Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On | Lyrics, Video and Review

Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On

Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye, Music Video, Lyrics and Review

“Let’s Get It On” is a 1973 number-one single recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye for the Tamla (Motown) label.
The title song of the album release of the same title, “Let’s Get It On” held the number-one position on the Billboard Pop Singles chart for two non-consecutive weeks in September 1973.

Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On Lyrics

I’ve been really tryin’, baby
Tryin’ to hold back this feelin’ for so long
And if you feel like I feel, baby
Then come on, oh, come on
Whoo, let’s get it on
Ah, babe, let’s get it on
Let’s love, baby
Let’s get it on, sugar
Let’s get it on
Whoo-ooh-ooh

We’re all sensitive people
With so much to give
Understand me, sugar
Since we got to be
Let’s live
I love you

There’s nothin’ wrong
With me lovin’ you
Baby, no, no
And givin’ yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true
Oh, babe, ooh, ooh

Don’t you know
How sweet and wonderful life can be?
Whoo-ooh
I’m askin’ you, baby
To get it on with me
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I ain’t gonna worry, I ain’t gonna push
Won’t push you, baby
So come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, baby
Stop beatin’ ’round the bush, hey

Let’s get it on, ooh, ooh
Let’s get it on
You know what I’m talkin’ ’bout
Come on, baby, hey, hey
Let your love come out
If you believe in love
Let’s get it on, ooh, ooh
Let’s get it on, baby
This minute, oh yeah
Let’s get it on
Please, please, get it on
Hey, hey

I know you know
What I’ve been dreamin’ of
Don’t you, baby?
My whole body is in love
Whoo

I ain’t gonna worry, no, I ain’t gonna push
I won’t push you, baby, whoo
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, darlin’
Stop beatin’ ’round the bush, hey

Gonna get it on
Beggin’ you, baby, I want to get it on
You don’t have to worry that it’s wrong
If the spirit moves you, let me groove you good
Let your love come down
Oh, get it on, come on, baby

Do you know I mean it?
I’ve been sanctified
Hey, hey
Girl, you give me good feelings, so good

Nothin’ wrong with love
If you want to love me
Just let yourself go
Oh, baby
Let’s get it on

Marvin Gaye - Let’s Get It On Review and Song Info

Written by Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend, and produced by Gaye, it was the most successful single ever released on a Motown label.

Co-written with doo-wop pioneer Ed Townsend, “Let’s Get It On” was Gaye’s plea for sexual liberation. When originally conceived by Townsend, who was released from a rehab facility for alcoholism, it was written with a religious theme. Gaye confidante Kenneth Stover changed some of the words around as a political song and Gaye recorded the version as it was written, but Townsend protested that the song wasn’t a politically-conscious song but a song dedicated to love and sex. Gaye and Townsend then collaborated on new lyrics and using the original backing tracks as recorded, Gaye transformed the song into an emotional centerpiece.

“Let’s Get It On” became one of Gaye’s most successful singles, staying at number-one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart for two weeks and staying at number-one on the Billboard Black Singles Chart for eight weeks. The single stayed inside the Billboard Hot 100 top-ten for thirteen weeks (ten weeks inside the top-five). The song became the biggest selling Motown release in the U.S. at the time, selling over two-million copies within the first six weeks of its release. “Let’s Get It On” would end up selling over four million copies, making it the second biggest hit of 1973, behind Dawn featuring Tony Orlando’s “Tie A Yellow Ribbon round The Ole Oak Tree”. The single release is different from the album version in that the album version is about a minute longer and contains an extra verse.

The song is ranked #167 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Released June 15, 1973
Recorded March 22, 1973, Hitsville West, Los Angeles, CA
Genre Soul
Length 4:53
Label Tamla
Writer(s) Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend
Producer Marvin Gaye
Certification Gold