Too Busy Thinking About My Baby

Marvin Gaye

About Too Busy Thinking About My Baby

"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" is a Motown song written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Janie Bradford. The song was first recorded by The Temptations as a track on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready. Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the recording, which was produced by Whitfield. Jimmy Ruffin also recorded a version with The Temptations providing background vocals in 1966. It remained unreleased until 1997. Three years later, Motown artist Marvin Gaye recorded a cover version of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" as a follow-up single to his 1968 hit "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", another Whitfield/Strong composition, which was a trans-atlantic top five hit. Whitfield produced Gaye's version as well, which featured background vocals by The Andantes. The song's lyrics feature the male narrator discussing how he has "no time to discuss weather" or "think about what money can buy", because when he thinks about his woman, "I ain't got time for nothing else". In terms of chart success, "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was Gaye's second biggest hit of the 1960s, after "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and remained at the number one position on Billboard's Black Singles Chart for six consecutive weeks, from the weeks of, June 7 until July 12, 1969, with sales close to two million records. The single was the top-selling R&B single of the year, and also reached No. 14 on Billboard's year-end charts. The tune was the first release from Gaye's 1969 studio album M. P. G.. The single also reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart. 


Year:
1984
2:59
104 

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Listen to me people
I ain't got time to think about Money
Or what it can buy
And I ain't got time to sit down and wonder
What make the birdies fly

And I don't have time to think about
What makes the flowers grow
And I've never given it a second thought
To where the rivers flow

And I ain't got time for nothin' else

I ain't got time to discuss the weather
And how long it's going to last
And I ain't got time to do no studying
Once I get out of class

I'm telling you I'm just a fellow with a one track mind
And when it comes to thinkin' about
Anything but my baby
I just don't have the time

Oh yeah
And I ain't got time for nothin' else
Don't you know I, I'm thinking about my baby
I ain't got time for nothin' else

Yeah the world could ever match her wealth
She's some kinda wonderful
Got heaven right here on earth

'Cause I'm just a fellow with a one track mind
And when it comes to thinkin about
Anything but my baby
I just don't have the time

I'm too busy thinkin' about my baby
Oh I ain't got time for nothin' else
Too busy thinkin' about my baby
Ain't got time for nothing else

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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 »

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Written by: BARRETT STRONG, JANIE BRADFORD, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


8 facts about this song

Different Versions
The song "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" has been covered by different artists including Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Ruffin, and The Temptations, hence offering distinct versions of the song.
Original Version
The song was originally performed in 1966 by The Temptations and was included in their studio album "Gettin' Ready."
Marvin Gaye's Impact and Success
Marvin Gaye made the song popular with his rendition in 1969. Marvin Gaye's version was a single produced by Norman Whitfield. - Marvin Gaye's version was a No. 1 R&B hit for six weeks, and it peaked at No. 4 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. - Marvin Gaye's version made the song the second-best-selling Motown single in the UK.
Jimmy Ruffin's Interpretation
Jimmy Ruffin, an American soul singer, also covered the song in 1970. - Ruffin delivered a cheerier rendition of the song as compared to the raw emotion conveyed by Marvin Gaye.
Lyric Content
Despite the variety of covers, all versions of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" feature lyrics that express a man's intense love for his partner, informing listeners that he is too occupied with his love to worry about other things.
Featured Film
Marvin Gaye's version of the song was also featured in the movie "More American Graffiti" from 1979.
Other Cover Versions
In addition to Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Ruffin, and The Temptations, "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" has also been covered by artists like The Spinners, Mardi Gras and Cliff Richard.
Recognition and Popularity
Marvin Gaye's rendition of "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" was recognized as one of the singer's signature songs, granting it an enduring popularity beyond its initial release.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #4


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