Taking after their father, who sang gospel music, Bobby Womack and his brothers formed their own group in 1952. In 1954, under the moniker Curtis Womack and the Womack Brothers, the group issued the Pennant single, "Buffalo Bill". Bobby Womack was only ten years old at the time. Sam Cooke took an interest in the Womack Brothers, and they recorded for Cooke's SAR record label in the early 1960s. Renamed the Valentinos, and encouraged by Cooke to go in a more secular and commercial direction, they scored a hit with Womack's "It's All Over Now" in 1964; the Rolling Stones' version of the song became a major hit, earning Womack generous royalty payments.
Sam Cooke died in late 1964; Womack married Cooke's widow, Barbara, a short time later, creating something of a scandal. Things became even more complicated when his younger brother, Cecil, married Cooke's daughter, Linda. As a session guitarist, Womack worked at producer Chips Moman's American Studios in Memphis, and played on recordings by Joe Tex and The Box Tops. Until this point, around 1967, he had had little success as a solo artist, but at American he began to record a string of classic soul-music singles including the 1968 "What Is This" (his first chart hit), "It's Gonna Rain" and "More Than I Can Stand," all of which featured his elegant, understated rhythm-guitar work and his impassioned vocals. During this period he became known as a songwriter, contributing many songs to the repertoire of Wilson Pickett; these include "I'm in Love" and "I'm a Midnight Mover."
After moving to the United Artists label in the early '70s, he released the album Communication, and on an album with guitarist Gabor Szabo introduced his song "Breezin'," which later became a hit for George Benson. He also became known for his interesting taste in cover versions, essaying Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin' " as well as "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" and James Taylor's "Fire and Rain'" and "California Dreamin'." Perhaps his most well-known work from this period is as guitarist on Sly & the Family Stone's 1971 There's a Riot Goin' On.
He continued to have hits into the '70s; these include "Lookin' for a Love" (a remake of his 1962 Valentinos single), "Across 110th Street," "Woman's Gotta Have It" (covered by James Taylor in 1976), "You're Welcome, Stop on By," and the masterful "Daylight." All are excellent examples of burnished yet gritty 1970s soul music, and reveal a pop-music sensibility akin to that of Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield.
Bobby Womack's 1981 album The Poet was a surprise hit and contained the hit single "If You Think You're Lonely Now." K-Ci Hailey, a notable admirer of Womack's work, covered "If You Think You're Lonely Now" in 1994. The song is referenced in Mariah Carey's song "We Belong Together", a number-one hit in June 2005. Carey sings "I can't sleep at night /When you are on my mind / Bobby Womack's on the radio / Singing to me: 'If you think you're lonely now.'"
Film director Quentin Tarantino used "Across 110th Street" (which, in a different version, had been the title song of the 1972 movie) in the opening and closing sequences of his 1997 film Jackie Brown.
A 2003 Saab commercial shone a spotlight on Womack’s interpretation of "California Dreamin'".
In 2010, Womack contributed lyrics and sang on "Stylo" alongside Mos Def, the first single from the third Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach. Womack was told to sing whatever was on his mind during the recording of "Stylo". "I was in there for an hour going crazy about love and politics, getting it off my chest", said Womack.[4] He also provides vocals on the song "Cloud of Unknowing".
In 2010 Bobby Womack appeared on the main pyramid stage at Glastonbury with the Gorillaz.
The Bravest Man in the World Songfacts reports in 2012, Womack's first album of original material since 1994's Resurrection was released. The Bravest Man in the World was produced by Damon Albarn of Gorillaz and XL Recordings boss, Richard Russell.
Womack died on June 27, 2014 at age 70.
Across 110th the Street
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woo, ooh
I was the third brother of five
Doing whatever I had to do to survive
I'm not saying what I did was alright
Tryna break out of the ghetto was a day to day fight
But I knew there was a better way of life, and I was just trying to find
You don't know what you'll do until you're put under pressure
'Cross 110th Street is a hell of a tester
Across 110th Street
Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak
Across 110th Street
Pushers won't let the junkie go free
Across 110th Street
Woman trying to catch a trick on the street, ooh baby
Across 110th Street
You can find it all in the street
Woo, ooh, oh
I got one more thing I'd like to talk to y'all about right now
Hey brother, there's a better way out
Snorting that coke, shooting that dope, man, you're copping out
Take my advice, it's either live or die
You've got to be strong if you wanna survive
The family on the other side of town
Would catch hell without a ghetto around
In every city you'll find the same thing going down
Harlem is the capital of every ghetto town
Help me sing it
Across 110th Street
Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak
Across 110th Street
Pushers won't let the junkie go free, oh
Across 110th Street
A woman trying to catch a trick on the street, ooh baby
Across 110th Street, look
You can find it all in the street
Yes, you can
Oh, look around you, look around you, look around you
Look around you, uh, yeah
Woo, ooh
The song "Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack is a critique of the difficult situations faced by African Americans living in the ghettos of America. Womack himself grew up in poverty and faced his share of challenges as a young Black man in the United States. The opening lines of the song, "I was the third brother of five, doing whatever I had to do to survive," demonstrate the desperation felt by these individuals who were trying to break out of their difficult situations.
As the song progresses, Womack describes the rough conditions of the neighbourhood, with pimps trying to exploit vulnerable women and drug dealers peddling their wares to anyone they can find. Despite these hardships, Womack urges those caught up in these situations to find a way out, to be strong and to survive. The song is both a critique of the social conditions that exist in many of America's poorest neighbourhoods and a call to action for those affected by these conditions.
The lyrics of "Across 110th Street" are powerful and moving, and they continue to resonate with audiences today. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Puff Daddy and Coolio, and it has been featured in numerous films and television shows, including Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown. Womack himself passed away in 2014, but his music lives on as a testament to his talent and his commitment to telling the stories of those who are often overlooked.
Line by Line Meaning
I was the third brother of five
I was one of five siblings, the third in line.
Doing whatever I had to do to survive
I did whatever it took to stay alive and make ends meet.
I'm not saying what I did was alright
I'm not trying to justify my actions, just telling my story.
Trying to break out of the ghetto was a day to day fight
Every day was a struggle to escape poverty and the poor living conditions of the ghetto.
Been down so long, getting up didn't cross my mind
I was in such a bad place for so long that the idea of getting back up seemed impossible.
But I knew there was a better way of life that I was just trying to find
Despite the difficulty, I held onto the belief that there was a better life out there, and I was searching for it.
You don't know what you'll do until you're put under pressure
You can't predict what you'll do when faced with difficult circumstances.
Across 110th Street is a hell of a tester
Living in poverty and struggle on 110th Street is a true test of one's character and strength.
Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak
Pimps take advantage of women who are vulnerable and struggling.
Pushers won't let the junkie go free
Drug dealers keep their customers hooked on their product, not letting them go free from their addiction.
Woman trying to catch a trick on the street, ooh baby
A woman is trying to pick up a man (a trick) on the street in order to make money for survival.
You can find it all in the street
The street is full of struggle, desperation, and people doing what they have to do to survive.
Hey brother, there's a better way out
There is a better life out there, and I am telling you this as a brotherly figure.
Snorting that coke, shooting that dope man you're copping out
Using drugs is a way of giving up and numbing the pain instead of facing it head on.
Take my advice, it's either live or die
Listen to my words of wisdom, because the choice is yours to either keep fighting and living or give up and die.
You've got to be strong, if you want to survive
You need to have strength and perseverance in order to make it through the hardships of life.
The family on the other side of town
There are people in other parts of the city who are better off and don't have to deal with the struggles of the ghetto.
Would catch hell without a ghetto around
Those same people would struggle if they were put in the same situation as those in the ghetto.
In every city you find the same thing going down
Poverty and struggle are not unique to one particular place, but can be found in cities everywhere.
Harlem is the capital of every ghetto town, help me sing it
Harlem represents the struggles of all poor neighborhoods and communities across the country, and I need you to join in and sing this message with me.
Look around you, look around you, look around you
Take a good look at your surroundings and see the reality of the situation.
Look around you, yeah
See what's really happening and try to make a positive change for those living in poverty and struggle.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Bobby Womack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind