Got To Give It Up

Marvin Gaye

I used to go out to parties
And stand around
'Cause I was too nervous
To really get down

But my body yearned to be free
I got up on the floor and found
Someone to choose me

No more standin'
Up beside the walls
Now I've got myself together, baby
Now I'm havin' a ball
Long as your groovin'
There's always a chance
Somebody watches
Might wanna make romance

Move your body, ooo baby, you dance all night
To the groove and feel all right
Everybody's groovin' on like a fool
But if you see me, top down, let me in
Baby just party high and low
Let me step into your erotic zone

Move it up
Turn it 'round
Ooh shake it down (ooh baby)
Owwww

You can love me when you want to babe
This is such a groovy party baby
We're here face to face
Everybody's swingin'
This is such a groovy place
All the young ladies are so fine!
You're movin your body easy with no doubts
I know what you thinkin' baby
You wanna turn me out
Think I'm gonna let you do it babe

Keep on dancin'
Got to give it up
Keep on dancin'
Got to give it up
Keep on dancin'
Got to give it up
Keep on dancin'
Got to give it up
Keep on dancin'
Got to give it up
Keep on dancin'
You baby
Got to give it up
Keep on dancin'
Got to give it up


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

Got to Give It Up Lyrics as written by Marvin P Gaye

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Got To Give It Up song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song since I saw Charlie's Angels!!!!!!!! Great site!!!!

    palason July 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song cuz it's very mellow and relaxin

    elfinmagic07on August 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    story of my life

    vulvaloveon February 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    omg i loooooove this song!!! its so damn cool.

    1lastlook@thewonderon April 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is my favorite marvin gaye song. i like all his other love songs, but this one you can dance to. its just a shame what happened to one of the most influential artists ever.

    breathofthegirlon October 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is an automatic party. Love it, love it, love it.

    MamaDayon June 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song but I have a different version than these lyrics are from... they're more like this: I used to go out to parties and stand around 'Cause I was too nervous to really get down But my body yearned to be free I got up on the floor, boy so somebody could choose me.

    No more standin' there beside the walls I have got myself together, baby I'm havin' a ball

    Long as you're groovin' There's always a chance Somebody watchin' might wanna make romance

    Move your body, ooo baby, And dance all night Do that grooving’ Feel all right

    Everybody's groovin' on like a fool But if you see me spread out and let me in Baby just party high and low Let me step into your erotic zone

    Move it up Turn it down Shake it down

    OOWWWW

    You can love me when you want to babe This is such a groovy party baby We're here face to face Everybody's swingin' This is such a groovy place

    All the young ladies are so fine!

    You're movin your body easy with no doubt Know what you thinkin' baby You want to turn me out Think I'm gonna let you do it babe

    Keep on dancin' You got to get it Got to give it up

    MasterLon December 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    was THIS the first Disco tune?? Or was it Soul Makooza??

    Very Funky and uptempo which was rare for him.

    He sang the National Anthem at a Mohamed Ali fight in 77. My Dad said "who IS this fruit?"

    "just because his name is Marvin Gaye YOU assume he's a Fruit!"

    drpoundsignon January 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    PS They had this tune on "Scrubs" last night while Turk was strutting his stuff.

    drpoundsignon January 29, 2010   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.