When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You - Genius

2025, In ReviewFeaturedChartsVideosPromote Your MusicSign Up2When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving YouMarvin GayeProducerMarvin GayeTrack 74 onThe Master (1961-1984) Dec. 15, 19781 viewer29.6K views29 Contributors

When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You Lyrics

This is the song dedicated to his ex-wife following their divorce in 1976. He poured his emotions into songs agonisingly documenting their relationship’s rise and fall in this song.[Spoken Intro]You know...When you say your marriage vowsThey're supposed to be for real, I mean...If you think back about what you really said, you know, about... honor, and loving and "obeying until death do us part" and allBut it shouldn't be that way, it should-it should-it shouldn't be lies, because... though, it turns out to be liesIf you don't honor what you said, you've lied to GodThe words should be changed (Ooh...)[Verse 1]Now as I recall, we tried a million timesAgain, again and again (And that isn't all)And that isn't all, I gave my love to youEach time to make amends (Ooh, baby)Suddenly, I start to realize–I can't make itPretty birds fly awayI had to leave you for my health's sakeWhat to do? "Make him pay"For leaving you, my fine is to pay foreverSo if a fresh new love comes in, I won't say those words againInstead I'll say I'll try to love and protect youWith all my heart, as long as you want me to, baby(Ooh, ooh...) if I love again, I'm gonna try a new way this timeMemories of the things we didSome we're proud of, some we hidSo when two people have to part–sometimes it makes them strongerYou might also likeDo you remember all of the bullshit, baby?! Yeah, yeah...You say you love me with all your heartBut if you ever loved me with all of your heartYou'd never take a million dollars to part[Bridge]I really tried....You know I tried... oh, babyAlthough, we tried...All of those promises was nothin' but liesBut I've really triedYou know–how hard I've really tried(All that rehearsing, baby)We really lied, didn't we, baby?And on top of that, you have scandalized my name (Woo-ooh...)[Verse 2]What I can't understand is, if you love meHow could you turn me in to the police? (Ooh...)Didn't I love you good?And try to take care of you–best I could?You were so divineAnd your love was like mellow winePains of love, miles of tears – enough to last me for my lifetimeBroken hearts last for years – so break away to the new-day sunshineOne thing I can promise, friend –I'll never be back againBut I'm not really bitter, babe (All the luck in the world)I wish you all the luck and all the love in the world (All the good love in the world)Wooh...! (Good luck in the world )But I know–you'll never be satisfied (Luck in the world)No, you still want me standin' by your side (Good love in the world)Memories haunt you all the timeI will never leave your mindGot judgment on your sideYou've said bad things, and you've liedStill – I remember some of the good things, babyLike love after dark, and picnics in parksThose are the days I'll not forget–in my lifeI'd rather remember – remember the joy we shared, babyI'd rather remember all the fun we hadAll I ever really wanted wasTo love you and treat you rightAll we did was fuss and fightIt don't matter, baby!Take a lesson–from it all (Ooh, hey, come on, come on, come on...)I never thought I'd see the day when you'd put me through what you put me throughDid you try your best?You say I gave you no rest[Refrain]When did you stop loving me?When did I stop loving you?When did you stop loving me?When did I stop loving you?Oh, when did you stop loving me?When did I stop loving you?2EmbedCancel

How to Format Lyrics:

• Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
• Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
• Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
• Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
• If you don't understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more about adding songs to Genius, check out the complete transcription guide or visit the transcribers forum

AboutSong Bio1 contributor

This is the song dedicated to his ex-wife following their divorce in 1976. He poured his emotions into songs agonisingly documenting their relationship’s rise and fall in this song.

Expand +20ShareQ&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Ask a questionWho produced “When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You” by Marvin Gaye?When did Marvin Gaye release “When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You”?Who wrote “When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You” by Marvin Gaye?The Master (1961-1984) (1995)Marvin Gaye

1. 1. Stubborn Kind of Fellow
2. 2. Pride and Joy
3. 3. Hitch Hike
4. 4. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)
5. 5. What Do You Want With Him
6. 6. Once Upon a Time
7. 7. What’s The Matter With You Baby
8. 8. Can I Get a Witness?
9. 9. Couldn’t Ask For More
10. 10. You’re Wonderful
11. 11. I Wonder
12. 12. You’re a Wonderful One
13. 13. It’s Got to Be Love
14. 14. Try It Baby
15. 15. Leavin’
16. 16. My Love For You
17. 17. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
18. 18. Baby Don’t You Do It
19. 19. Just Like A Man
20. 20. Pretty Little Baby
21. 21. Talk About a Good Feeling
22. 22. I’ll Be Doggone
23. 23. Little Darling (I Need You)
24. 24. One More Heartache
25. 25. Ain’t That Peculiar
26. 26. You’re the One for Me
27. 27. Take This Heart of Mine
28. 28. Your Unchanging Love
29. 29. It Takes Two
30. 30. I Couldn’t Help Falling For You
31. 31. Lonely Lover
32. 32. Without Your Sweet Lovin’
33. 33. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
34. 34. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You
35. 35. Your Precious Love
36. 36. If This World Were Mine
37. 37. Without You (My World Is Lonely)
38. 38. Together We Stand (Divided We Fall)
39. 39. You
40. 40. Chained
41. 41. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
42. 42. You’re What’s Happening (In the World Today)
43. 43. This Love Starved Heart of Mine (It’s Killing Me)
44. 44. Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing
45. 45. Keep on Lovin’ Me Honey
46. 46. You’re All I Need To Get By
47. 47. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
48. 48. More Than a Heart Can Stand
49. 49. How Can I Forget
50. 50. That’s the Way Love Is
51. 51. Yesterday
52. 52. The End of Our Road
53. 53. Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By
54. 54. What You Gave Me
55. 55. What’s Going On
56. 56. Save the Children
57. 57. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
58. 58. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
59. 59. I’m Going Home (Move)
60. 60. Piece of Clay
61. 61. You’re the Man, Pt. I & II (Single Version)
62. 62. Checking Out (Double Clutch)
63. 63. Trouble Man
64. 64. Let’s Get It On
65. 65. Come Get to This
66. 66. Just to Keep You Satisfied
67. 67. Pledging My Love
68. 68. My Mistake (Was to Love You)
69. 69. Distant Lover
70. 70. I Want You
71. 71. After the Dance
72. 72. Got to Give It Up
73. 73. Here, My Dear
74. 74. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
75. 75. Anger
76. 76. Anna’s Song
77. 77. A Funky Space Reincarnation
78. 78. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (Reprise)
79. 79. She Needs Me
80. 80. Why Did I Choose You?
81. 81. Life Is for Learning
82. 82. Funk Me
83. 83. Love Me Now or Love Me Later
84. 84. Ego Tripping Out
85. 85. The Star-Spangled Banner
86. 86. I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live)
87. 87. Rockin’ After Midnight
88. 88. Sexual Healing
89. 89. The Lord’s Prayer

Here, My Dear (1978)Marvin GayeHere, My Dear [Expanded Edition] (2007)Marvin Gayeblonded Los Santos 97.8 FM (GTA V) (2017)Rockstar GamesA Musical Testament 1964-1984 (1988)Marvin GayeExpand CreditsReleased onDecember 15, 1978ProducerMarvin GayeWriterMarvin GayeDrumsBugsy WilcoxLabelMotown Records & Tamla RecordsBass GuitarFrank BlairPercussionElmira Collins & Gary Jones (Percussionist)TrumpetNolan SmithSynthesizerMarvin GayeElectric GuitarGordon Banks & Wali AliLead VocalsMarvin GayeTenor SaxophoneCharles Owens & Fernando HarklessAlto SaxophoneErnie FieldsArrangerMarvin GayeRecorded AtMarvin's Room, Los Angeles, CASongs That Sample When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving YouCHE FAI by E18HTEENWhen Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You CoversStop Loving Me, Stop Loving You by Daryl Hall & When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You by Jeff ParkerWhen Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You RemixesWhen Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (Instrumental) by Marvin GayeView When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You samplesTagsR&BSoul JazzIn EnglishDoo-WopSoul RockFunk MelodyFunkUSAMotownAdult AlternativeSoulExpand CommentsAdd a commentSign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.Sign Up