"You're the Man" is a song composed by singer Marvin Gaye and songwriter Kenneth Stover and released on the Motown subsidiary, Tamla, in the summer of 1972.
Gaye and his band, which consisted of members of Hamilton Bohannon's group, went into the studio in the spring of 1972 to record a song inspired by the political election of the year.
"You're the Man" is a demand song in which Gaye calls out to potential candidates for president of the United States, particularly George McGovern, asking them if they really have a plan to "right all the wrongs" of the past administration and bring about change.
Gordy's response to "You're the Man" was to not promote the song, fearing a backlash against a portion of Motown's conservative fan base.
Gaye would work on more unfinished projects throughout 1972 before releasing the Trouble Man soundtrack and the following year, focused on sexuality with Let's Get It On abandoning his earlier social messages.