Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing

Introduction

“Sexual Healing” stands out as one of Marvin Gaye’s most notorious tracks. Positioned as the second song on his seventeenth studio album, “Midnight Love,” released in 1982, it was both written and produced by Gaye in collaboration with American jazz organist Odell Brown.

The essence of “Sexual Healing” lies in its portrayal of healing through intimacy, particularly in the context of physical relationships. Recorded in Ostend, Belgium, in 1982, the song marked Gaye’s return to the music scene. Having lived in Belgium to escape personal challenges, including divorces, tax scandals, a severe cocaine addiction, and battles with depression, Gaye’s comeback was sparked by the success of “Sexual Healing.” Tragically, Gaye’s life was cut short two years later when he was shot by his father, Marvin Gay Sr., who disapproved of his son’s musical career and was also a Christian minister.

The music video for “Sexual Healing,” released in 1982 but uploaded to Marvin Gaye’s official YouTube channel on December 7, 2013, depicts Gaye in a dimly lit underground nightclub surrounded by four female dancers. Interspersed with these scenes are shots of Gaye undergoing a physical examination by a female doctor who, after consuming a potion titled “Midnight Love Potion,” becomes infatuated with him.

In its release year, “Sexual Healing” achieved chart success, reaching #4 in Australia, #2 in Belgium, #1 in Canada, #17 in France, #23 in Germany, #7 in Ireland, #37 in Italy, #3 in the Netherlands, #1 in New Zealand, #17 in Sweden, #4 in the UK Singles Chart, #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, #34 on the US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, #12 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and #5 on the US Cash Box chart. The track earned Gold certification in Canada, Denmark, the UK, and the US. At the 1983 Grammy Awards, “Sexual Healing” secured two wins: Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Instrumental Performance. In the year-end lists of 1982, Rolling Stone, NME, and The Village Voice all recognized “Sexual Healing” as one of the standout “songs of the year.”

Watch The Video

Lyrics

Ooh baby, I’m hot just like an oven
I need some lovin’
And baby, I can’t hold it much longer
It’s getting stronger and stronger

And when I get that feeling
I want sexual healing
Sexual healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine

Helps to relieve my mind
Sexual healing baby, is good for me
Sexual healing is something that’s good for me

Whenever blue teardrops are fallin’
And my emotional stability is leaving me
There is something I can do
I can get on the telephone and call you up baby

And honey I know you’ll be there to relieve me
The love you give to me will free me
If you don’t know the thing you’re dealing
Ohh I can tell you, darling, that it’s sexual healing

Get up, get up, get up, get up
Let’s make love tonight
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up
‘Cause you do it right

Baby, I got sick this mornin’
A sea was stormin’ inside of me
Baby, I think I’m capsizin’
The waves are risin’ and risin’

And when I get that feeling
I want sexual healing
Sexual healing is good for me
Makes me feel so fine, it’s such a rush
Helps to relieve the mind, and it’s good for us

Sexual healing, baby, it’s good for me
Sexual healing is something that’s good for me
Well, it’s good for me and it’s so good to me my baby, ohh

Come take control, just grab a hold
Of my body and mind, soon we’ll be making it, honey
I’ll be feeling fine,
You’re my medicine, open up and let me in
Darling, you’re so great, I can’t wait for you to operate

I can’t wait for you to operate

When I get this feeling
I need sexual healing
Oh when I get this feeling
I need sexual healing
I gotta have sexual healing, darling
‘Cause I’m all alone
Sexual healing, darling
Till you come back home

Please don’t procrastinate
It’s not good to masturbate