I Heard It Through the Grapevine

Marvin Gaye

About I Heard It Through the Grapevine

"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The first recording of the song to be released was produced by Whitfield for Gladys Knight & the Pips and released as a single in September 1967; it went to number two in the Billboard chart. The Miracles first recorded the song on August 16, 1966 and included their version on their 1968 album, Special Occasion. The Marvin Gaye version was placed on his 1968 album In the Groove, where it gained the attention of radio disc jockeys, and Motown founder Berry Gordy finally agreed to its release as a single in October 1968, when it went to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart for seven weeks from December 1968 to January 1969 and became for a time the biggest hit single on the Motown label (Tamla). The Gaye recording has since become an acclaimed soul classic, and in 2004, it was placed 81 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. On the commemorative fortieth anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 issue of Billboard magazine in June 2008, Marvin Gaye's "Grapevine" was ranked sixty-fifth. It was also inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant" value. 


Year:
1992
3:13
45 
#1

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I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys
You know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby

I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you loved some one else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby

People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?

Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey, yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah

Honey, honey, yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah yeah

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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: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Motown Records' main songwriting team, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong.
Barrett Strong Progression
While Barrett Strong is credited as a co-writer of the song, he did not record a version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" himself.
Marvin Gaye's Version
Marvin Gaye's version of this song, released in 1968, is perhaps the best-known cover. This version became a worldwide hit, topping Billboard's Pop Singles chart for seven weeks, the R&B Singles chart for six weeks, and the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.
Gladys Knight & the Pips Success
Released before Marvin Gaye’s, Gladys Knight & the Pips' version of this song was also a success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and becoming a No. 1 R&B hit in 1967.
Creedence Clearwater Revival's Rock Twist
The song was also covered by rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival for their 1970 album, "Cosmo's Factory." Their version of the song, which stretched to over 11 minutes long, became a standout track on the album.
Application in Popular Culture
Marvin Gaye's version of the song has been used in several films and television series, including 'The Big Chill', 'More American Graffiti', and 'The Wanderers'.
Awards and Recognitions
In 1998, Gladys Knight's version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2004, Marvin Gaye's version was ranked at number 80 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Various Versions
Besides the artists mentioned, the song also has been interpreted by numerous other musicians in various genres, including The Miracles, The Isley Brothers, and The Slits among others, proving its wide-reaching impact in the music industry.
Impact on Marvin Gaye's Career
The song is considered to be one of Marvin Gaye's signature songs and played a significant part in establishing him as one of the top recording artists of the time.
Album Success
Marvin Gaye's single helped his album, "In the Groove" (later re-titled "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"), become his best-selling album to that date, selling over 2.5 million copies.

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    I Heard It Through the Grapevine

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #1


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