Song Meaning
The narrator is wrestling with a powerful, pent-up desire, confessing he's "been trying to hold back this feeling for so long." This isn't a casual invitation; it's a plea born from intense internal pressure. The repeated, urgent "Come on, come on" underscores the building momentum, pushing past hesitation towards a shared moment of intimacy. The core of the song lies in this tension between restraint and the overwhelming urge to connect physically and emotionally.
The lyrics frame this desire as something natural and inherently good, provided the "love is true." The narrator asserts, "There's nothing wrong with me / Loving you, no / Giving yourself to me / Can never be wrong." This justification attempts to dissolve any potential guilt or apprehension, positioning the act of physical union as a pure expression of genuine affection. It's an argument for embracing the moment, suggesting that true love makes the act righteous and "wonderful."
The most striking craft element is the song's title phrase, "Let's get it on," which functions as both a direct command and a release valve. Its repetition transforms it from a simple suggestion into an almost incantatory plea, building in intensity with each iteration. The contrast between the narrator's initial struggle to "hold back" and the eventual, insistent call to "get it on" highlights the power of this desire. The subtle shift from "trying to hold back" to "Stop beating around the bush" shows the narrator's growing impatience and directness.
This song hits so hard because it captures that universal human experience of wanting to connect deeply with another person, battling internal reservations, and ultimately surrendering to the power of that urge. The narrator's earnestness, combined with the escalating, almost desperate repetition of the central phrase, creates a palpable sense of longing and anticipation. It's the raw, unvarnished expression of desire, framed as a natural consequence of true affection, that makes the lyrics so compelling.