...THE ONION SONG... by Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell
--------------------...............................
*from 'Easy' (1970)*
*N.B* (Although the song is credited to,
Tammy Terrell, the singer was so sick,
During the recording, due to a brain tumor,
That Valerie Simpson sang the lead instead).
*CAPO 1st FRET*
(Original Key: G#)
Chorus 1:
G G7 C C/B Am
The world is just a great big onion.
(Marvin):
G
And pain and fear,
Em Am D
Are the spices that make you cry.
Gmaj7 G7
Oh, and the only way to get rid,
C C/B Am
Of this great big onion.
(Valerie):
Bm7 Em Am
Is to plant love seeds,
F C
Until it dies, uh huh.
Verse 1:
(Marvin):
G
Hey world!
F C G
We got a great big job to do.
F C G
Yeah, we need you,
F C G G7
And every-body pull us through.
Bridge 1:
(G7)
Don't you know we've,
C
Got to clean up this place,
Cdim Em
And reach for a higher goal, yeah.
A7
(Valerie): Yes we do now.
G
We gotta be headstrong,
Em
About rightin' the wrong,
F
And make a mountain,
D
Of happy souls, oh,
D7
(Marvin): Oh...
Chorus 2:
G G7 C C/B Am
The world is just a great big onion,
(Marvin):
G
And I don't care,
Em Am
It's the face people like to wear.
D
(Valerie): Yes it is now.
Gmaj7 G7
Oh, and the only way to get rid,
C C/B Am
Of this great big onion;
(Valerie):
Bm7 Em Am
Every single soul's,
F
Got to do their share,
C
Uh huh.
Verse 2:
(Marvin):
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/m/marvin_gaye/the_onion_song_crd.html ]
G
So come on,
F C G
Let's knock on every door.
F C
Tell them love,
G
Is the answer,
F
Whether they're,
C G G7
Rich or poor, oh yeah.
Bridge 2:
C
For we don't care,
Cdim
What you do, how you look,
Em
Or your status claim, baby.
A7
(Valerie): No no.
G
Because brothers and sisters,
Em
From now on,
F D Eb
Is gonna be everybody's name, oh, oh.
*KEY CHANGE*
------------
Chorus 3:
G# G#7 C# C#/C C#m
The world is just a great big onion.
(Marvin):
G#
And pain and fear,
Fm Bbm Eb
Are the spices that make you cry.
Eb
(Valerie): Yes it is.
G#maj7 G#7
Oh, and the only way to get rid,
C# C#/C G#m
Of this great big onion;
Coda:
(Valerie):
Cm Fm Bbm
Is to plant love seeds,
(Marvin): Now everybody,
Cm Fm Bbm
Got to plant love seeds.
(Valerie): Come on and,
Cm Fm Bbm
Plant love seeds,
F# C#
(Marvin): Until it dies.
Outro:
Ab Ab7
The world is just,
C# C#/C Ab
A great big onion.
CHORD DIAGRAMS:
---------------
G G7 C C/B Am Em
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
320003 323000 x32010 x20010 x02210 022000
D Gmaj7 Bm7 F Cdim A7
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
xx0232 3x443x x24232 133211 xx1212 x02223
D7 Eb G# G#7 C# C#/C
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
xx0212 6654xx 466544 464544 x46664 x3666x
G#m Fm Bbm Cm F#
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
466444 133111 x13321 x35543 244322
Tabbed by Joel from cLuMsY, Bristol, England, 2007
(clumsyband@hotmail.com)
