If I Should Die Tonight

Marvin Gaye

About If I Should Die Tonight

"If I Should Die Tonight" is a song written by songwriter Ed Townsend and American recording artist Marvin Gaye. Gaye recorded the track, a soul ballad, for his Let's Get It On album. It was issued as the third track on the album's set list.


Year:
1980
3:56
191 
#5

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Oh, If I should die tonight
Oh baby, though it be far before my time
I won't die blue, sugar, yeah
'Cause I've known you ('cause I've known you)

Ooh, oh, how many eyes
Have seen their dream
Oh, how many arms
Have felt their dream
How many hearts, baby
Have felt their world stand still?

Ooh
Millions never, they never, never
And millions never will, baby
They never will

Whoo, If I should die tonight (if I should die tonight, love)
Darlin', it would be far before my time
I won't die blue
'Cause I've known you

Oooh
Grateful that you're here
Grateful that you're lovin' me, my desire
Is to love you 'till I'm no longer here
And never tire
Love has been so good to me, me now
I'm so thankful

Ooh, oh, how many eyes
Have seen their dream (seen their dream)
How many arms
Have held their dream (held their dream)
How many hearts, oh darlin'
Have felt their world stand still
Oh Lord

Oh, millions never, no, never-never
And millions never will, sugar
They never will

If I should die tonight, ah baby
I just want you to keep this one thought in mind
That I would never die blue
'Cause I've known you

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Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., was an American singer-songwriter and musician whose career spanned more than two decades. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., he was the son of a storefront minister of a local Pentecostal church sect and grew up singing gospel in church revivals as a young child. Gaye branched out into secular music as a teenager, joining the doo-wop group The Marquees, after returning from an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, before the group was hired by Harvey Fuqua to be Harvey & The Moonglows. Following the band's separation in 1960, Gaye began working as a session drummer for the Detroit music label, Anna, before signing with Motown Records in 1961, adding an "e" to his s… more »

8 fans

Written by: Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


6 facts about this song

About the Song
* "If I Should Die Tonight" is a soul song by American singer Marvin Gaye. It appears on his 1973 album "Let's Get It On," which is his thirteenth studio album. * The song was composed by Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend, and it beautifully showcases Gaye's vocal range.
About the Album
* The album "Let's Get It On" was one of Marvin Gaye's most successful. It reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and it showcased a more mature and sensitive side of the singer. * The album was lauded for its groundbreaking and open discussions of sexuality, which was still a relatively taboo subject in the early 1970s.
Reception and Legacy
* Even though "If I Should Die Tonight" was not released as a single, it is often cited as a standout song on the album, showing a different side of Marvin Gaye's music. * Its haunting and melancholic tune adds depth and diversity to the predominantly sensual and upbeat album, and it has been praised for its lush, layered vocals. * The song's themes of love, mortality, and longing are seen as a testament to Gaye's ability as a songwriter and his willingness to explore complex emotional landscapes.
Cover and Sampling
* It was covered by singer Patti LaBelle on her 1991 album "Burnin." This version was praised for its powerful interpretation of the soulful tune. * The song has been sampled in many other compositions including "Let Me Down Easy" by rapper The Game and "Another Day in Paradise" by Quinn XCII and Ayokay.
Live Performances
* Marvin Gaye included "If I Should Die Tonight" in his setlist for his 1973 concert tour. Although it was not released as a single, it became much loved by fans in Gaye's live performances. * Although the singer's untimely death in 1984 halted any further live performances, the song remains a beloved classic in his discography, standing as a testament to Gaye's impressive range and emotive prowess as a vocalist.
Connection to Gaye's Life
* Many of Gaye's friends and biographers have suggested that the song's melancholic twist reflects the singer's own struggles with depression, providing a more intimate and personal side to his music. * The recurring themes of death and loss in the song has, in retrospect, been linked to Gaye's untimely death, making the track particularly haunting and poignant for fans and critics alike.

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    "If I Should Die Tonight Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/778559/Marvin+Gaye/If+I+Should+Die+Tonight>.

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