Today’s song is “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” an iconic duet by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. It’s one of a handful of songs the duo recorded together. This peppy tune has distinctive orchestration and heartfelt lyrics about limitless love.

Fun Facts: 

• Marvin Gaye was born as Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. in 1939 in Washington, D.C. He was instrumental in developing the Motown sound in the early 1960s.
• Tammi Terrell was born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery in 1945 in Philadelphia, PA. As a teenager, she was one of the early artists of Motown Records.
• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was written in 1966 by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.
• Singer Dusty Springfield was initially interested in recording the song, but the songwriters refused. They were hoping they could use the song as their Motown debut.
• Instrumentation for the Gaye/Terrell version was performed by The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
• The song peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart and at number 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was featured in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014.
• Gaye and Terrell’s version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
• The song was also covered by fellow Motown stars, including Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations. Ross also recorded “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” as a solo track.

Lyrics:

(Musixmatch)

Listen, baby, ain’t no mountain high

Ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough, baby

If you need me, call me, no matter where you are

No matter how far, don’t worry, baby

Just call my name, I’ll be there in a hurry

You don’t have to worry

‘Cause baby, there ain’t no mountain high enough

Ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough

To keep me from getting to you, baby

Remember the day I set you free

I told you, you could always count on me, girl

And from that day on I made a vow

I’ll be there when you want me some way, some how

‘Cause baby, there ain’t no mountain high enough

Ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough

To keep me from getting to you, baby

Oh no darling, no wind, no rain

Or winters cold can stop me baby

No, no baby, ’cause you are my love

If you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be there on the double

Just send for me, oh baby

My love is alive, way down in my heart

Although we are miles apart

If you ever need a helping hand

I’ll be there on the double just as fast as I can

Don’t you know that there ain’t no mountain high enough

Ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough

To keep me from getting to you, baby

Don’t you know that there ain’t no mountain high enough

Ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough

Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough