About The Song
In 1973, Marvin Gaye unveiled his thirteenth studio album, “Let’s Get It On,” in August of that year. The album swiftly climbed the charts, securing the second of Marvin’s three US pop chart-toppers.
With its sultry themes, one of the most sensual tracks in chart history, “Let’s Get It On,” claimed the coveted American No. 1 spot on September 8, 1973. This seductive masterpiece marked Marvin Gaye’s second triumph on the US pop charts, following a week-long domination by Stories’ “Brother Louie.” Although briefly dethroned by Helen Reddy’s “Delta Dawn,” Gaye swiftly reclaimed the pinnacle for a second consecutive week.
The song was a collaborative effort between Gaye and Ed Townsend, who initially conceived the lyrics as a message about overcoming addiction and embracing life. However, Gaye was unambiguous about the song’s sensuality, as evident in the sleeve notes of the “Let’s Get It On” album, which peaked at No. 2. In his notes, he stated, “I can’t see anything wrong with consensual intimacy between anyone.”
The infectious groove of “Let’s Get It On” was so irresistible that it made a return on the album with the track “Keep Gettin’ It On.” Recorded in March 1973 at Motown’s Hitsville West Studios, the sessions featured esteemed musicians like Plas Johnson, Ernie Watts, and the Crusaders’ duo, Joe Sample and Wilton Felder, in addition to Gaye himself on piano.
Townsend, who had a long-standing acquaintance with Gaye since the 1960s, expressed his awe in the liner notes of the 2001 deluxe edition of the album. He wrote, “I have been fortunate to collaborate with numerous exceptional vocalists in my career, but none quite like Marvin Gaye. The recording sessions for ‘Let’s Get It On’ marked the first time I was profoundly moved by a singer’s ability to grasp and interpret the true essence of a song.”
Video
Lyric
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, oohLet’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, whoaWe’re all sensitive people
With so much to give, understand me sugar
Since we got to be here
Let’s live, I love youThere’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, heyLet’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
Guitar chord
It seems much easier to transpose down a half step than trying to play Eb Cm7 Ab Bb7 the other tab uses. I made some adjustments to those chords. You can use these chord forms get a nice increase in pitch through the four chords. EADGBe D XX0232 F# 244322 (works better than Bm7) G 355433 (bridge uses G7 353433, and E 022100 or E7) A 577655 That gets a nice bass line in the 4th string (0,4,5,7) -- don't know if that's a reason for dropping the 7ths (F#7 & A7) used in the other version and the Wendy Colonna that follows. --Arthur Marks D F# G A 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, D F# G A Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on D F# G A We're all sensitive people With so much to give, understand me sugar Since we got to be here Lets say, I love you D F# G A There's nothin wrong with me Lovin you--- And givin yourself to me can never be wrong If the love is true Bridge: G7 D F# A 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 G7 E(7?) So come on, come on, come on, come on baby A(not barred) Stop beatin round the bush.... D F# G A Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on repeat and fade A different acoustic take. She hits top note twice and then strums once for each chord the 6th string on the G, the 5th on the E7 and C, and the 4th on the D7). The timing with singing is very tricky for me. --Arthur Marks CAPO 4 G E7 C D7 G E7 C D7 G I've been really tryin , baby E7 C D7 G Tryin to hold back this feeling for so long E7 C D7 G And if you feel, like I feel baby E7 C D7 G Come on, oh come on, G E7 C D7 Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on G E7 C Now We're all sensitive people D7 G E7 C D7 G With so much to give, and understand each other E7 C D7 Since we got to be here G E7 C D7 Lets say, I love you G E7 C D7 And There's nothin wrong with me G E7 C D7 Lovin you--- baby no no no G E7 C D7 And givin yourself to me can never be wrong G E7 C D7 If the love is true Bridge: C7 G E7 C7 D7 Don't you know how sweet and wonderful, life can be C7 G E7 C7 D7 I'm askin you baby, to get it on with me C7 G E7 C7 D7 I aint gonna worry, I aint gonna push C7 A7 So come on, come on, come on, come on come on darlin D7(strumming) Stop beatin round the bush.... (palm mute; gutteral "hey...") G E7 C D7 Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on Let's get it on ... C7 G E7 C7 D7 I aint gonna worry, I aint gonna push C7 A7 So come on, come on, come on, come on come on darlin D7 (palm mute; gutteral "hey...") Stop beatin round the bush.... G E7 C D7 Let's get it on ... ...(fade)