The Onion Song

"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

Background
The song's lyrics reflected social consciousness. 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."

Credits

 * All vocals by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell/Valerie Simpson
 * All instrumentation by The Funk Brothers