some other guy that you knew before.
Between the two of us guys
you know I love you more.
It took me by surprise I must say,
when I found out yesterday.
Don't you know that...

Chorus:
I heard it through the grapevine
not much longer would you be mine.
Oh I heard it through the grapevine,
Oh and I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.

I know that a man ain't supposed to cry,
but these tears I can't hold inside.
Losin' you would end my life you see,
cause you mean that much to me.
You could have told me yourself
that you love someone else.
Instead...

Chorus

People say believe half of what you see,
son, and none of what you hear.
I can't help bein' confused
if it's true please tell me dear?
Do you plan to let me go
for the other guy you loved before?
Don't you know...

chorus

Ah-ah-aaah, oh yeah... Oh listen to me people

I ain't got time to think about money
Or what it can buy
And I ain't got time to sit down and wonder
What makes a birdie fly

And I don't have the time to think about
What makes a flower grow
And I've never given a second thought
To where the rivers flow

CHORUS:
Too busy thinking about my baby
And I ain't got time for nothing else

Said, I ain't got time to discuss the weather
How long it's gonna last
And I ain't got time to do no studies
Once I get out of class
Tellin ya I'm just a fellow
Said I got a one track mind
And when it comes to thinking about anything but my baby
I just don't have any time

CHORUS

The diamonds and pearls in the world
Could never match her worth, no no
She's some kind of wonderful, people tell ya
I got heaven right here on earth
I'm just a fellow
With a one, one track mind
And when it comes to thinkin' about anything but my baby
I just don't have any time

CHORUS

(yeah, she's never hard to find
'cause she's always on my mind)

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing

I got your picture hangin' on the wall
It can't see or come to me when I call your name
I realize it's just a picture in a frame

I read your letters when you're not near
But they don't move me
And they don't groove me like when I hear
Your sweet voice whispering in my ear

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing

I play the game, a fantasy
I pretend I'm not in reality
I need the shelter of your arms to comfort me

No other sound is quite the same as your name
No touch can do half as much to make me feel better
So let's stay together

I got some memories to look back on
And though they help me when you phone
I'm well aware nothing can take the place of being there

So let me get the real thing
So let me get the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing

Dah, dah, dah, dah
dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Fore we see it you take it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', This ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long

Woo ah, mercy mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east
Woo mercy, mercy me, mercy father
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
Ah oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh, na na...
My sweet Lord... No
My Lord... My sweet Lord

I've come of heart, baby, but now I'm cool
I didn't make it surely, playin' by the rules
I've come of heart, baby, but now I'm fine
I'm checkin' trouble, sure movin' down the line
I've come of heart, baby, but that's OK
'Cause Trouble Man don't get in my way

I've come of heart, baby
I've been for real, baby
Gonna keep movin', gonna roll to town
I've come of heart, come on, get down
There's only 3 things for sure:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby, this I know, child
Yeah, let the sweat through you, baby
Get me singin', yeah, yeah, ooo

I've come of heart, baby, I had to fight
Took him on madness with all my might
I've come of heart, I had to win
Then start all over and then again
I've come of heart, but that's OK
'Cause Trouble Man don't get in my way

I've heard some places and I've seen some places
I've never had tensions, I give my directions
When people say; that's OK, they don't bother me
I'm ready to make it, don't care 'bout the weather
Don't care 'bout no trouble, got myself together
No laughin', no cryin', protection's all around me

I've come of heart, baby
I've been for real, baby
With the Trouble Man
Movin', goin' tight
I've come of heart, come on, get down
There's only 3 things for sure:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby, baby
This I know, baby, baby
Hey now, let it sweat, baby

I've come of heart, but now I'm cool
I didn't make it, baby, playin' by the rules
I've come of heart, baby, but now I'm fine
I'm checkin' trouble, sure movin' down the line

I've been really tryin , baby
Tryin to hold back these feelings for so long
And if you feel, like I feel baby
Come on, oh come on,

Let's get it on
Lets get it on
Let's get it on
Let's get it on

We're all sensitive people
With so much love to give, understand me sugar
Since we got to be
Lets say, I love you

There's nothin wrong with me
Lovin you---
And givin yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true

Don't you know how sweet and wonderful, life can be
I'm askin you baby, to get it on with me
I aint gonna worry, I aint gonna push
So come on, come on, come on, come on baby
Stop beatin round the bush....

Let's get it on
Let's get it on
Let's get it on
Let's get it on

You know, when you're in love and your lover leaves you
And you've got nobody, the lonely hours over here
Sittin' home and thinkin', you say:

Distant lover, darlin', ooo hoo hoo
So many miles away, ooo please
Oh please, baby, think about me
Hey, in misery
Oh say, baby, as I reminisce about your life
That we shared together
The promises we made, baby
Of the day you left, child
Then all of a sudden, if it may seem to explode
Now I gaze out my window, sugar, down a lonesome road, ooo

Distant lover, ooo, sugar
How can you treat my heart so mean and cruel
Didn't you know, sugar, that I dream
Of what I spent with you
I treasure it like it was a precious jewel, oh baby
Lord have mercy!

Oh baby, don't go
Please come back, baby
Ooo, something I wanna say
When you left to go away
No 'ther do I want, do you wanna have me plead and scream
Please! Please, oh please baby
Come back home, girl
Oh baby, come back
Oh oh

I used to go out to parties
And stand around
'Cause I was too nervous
To really get down
And my body yearned to be free
So I got up on the floor and found
Someone to choose me
No more standin' along the side walls
Now I've got myself together, baby
And I'm havin' a ball
Long as you prove it
There's always a chance
Somebody watches
I'm gonna make romance
With your body, ooo baby, you dance all night
Get down and prove it, feel all right
. . . .
(repeat and fade):
Keep on dancin'
Got to give it up