I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Marvin Gaye's 1968 Hit for Oldies Music Lovers

I Heard It Through the Grapevine is a soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966 for Motown Records. The first recording was by Gladys Knight and the Pips, but it was Marvin Gaye's version in 1968 that became a massive hit, topping both the R&B and pop charts in the US. The song's success led to it being covered by numerous artists, including Creedence Clearwater Revival, who had a hit with their version in 1970.

• I Heard It Through the Grapevine was originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles in 1966, but it became a hit when Marvin Gaye released his version in 1968.

• Gladys Knight & the Pips also recorded a version of the song in 1967, but Motown decided not to release it as a single.

• In 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival covered the song and it became their biggest hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

I bet you're wonderin' how I knew

'Bout your plans to make me blue

With some other guy you knew before

Between the two of us guys

You know I loved you more

It took me by surprise I must say

When I found out yesterday

Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine

Not much longer would you be mine

Oh I heard it through the grapevine

Oh I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah.

I heard it through the grapevine

Not much longer would you be mine baby

I know a man ain't supposed to cry

But these tears I can't hold inside

Losin' you would end my life you see

'Cause you mean that much to me

You could have told me yourself

That you loved someone else

Instead I heard it through the grapevine

Not much longer would you be mine

Oh, I heard it through the grapevine

And I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah

I heard it through the grapevine

Not much longer would you be mine, baby

People say believe half of what you see

Some and none of what you hear

But I can't help but be confused

If it's true please tell me dear

Do you plan to let me go

For the other guy you loved before?

Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine

Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah

I heard it through the grapevine

I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey, yeah

I heard it through the grapevine,

Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah

Honey, honey, yeah

I heard it through the grapevine,

Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah yeah

I heard it through the grapevine,

Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah yeah