How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" is a 1965 hit song written and produced by the Motown songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. It was originally recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye and became one of his most popular songs.

It has been covered on many occasions including fellow Motown artist Jr. Walker & the All Stars and it was a #5 cover for James Taylor in the summer of 1975. Other notable versions include those by Jerry Garcia Band who recorded and included the song in their rotation for twenty years, Cissy Houston who cut a gospelised version on her Grammy winning album 'Face To Face' in 1996 and Michael Bublé who released the song on his album 'It's Time'

Gaye's original peaked at #6 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart in January 1965, and #3 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart, making it Gaye's most successful single to that point with record sales well over 900,000 copies. The song features Gaye mixing both his effortlessly elegant falsetto and tenor singing, a rarity in soul music.


Released: September 1964
Format: 7" single
Recorded: Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1964
Genre: Soul
Length: 2:30
Label: Tamla
Writer(s): Holland-Dozier-Holland
Producer: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier

I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were.
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were.
With sweet love and devotion, deeply touching my emotion,
I want to stop and thank you baby.
I want to stop and thank you baby.
How sweet it is to be loved by you.
How sweet it is to be loved by you.

I close my eyes at night wondering where would I be without you in my life.
Everything I did was just a bore, everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before.
But you brighten up for me all of my days with a love so sweet in so many ways,
I want to stop and thank you baby,
I just want to stop and thank you baby.
How sweet it is to be loved by you, feels so fine.
How sweet it is to be loved by you.

You were better for me than I was for myself,
for me, there's you and there ain't nobody else,
I want to stop and thank you baby. I just want to stop and thank you baby, yes I do,
how sweet it is to be loved by you.
How sweet it is to be loved by you.
Feels so fine, how sweet it is to be loved by you.
Just like jelly baby, oh yeah,
how sweet it is to be loved by you.
Just like honey to the bee, babe,
how sweet it is to be loved by you.