Distant Lover
Marvin Gaye · X4 Marvin Gaye [2010]
You know, when you're in love and your lover leaves you
And you've got nobody, the lonely hours over here
Sittin' home and thinkin', you say:
Distant lover, darlin', ooo hoo hoo
So many miles away, ooo please
Oh please, baby, think about me
Hey, in misery
Oh say, baby, as I reminisce about your life
That we shared together
The promises we made, baby
Of the day you left, child
Then all of a sudden, if it may seem to explode
Now I gaze out my window, sugar, down a lonesome road, ooo
Distant lover, ooo, sugar
How can you treat my heart so mean and cruel
Didn't you know, sugar, that I dream
Of what I spent with you
I treasure it like it was a precious jewel, oh baby
Lord have mercy!
Oh baby, don't go
Please come back, baby
Ooo, something I wanna say
When you left to go away
No 'ther do I want, do you wanna have me plead and scream
Please! Please, oh please baby
Come back home, girl
Oh baby, come back
Oh oh
And you've got nobody, the lonely hours over here
Sittin' home and thinkin', you say:
Distant lover, darlin', ooo hoo hoo
So many miles away, ooo please
Oh please, baby, think about me
Hey, in misery
Oh say, baby, as I reminisce about your life
That we shared together
The promises we made, baby
Of the day you left, child
Then all of a sudden, if it may seem to explode
Now I gaze out my window, sugar, down a lonesome road, ooo
Distant lover, ooo, sugar
How can you treat my heart so mean and cruel
Didn't you know, sugar, that I dream
Of what I spent with you
I treasure it like it was a precious jewel, oh baby
Lord have mercy!
Oh baby, don't go
Please come back, baby
Ooo, something I wanna say
When you left to go away
No 'ther do I want, do you wanna have me plead and scream
Please! Please, oh please baby
Come back home, girl
Oh baby, come back
Oh oh
Distant Lover
Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover" stands as a poignant exploration of emotional distance within the soul and R&B traditions. Recorded during the late 1960s, the track exemplifies Gaye's signature ability to blend lush orchestration with raw vocal vulnerability. The song reflects the era's focus on intimate relationships and the complexities of longing, characteristic of his work on albums like *In the Mood* and *Here, My Dear*. As a staple of his discography, the recording showcases his mastery of phrasing and emotional delivery, cementing his status as a pioneer who redefined the boundaries of the music industry through his unique fusion of gospel, jazz, and pop sensibilities.