[Intro: Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Both]
The world is just a great big onion
And hate and fear are the spices that make you cry, oh, baby
And the only way to get rid of this great big onion
Is to plant love seeds until it dies, uh huh (Woo!)

[Verse 1: Marvin Gaye]
Hey world! We got a great big job to do
Yeah, we need you
And everybody who loves truth

[Pre-Chorus: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell]
Oh, don't you know we've got to clean up this place
And reach for a higher goal, yeah (Yes we do, now)
We gotta be headstrong about righting the wrong
And make a mountain of happy souls, oh oh (Oh, baby)

[Chorus: Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Both]
The world is just a great big onion
And I don't care, is the face people like to wear, oh baby (Yes it is, now)
And the only way to get rid of this great big onion
Every single soul's got to do their share
Tell 'em 'bout it, baby, woo! Uh, huh

[Verse 2: Marvin Gaye]
So come on, let's knock on every door, woo!
Tell them love is the answer
Whether they're rich or poor, oh yeah
[Pre-Chorus: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell]
Now, we don't care what you do
How you look, or your status claim, baby, ooh
No no, because brothers and sisters
From now on, is going to be everyone's name, oh oh (Woo!)

[Chorus: Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Both]
The world is just (The world is just) a great big onion
And pain and fear are the spices that make you cry, oh baby (Yes, it is)
And the only way to get rid of this great big onion
Is to plant love seeds
Now everybody, got to plant love seeds
Come on and plant love seeds
Until it dies

[Outro: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell]
The world is just a great big onion