Marvin Gaye

Released: July 7, 1980

Songwriter: Smokey Robinson Warren “Pete” Moore Marv Tarplin

Producer: Marvin Gaye

[Verse 1]
Well, I'll be doggone if I wouldn't work all day (Baby)
And I'll be doggone if I wouldn't bring you my pay (Baby)
But if I ever caught you running around
Blowing my money all over this town

[Chorus]
Then I wouldn't be doggone
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone
(I'd be long gone)
Oh baby, I wouldn't be doggone
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone
(I'd be long gone)

[Verse 2]
Well, yeah, yeah
I'll be doggone if you ain't a pretty thing (Baby)
And I'll be doggone if you ain't warm as a breath of spring (Baby)
Oh, if we live to be a hundred years old
If you ever let that spring turn cold

[Chorus]
Then I wouldn't be doggone
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone, oh baby
(I'd be long gone)
Well, I wouldn't be doggone
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone
(I'd be long gone)
Yes I would, baby, hey hey

[Bridge]
What'd I say, baby?
Ah yeah, woo, look
Every woman should try to be
Whatever has man wants her to be
And I don't want much
All I want from you is for you to be true to me
Every woman should try to be
Whatever has man wants her to be
Lord, I don't want much
All I want from you is for you to be true to me

[Verse 3]
I'll be doggone if love ain't a man's best friend (Baby)
And I'll be doggone if you ain't the loving end, ah (Baby)
Oh, if I live to be a hundred years old
If you ever let that spring turn cold

[Chorus]
I wouldn't be doggone
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone, somewhere down the road
(I'd be long gone)
I wouldn't be doggone, baby
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone, like my daddy, baby
(I'd be long gone)
Oh, I'd be long gone
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be leaving, baby
(I'd be long gone)
Oh, oh
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
Oh, ooh, Lordy, baby
(I'd be long gone)
I'd be doggone
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone
(I'd be long gone)
I wouldn't be doggone, baby
(Wouldn't be, wouldn't be doggone)
I'd be long gone, OW
(I'd be long gone)

Marvin Gaye was one of the most consistent and enigmatic of the Motown hitmakers, with a career that exemplified the maturation of black pop into a sophisticated form spanning social and sexual politics.

Blessed with a mellifluous tenor and a three-octave vocal range, Gaye was among the most gifted composers and singers of his era. His life ended tragically one day before his 45th birthday, when he was shot to death by his father, an Apostolic preacher, after a violent argument.

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