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

Song infobox
Name = When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You


Caption = "Here, My Dear" album cover
Artist = Marvin Gaye
Album = Here, My Dear
Released = 1978
Recorded = 1976
Genre = Soul
Length = 6:16
Writer = Marvin Gaye
Composer = Marvin Gaye
Label = Tamla
Producer = Marvin Gaye"When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You" is a 1978 song recorded by singer Marvin Gaye for his "Here, My Dear" album.

The song was a six minute long opus that has been considered the centerpiece of the "Here, My Dear" album as Gaye mentions the demise of his marriage to Anna Gaye.

As if offering confessional testimony to his wife, Marvin airs out his side of the story of how his ill-fated marriage to the sister of his record label boss Berry Gordy collapsed.

In a spoken narrative, the singer accuses Anna in the beginning of not following their marriage vows saying that lying about being faithful was as similar to "lying to God".

He then blames himself as well for the death of the marriage stating "I tried but all of (our) promises (were) nothing but lies" and then promises himself if he finds someone else (his new wife Janis), he'll try a new way.

But no matter how optimistic he seemed, he always reflected back on his marriage to Anna and how at one point, Anna called the cops on him for a domestic dispute. The title isn't spoken of until the final verse when Marvin croons in his trademark falsetto about where did the love go in their relationship.

Written and produced solely by the artist himself, the song was unusual for having no distinct melody, no bridge and no distinct chorus and for its length. He would use the instrumental of this song as both an instrumental track (with several Gaye ad-libs) and as the reprise of the album to end it.

The song served as the template to the 1993 album by Daryl Hall. "Soul Alone." Hall reworked the tune as a standard-structured R&B/pop song.

Credits

*All vocals, keyboards and synthesizers by Marvin Gaye
*Drums by Bugsy Wilcox
*Guitars by Wali Ali
*Guitar by Gordon Banks
*Bass by Frank Blair
*Trumpet by Nolan Smith
*Tenor saxophone by Charles Owens