"The Onion Song" was a hit for soul singers Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1969. It reached the top ten overseas, where it became Gaye & Terrell's biggest hit in the United Kingdom, entering the singles chart on 15 November 1969 and peaking at No.9 on 9 December. "The Onion Song" was a more modest hit in the U.S. where it peaked at No. 18 on the soul singles chart and No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 Both the A-side and the B-side, "California Soul", were written by Ashford & Simpson.

Background

The song's lyrics reflect social consciousness, opening with the claim that: "The world is just a great big onion, And pain and fear are the spices that make you cry" and continuing with advice that: ".. the only way to get rid of this great big onion, Is to plant love seeds until it dies". Tammi Terrell died, aged 24, just prior to the song's release as a single in the U.S., and it became her and Gaye's last official single together. Record World called the song "a groovy, bouncy tune." Cash Box said it has a "brotherhood message with the rhythmic familiarity of past Marvin-Tammi hits."

Chart performance

Credits