"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.
50 on the Billboard Hot 100[3] Both the A-side and the B-side, "California Soul", were written by Ashford & Simpson.
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".
[citation needed] Record World called the song "a groovy, bouncy tune.