The Emotional Layers of 'Let's Get It On'
The Emotional Layers of 'Let's Get It On'
Dive into the emotional depth of Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On,' an album filled with longing, love, and a touch of spiritual awakening.
Marvin Gaye holds the title of the sovereign of seduction. Contesting this would be akin to disputing the fact of gravity. And while Let's Get It On continues to stir emotions and affections, this 1973 hit reminds listeners to see the late singer as something beyond merely a symbol of sensuality.
There’s a prevailing belief that Christianity opposes all things sexual. Gaye’s father, a Pentecostal minister, ruled his home as if his every word were a divine command, suppressing any dissent with force. This twisted exertion of authority shaped his son into an exceptionally timid person, distorting his perception of intimacy and faith, possibly beyond mending.
In the spring of 1972, the 33-year-old artist felt the demands of outdoing his previous hits, What’s Going On and Trouble Man, breathing down his neck. With creativity at a deadlock, his Motown colleague Ed Townsend brought some dear friends into the studio—including a 17-year-old Janis Hunter. Her presence reignited Gaye's creative spark. “She was my dream come to life,” he said, describing the woman who would become his second wife, in a conversation with David Ritz, the author of the Gaye biography Divided Soul. “I had never seen a more exquisite being in my existence. I had to possess her.”
Considering his upbringing, it’s understandable that Gaye was a tormented soul guided by his unique moral code. Surprisingly, he transformed his agony into songs so alluring they could liquefy a chocolate candy quicker than the sun's heat.
The title track has so permeated popular culture that one might overlook its sensuous nature—significantly when it's misused for humor in films and commercials. However, the memorable guitar intro serves as a universal symbol of attraction. “There’s nothing wrong with me desiring you / Baby no, no,” Gaye declares, expressing his desire and rebuffing his past's misconceptions. “And yielding yourself to me can never be mistaken if the love is genuine.” Interestingly, the song was first about triumphing over addiction until Hunter's allure redirected Gaye's creative focus. His intuition was right on target, and the song became an emblematic romantic hit, reaching the top spot on both the Pop and R&B charts.
Next, he presents “Please Stay (Once You Go Away),” a heartfelt and exposed plea from a man fearing his lover's departure. “I’ll just lie awake all night / Frightened that if I fall asleep, I might wake to find you gone.” No betrayal or dishonesty lurks here, but anxiety emerges from restless nights holding a pillow like a cherished companion.
“If I Should Die Tonight” paints a picture of Gaye performing in an elegant Detroit club, clad in a three-piece tuxedo, while Hunter, dressed in a form-fitting black gown and red lipstick, looks on, enchanted. The indifferent crowd drowns its sorrows in stiff drinks. “If I should die tonight, oh baby, I just want you to remember this one thing,” Gaye sings in a falsetto as sweet as honey. “That I will never die unhappy ‘cause I’ve known you.” These words may seem absurd on paper, but his delivery injects such emotion that you can't help but believe him.
The first side concludes with “Keep Gettin’ It On,” which takes the sensual feel of the title track and transitions it into a spiritual context. “Oh, would you rather make love, children, instead of fighting, as you know you should?” he implores, like a fiery preacher addressing a devoted, sweltering crowd. “Don’t you delight in loving someone? Think about it, folks… it makes you feel so good!” Whether or not you consider yourself spiritual, you can't help but admire the Prince of Soul for transforming a romantic tune into a soulful connection to the divine.
As a sunrise pierces the dark morning clouds, “Come Get to This” begins Side Two of the LP, creating the ideal atmosphere for a summer gathering. The song’s infectious melody, which is pleasing to the ear, cleverly disguises its romantic content (“Oh, I need your affection, don't keep me waiting, I can't wait / Oh, I'm so eager for your affection / Come here sweet, sweet baby, get to this”), helping it climb to #3 on Billboard's Hot Soul chart.
“Distant Lover” portrays a love-stricken protagonist reflecting on happy summers and the daily correspondence with his beloved. Yet, the harsh truth of a long-distance relationship compels him to voice his exasperation with every fiber of his being. The mystic coyote-like sound, followed by a desperate plea of “Something I want to tell you... When you left, you took all of me with you,” creates one of the most emotionally intense moments in the entire collection of the singer’‘ works.
The initial title track, exuding a warm and inviting whisper to the ear, contrasts with “You Sure Love to Ball,” which feels like it was performed in the room where the romance unfolds. Gaye’s velvety voice, accompanied by smooth saxophone tunes and suggestive sounds of desire, can set a sensual mood, dim lights, light candles, and evoke intimacy. If Gaye were compensated for every child conceived to this song, his estate might be among the most substantial in contemporary music.
The album concludes dramatically with “Just to Keep You Satisfied,” a melancholy reflection on love turned sour. "Oh, I never cared for anyone like I care for you, baby," Gaye cries around the two-minute mark as if he were confined in a wet, hidden chamber, expressing his sorrow to the emotionless walls surrounding him. “Now it’s time to bid goodbye... Goodbye, my darling.” Love does not always lead to a storybook conclusion, as evidenced by Gaye’s 12-year marriage to Anna Gordy, which ended in 1975. “We hadn’t been together in years, and all we were doing was perfecting our ways of causing each other pain,” he admitted to Ritz. “My emotions for Jan only exacerbated the situation.”
Some musicians have achieved fame by following in the footsteps of others, while a chosen few have created a path so brilliant that they lead the way for everyone else. Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On was, and still is, that shining light. His mesmerizing voice placed him alongside greats, and his complex production methods have transformed the sound of modern R&B. Most importantly, his bold fusion of affection with spirituality continues to influence many beloved songs.