There Goes My Baby
Longing for Lost Love: Marvin Gaye's Melancholic Ballad
Lyrics
(Bo-bo, doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
Expression of sound or melody, no specific lyrical meaning
(There she goes) (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
Repetition of the sound with the indication that someone is leaving
(There she goes) (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
Continuation of the indication that someone is leaving
(Bo-bo) (doo-doot-doo-doo)
Repetition of the sound, emphasizing the departure
(Bo-bo) (doo-doo-doo-doo)
Continuation of emphasis on the departure
There goes my baby, movin' on down the line
Expresses the realization that the speaker's loved one is moving away
Wonder where, wonder where, wonder where she is bound?
Expresses curiosity about the destination of the departing loved one
I broke her heart and made her cry
Confession of breaking the loved one's heart and causing her tears
Now I'm alone, so all alone
Reflects on the speaker's current state of loneliness
What can I do, what can I do?
Expresses a sense of helplessness about the situation
(There goes my baby) Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Repetition of the realization that the speaker's baby is leaving
(There goes my baby) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Reiteration of the emotional impact of the departure
(There goes my baby) Whoa-oh-oh-oh
Repetition of the realization with emotional emphasis
(There she goes) Yeah! (There she goes)
Confirmation of the departure of the speaker's baby
I want to know if she loved me
Expresses a desire to know if the departed loved one truly loved the speaker
Did she really love me?
Poses a question about the sincerity of the departed loved one's feelings
Was she just playing me for a fool?
Speculation about whether the loved one was playing the speaker for a fool
I wonder why she left me
Expresses curiosity about the reason for the loved one's departure
Why did she leave me so all alone
Reiterates the loneliness resulting from the departure
So all alone
Emphasizes the profound sense of solitude
I was gonna tell her that I loved her
Expresses the intention to confess love to the departed loved one
And that I need her
Declares the need for the loved one's presence and guidance
Beside my side to be my guide
Desire for the loved one to be a constant companion and guide
I want to know where is my (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
Expresses a longing to know the whereabouts of the departed loved one
Where is my baby (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo) ?
Repeats the desire to locate the departed loved one
I want my baby
Expresses a strong want for the return of the loved one
I need my baby
Declares a need for the presence of the departed loved one
Yeah, whoa-oh-oh
Expresses emotion with a vocalization
(There goes my baby)
Reiteration of the realization that the speaker's baby is leaving
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Emotional vocalization
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