You Ain't Livin' till You're Lovin'

Tammi Terrell, Marvin Gaye

About You Ain't Livin' till You're Lovin'

"You Ain't Livin' till You're Lovin'" is a 1968 single released on the Tamla-Motown label by Motown vocal duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The song gave the duo a boost in the UK where the single was released. Motown's stateside headquarters issued the song as the b-side to the hit "Keep On Lovin' Me Honey". The song eventually reached the top thirty on the UK Top 50 peaking at number twenty-one. It was the fourth and final release from the duo's best-selling album You're All I Need, and was later covered by Diana Ross and the Supremes and The Marvelettes.  


Year:
1968
2:49
86 
#2

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You think you're so way out
And you got all the action
Still you can't find no satisfaction
Baby - try me, and I'll make you see

You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
Ooh, until you fall you ain't livin' at all
Ah ah, at all

You like to kiss and run
And that's where it is
'Cause somebody told you
Love was heartaches and tears
Baby, although you're free
I'll make you see

You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
Oh, until you fall you ain't livin' at all
You ain't livin' at all

To be in love, I know it's not your ambition
But before you go, think about my proposition
You may conquer the world and be king on a throne
But you still ain't nobody, baby
When you're sittin' all alone

You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
Ooh, until you fall you ain't livin' at all

You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
Ooh, until you fall you ain't livin' at all

You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
Ooh, until you fall you ain't livin' at all

You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
You ain't livin' until you're lovin', baby
Ooh, until you fall you ain't livin' at all

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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: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Inclusion
"You Ain't Livin' Till You're Lovin'" was included in Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's final studio album, "You're All I Need", released in 1968.
Diana Ross & Supremes Collaboration
The song was redone by Marvin Gaye along with Diana Ross and The Supremes in 1969 for their album "Together", which was a collection of duets by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
Release as a Single
Initially, "You Ain't Livin' Till You're Lovin'" was not released as a single in the United States, but it was shipped to the United Kingdom where it was issued as the B-Side to "Good Lovin' Ain't Easy to Come By" in 1969.
Tammi Terrell's Health
At the time of the song's release, Tammi Terrell had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, which resulted in her not being able to perform live anymore.
Marvin Gaye's Connection
The death of Terrell in 1970 greatly affected Marvin Gaye. He refrained from performing on stage for a few years after her death and this period was termed as his 'wilderness years'.
Storyline of the Song
As the title implies, the song's lyrics talk about the importance of love in life. It goes to the extent of stating that a life without love is not a life at all.
Chart Performance
Though it wasn't officially released as a single in the U.S, in the U.K the song, as a B-side, managed to chart in the top 30 on the UK Singles Chart in 1969.
Production
The song was produced under the legendary Motown Records, known for generating a series of successful soul music artists and songs.
Retrospective Evaluations
In retrospect, the song remains a popular track within the Motown catalogue, appreciated for its soulful blend of vocals from Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell and The Supremes.
Writer credits
"You Ain't Livin' Till You're Lovin'" was penned by the iconic songwriting team of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, who wrote several other hits for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “You’re All I Need To Get By”.

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