Soul Music

This song of love, obsession, denial, and pain was written by Smokey Robinson and other members of The Miracles, including Pete Moore, Bobby Rodgers, and Marv Tarplin. Robinson produced the track for the Tamla label. The single was released in 1965, with “She’s Got to be Real” on the B-Side. The song went to #1 on the R&B chart and #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Marvin Gaye was on lead vocals, and The Andantes (Marlene Barrow, Jackie Hicks, and Louvain Demps) were on the background vocals. Marv Tarplin was on guitar. Uriel Jones was on drums. Other instrumentation was provided by the fabulous Motown session musicians The Funk Brothers. “Ain’t That Peculiar” was also released on Gaye’s 1966 album Moods of Marvin Gaye.

There have been covers of the by New Grass Revival and Japan.

Here are the lyrics to “Ain’t That Peculiar” by Marvin Gaye:

Honey you do me wrong but still I’m crazy about you
Stay away too long and I can’t do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers grow through rain
But how can love grow through pain

Ain’t that peculiar
A peculiar-ality
Ain’t that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be

You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I’ve been so much in love with you baby that I don’t wanna see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It’s a dog gone shame my love for you makes all
Your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger

Ain’t that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can
Ain’t that peculiar
A peculiar-arity

I cried so much just like a child that’s lost its toy
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don’t help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears

[Chorus]

If you are interested in reading about and listening to another song by Marvin Gaye, please click here for “I Heard it Through The Grapevine.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’.