Song Lyric Sunday prompts for this week are provided by our host Jim Adams. He has asked us to find songs where somebody is having sex or talking about it. These days there are plenty of songs that leave nothing to the imagination, but I opted for a sexy oldie by Marvin Gaye from the 70s called ‘Let’s Get It On’
Enjoy the song and your Sunday!
The Song
Originally written by 1950s one-hit-wonder Ed Townsend (“For Your Love” in 1958), the song originally addressed the author’s desire to get on with life after beating alcoholism. Marvin Gaye completely changed the lyrics (and meaning) to the song after meeting Janis Hunter, the woman who would become his second wife. The song helped cement Gaye’s reputation as one of the greatest singers of baby-making music. Song writing credits on the song went to both Gaye and Townsend.
“Let’s Get It On” was the title track of Gaye’s 1973 album. It topped the Billboard Pop Singles chart for two weeks and the Billboard Soul Singles chart for eight weeks. It also made history as Motown’s most successful release in the United States to that date and the second most successful song of 1973 (behind Tony Orlando & Dawn’s “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree”).
This song’s co-writer Ed Townsend also produced the album with Marvin and co-wrote the three other songs on the first side of the disc, including “Keep Gettin’ It On.” He wrote with Gaye again on songs for Marvin’s 1978 album Here, My Dear.
This song has appeared in a variety of TV shows, movies and commercials, often for comic effect to imply an imminent romantic encounter. Some of the media uses include the TV shows The Simpsons, The Sopranos, Scrubs, House, Ugly Betty, Charmed, Spin City and The King of Queens.
Movie uses include Into the Night (1985), Queens Logic (1991), The Inkwell (1994), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), High Fidelity (2000), Crossroads (2002), Something’s Gotta Give (2003), Mr. 3000 (2004), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), The Change-Up (2011), and The Dictator (2012).
The Lyrics
I'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 Let's get it on Ah, baby, let's get it on Let's love, baby Let's get it on, sugar Let's get it on 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 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, oh baby Ooh don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be ooh I'm asking you baby to get it on with me ooh ooh 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, hey 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, please get it on I know and you know what I've been dreaming of, don't you baby? 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 C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, darlin' Stop beatin' 'round the bush Oh, gonna get it on Threatenin' you, baby I wanna get it on You don't have to worry that it's wrong If the spirit moves ya Let me groove ya good Let your love come down Oh, get it on C'mon, baby Do you know the meaning? I've been sanctified Girl, you give me good feeling I've been 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 Writer/s: Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind Courtesy of Songfacts
