"The Onion Song" was a hit for soul singers Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1969.[2] 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.[2]
"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[3] 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".[4]
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.[citation needed]
Record World called the song "a groovy, bouncy tune."[5]Cash Box said it has a "brotherhood message with the rhythmic familiarity of past Marvin-Tammi hits."[6]
