Marvin Gaye, “Let’s Get It On” | After Dark 🕛 🌃

In the 93^rd edition of After Dark (2022), we explore the naughty, risqué, & sexual vibes behind, “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye.

Innuendo? More like full-on sexual vibes! Welcome to After Dark 🕛 🌃, a column featuring songs that are best suited for nighttime, specifically, the bedroom.  Many of the records featured here raise eyebrows, as well as the temperature! These After Dark tunes focus on the universal three-letter word:  SEX. The dark records gracing After Dark are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 93^rd edition of After Dark (2022), we explore the naughty, risqué, & sexual vibes behind, 🎵 “Let’s Get It On” by 🎙 Marvin Gaye.

Theme & Lyrics ✍

“I’ve been really trying, baby / Trying to hold back this feeling for so long.” Repression of feelings can be utter hell; it does not allow you to be your true, authentic self.  For soul icon 🎙 Marvin Gaye, he repressed his feelings regarding sex.  Sure, many of us have been in situations or scenarios where being sex-positive are frowned upon but in the case of Marvin Gaye, the repression goes deep. Religion played a sizable role in Gaye’s sexual repression, given the fact his father, whom he is named after and eventually murdered him, was a Pentecostal minister.  Sex before marriage – that was a no-no, particularly in 1973 when the no. 1 hit, 🎵 “Let’s Get It On” arrived on Gaye’s album, also titled, 💿 Let’s Get It On.

Sure, sex happened in the 1960s and 70s – it has been around for, like, forever – but music still did not reflect it to the extent it does in the 2020s.  Honestly, back then, “Let’s Get It On” would be equivalent to “Let’s F—,” which is NOT far-fetched these days.  Over a soulful backdrop with a big bass line and an electric groove, Gaye is open about what he wants to do.  “There’s nothing wrong with me loving you, baby,” he asserts in the second verse, adding, “And giving yourself to me can never be wrong / If the love is true, oh, baby, ooh.” Furthermore, Gaye does NOT want to wait – especially not for marriage! “So, come on, come on, come on, come, come on, baby / Stop beating ‘round the bush, hey / Let’s get it on.”  Of course, religion, in the form of blasphemy, rears its head when Gaye asks her, “Do you know the meaning? / Of being sanctified, hey, hey / Girl you give me good feeling / So good, somethin’ like sanctified.” Oh, snap!

Final Thoughts 💭 

🎵 “Let’s Get It On” is one of the greatest soul songs of all time.  Marvin Gaye sounds utterly amazing.  He has great inspiration though – SEX! Sure, sex positivity has changed since “Let’s Get It On” – see Kim Petra’s 💿 Slut Pop for comparison – but this record never grows old.  It still masterfully conveys the point – Let’s have sex!

🎙 Marvin Gaye • 💿 Let’s Get It On • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1973

Marvin Gaye, “Let’s Get It On”: After Dark 🕛 🌃 No. 93 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, cottonbro, Foundry Co, John lucas, Motown, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Tazz Vaughn]