The single “Let’s Get It On” proved to be Marvin Gaye’s most successful recording on Motown Records. The listeners were delighted with the call to make love, incredibly bold for the early seventies, and recognized the musician as the best performer of songs for intimate relationships. Let’s take a look back at the origin of the song that many consider to be the sexiest song of all time.
After the success of What’s Going On (1971), Motown’s Tamla Studio renewed Marvin Gaye’s contract. The million dollar deal made him the highest paid black performer and soul singer. He recorded the soundtrack for the movie “Trouble Man”, and then found himself in a state that is commonly referred to by the hackneyed phrase “creative block”.
It was possible to get out of the impasse only with the move to Los Angeles. Marvin Gaye bought a house in the Topanga Canyon Boulevard area, where many artists also settled who wanted to get away from Hollywood and show business. At the new location, work went faster, and in the summer of 1973 the album “Let’s Get It On” was ready for release.
Gay co-wrote the title track with Ed Townsend, the performer of the 1950s hit “For Your Love”. Ed Townsend wrote the original version, in which he shared his experience of dealing with alcoholism. His version had a religious connotation.
Marvin redid several lines, giving the composition a political overtone. Ed found his edits inappropriate. Then they wrote a new version together, turning the song into an ode to love without sanctimonious restrictions. The title of the track was a phrase from the chorus “let’s get it on”, meaning in slang an invitation to have sex.
Critics believe that Marvin Gaye expressed in the song his experiences from childhood and adolescence. He grew up under the yoke of his priest-father, who constantly beat him and inspired his son with the idea of the depravity of intimate relationships (recall that Gay Sr. would shoot Marvin in 1984). The composition became a call for personal and sexual freedom.
The single “Let’s Get It On” with the track “I Wish It Would Rain” on the back was released on June 15, 1973. In the US, he topped the charts of popular songs and compositions of black artists. It peaked at number thirty-one on the UK charts.
Check out the music video of Marvin Gaye performing “Let’s Get In On” at a concert in Montreux.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELNKgc3XOdQ
Interesting Facts
- “Let’s Get It On” became Motown’s best-selling single at the time. Between 1973 and 1975 it sold over three million copies.
- The track is included in the list of the 500 greatest songs of all time according to Rolling Stone.
- The song has been featured in many feature films and television series including The Sopranos, The Simpsons, Into the Night (1985), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and The Dictator (2012).
Let’s Get It On Lyrics
marvin gayeLet’s Get It On Lyrics
Marvin GayeI’ve been really tryin’, baby
Tryin’ to hold back this feeling for so long
And if you feel like I feel baby
Then, c’mon, oh, c’mon
So long trying to curb this feeling
And if you feel the same, baby
Then let’s get it on1
Ah, baby, let’s get it on
Let’s love, baby
Let’s get it on, sugar
Let’s get it on
Oh baby let’s get started
Let’s love baby
Let’s get started honey
Let’s get started We’re all sensitive people
With so much to give
Understand me, sugar
Since we’ve got to be here
Let’s live
I love you We are all sensitive people
We have something to share
Understand, honey
Since we’re here,
let’s live
I love you there’s nothing wrong with me
Loving you, baby no no
And giving yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true
That I love you baby
And there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself to me
If love is real Don’t you know how sweet and wonderful life can be
I’m asking you baby to get it on with me
I ain’t gonna worry
I ain’t gonna push, won’t push you baby
So c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby
Stop beatin’ ’round the bush
I beg you baby come with me
I won’t stick around
I won’t push, I won’t push you
So come on, come on, come on, come on, come on baby
Stop beating around and around Let’s get it on
Let’s get it on
You know what I’m talkin’ ’bout
C’mon baby
Let your love come out
If you believe in love
Let’s get it on
Let’s get it on baby
This minute, oh yeah
Let’s get it on
Please, let’s get it on
Let’s start
You know what I’m talking about
Come on baby
Don’t hold back your love
If you believe in love
Let’s start,
Let’s get started baby
Right this minute, oh yeah
Let’s start,
Please, let’s get started
My whole body makes that feelin’ of love, I’m happy
I ain’t gonna worry, no I ain’t gonna push
I won’t push you baby, woo
Come on, come on, come on, come on darling
Stop beatin’ round the bush, hey
The feeling of love comes from my whole body, I’m happy
I won’t push, I won’t push
I won’t pressure you baby
Come on, come on, come on, come on, honey
Stop walking around and around Oh, gonna get it on, threatin’ you, baby
I wanna 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 the meaning?
I’ve been sanctified, hey hey
Girl, you give me a good feeling
So good something’ like sanctified
Oh dear I, baby
Nothing wrong with love
If you want to love me just let your self go
Oh baby, let’s get it on
I want to start already
Don’t worry like it’s wrong
If the soul demands it
Let me please you
Let your love decide
Oh let’s get started, come on baby
Do you know what it means?
I got a blessing
Girl I feel so good with you
Oh god baby
There’s nothing wrong with love
If you want to love me, just let it be
Oh baby let’s get started
