Lets Get It On

Song Meaning and Background of Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye

After 1971’s “What’s Going On,” Gaye radically changed course with this song. With the help of producer and songwriter Ed Townsend, Gaye created a masterpiece of erotic persuasion that topped the pop and R&B charts.

The singer hoped “Let’s Get It On” didn’t “advocate promiscuity,” but also said he felt the song might have “some aphrodisiac power.”

When Gaye’s father heard it, who would later go on to murder his son, called him and said, “Please, please, don’t go any further. You’re supposed to be a minister’s son.”

"Let's Get It On" is a song by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released in 1973 and on the album of the same name.

The song features romantic and sexual lyricism and funk instrumentation, and it is Gaye's most successful single for Motown and one of his most well-known songs.

The song's sexually explicit content, "Let's Get It On" helped give Gaye a reputation as a sex symbol during its initial popularity.

The song was Gaye's plea for sexual liberation, and was originally conceived by co-producer, Ed Townsend, who was released from a rehab facility for alcoholism.

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 was not 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.

During the time of the recording of the song and its subsequent album of the same name, Marvin had befriended the family of jazz guitarist Slim Gaillard and had become smitten with Gaillard's 17-year-old daughter, Janis Hunter.

A widely reported story has been told that Hunter was in the studio when Gaye recorded the song at the recording booth.

Gaye and Hunter were said to be smitten with each other and, within months, they began dating. Hunter would become Gaye's live-in lover by 1974. Their relationship would produce two children and a 1977 marriage.

"Let's Get It On" reached number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart on September 8, 1973.

Lyrics of Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye

I've been really tryin', baby

Tryin' to hold back this feeling for so long

And if you feel, like I feel baby

Then come on, oh come on, ooh

Let's get it on, oh baby

Let's get it on, let's love baby

Let's get it on, sugar

Let's get it on, whoa

We're all sensitive people

With so much to give, understand me sugar

Since we got to be here

Let's live, I love you

There's nothin' wrong with me

Lovin' you, baby love, love

And givin' yourself to me can never be wrong

If the love is true, oh baby

(Let me love you)

Don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be? Oh, oh

(Let me love you)

I'm askin' you baby to get it on with me, oh oh

(Let me love you)

(Let me love you)

I ain't gonna worry, I ain't gonna push

(Let me love you)

I won't push you baby

(Let me love you)

So come on, come on, come on, come on baby

Stop beatin' 'round the bush, hey

Let's get it on, 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, let's get it on baby

This minute, oh yeah let's get it on

Please, let's get it on

I know you know what I been dreamin' of, don't you baby?

(My body wants some)

My whole body makes that feelin' of love, I'm happy

(My body wants some)

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

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 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 good feeling

So good somethin' like sanctified

Oh do right baby

Nothing wrong with love

If you want to love me just let yourself go

Oh baby, let's get it on