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.
California Dreamin
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the sky is gray
I went for a walk
On a winters day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in LA
California dreamin'
Went to a church, yes I did
I stopped along the way
When I got down on my bended knees
And I began to pray
You know the preacher digs a call
'Cause he knows I'm gunna stay
He knows I'm gunna stay, I told him so
California dreamin'
Oh, somebody hit me now
I wanna go so bad, yeah
'Cause all the leaves are brown
And the skies are gray, yeah
I went for a walk
On a winters day, ooh
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in LA
California dreamin'
On such a winters day
Such a winters day
On such a winters day
Yeah, yeah, whoa
California dreamin'
California dreamin'
Gotta, gotta, gotta get some sunshine
Before I blow my mind
Gotta get some sunshine
California dreamin'
California dreamin'
Ohh, let's go there one day
California dreamin', ohh
California dreamin'
Got to get to LA
Friend of mine told me there's sunshine every day
California dreamin', ohh
The lyrics to Bobby Womack's "California Dreamin'" talk about feeling trapped in a cold, gray winter and dreaming of the warmth and sunshine of California. The opening verse sets the scene with the singer describing the dreary weather, and the chorus repeats the desire to be in California's warm embrace. The second verse offers a glimpse into the singer's life, as he takes a detour to pray in a church. The preacher recognizes the singer's desire to stay in California, and the chorus repeats the California dreaming refrain.
The song captures the feelings of many people who have dreamed of escaping the cold and darkness, particularly during the winter months. The reference to the preacher highlights the potential conflict between the pull of the earthly desire for warmth and the spiritual duty to stay put. The repetition of the chorus reflects the singer's desperation to escape to California and find happiness in the sun.
Bobby Womack's version of "California Dreamin'" is unique in that it incorporates gospel elements and replaces the original folk-rock sound with a soulful R&B feel. This version brings a sense of urgency to the lyrics, emphasizing the singer's longing for relief from the winter weather. The use of background vocals and call and response techniques also adds depth to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
All the leaves are brown
The leaves have fallen and turned brown, indicating that it is winter.
And the sky is gray
The cloudy winter skies are not bright blue but instead covered in gray clouds.
I went for a walk
The singer went out to take a walk for some fresh air and exercise.
On a winters day
It is a cold winter day outside and the artist is out walking in it.
I'd be safe and warm
If the artist were in Los Angeles where it is warmer and sunnier they would be comfortable from the cold.
If I was in LA
The singer is not currently in Los Angeles but they wish they were.
California dreamin'
The idea of California, specifically Los Angeles, is a dream to the singer in their current location.
On such a winters day
The fact that it is winter makes the artist's desire to be in California even stronger.
Went to a church, yes I did
The artist went out and visited a church during their walk.
I stopped along the way
While taking their walk, the artist stopped to visit the church.
When I got down on my bended knees
The singer knelt down in prayer while in the church.
And I began to pray
The artist took this opportunity to pray in the church.
You know the preacher digs a call
The preacher at the church is interested in the singer because they took the time to come in and pray.
'Cause he knows I'm gunna stay
The preacher knows the singer will stay because they feel a connection to the church after praying there.
He knows I'm gunna stay, I told him so
The singer confirms to the preacher that they feel a connection to the church and will continue to attend.
Oh, somebody hit me now
The artist is overcome with a desire to be in Los Angeles immediately and needs someone to help them get there.
I wanna go so bad, yeah
The artist has an intense desire to go to Los Angeles and is deeply longing for it.
Gotta, gotta, gotta get some sunshine
The singer needs to get some sunshine and Los Angeles is the perfect place for them to do so.
Before I blow my mind
If the singer does not get some sunshine soon they might go crazy from the bleak winter weather.
Ohh, let's go there one day
The artist expresses a desire to go to Los Angeles with someone in the future.
Got to get to LA
The artist's desire to go to Los Angeles has become a non-negotiable need for them to be happy.
Friend of mine told me there's sunshine every day
The artist has been told by a friend that the weather in Los Angeles is sunny all the time.
California dreamin', ohh
The singer's longing for California has reached the point of becoming a daydream.
California dreamin'
The phrase is repeated at the end to emphasize the artist's deep longing for Los Angeles.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: John Edmund Andrew Phillips, Michelle Gilliam Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lowquality49
dont mind me putting the lyrics for me
All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I went for a walk
On a winters day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in LA
California dreamin
On such a winters day
Went through the church, just me
I stopped along the way
When I got down on my bended knee
And I began to pray
You know the preacher digs a call
'Cause he knows I'm gunna stay
He knows I'm gunna stay, I told him so
California dreamin
Oh, somebody hit me know
I wanna go so bad, yeah
Cos all the leaves are brown
And the skies are grey, yeah
I went for a walk
On a winter's day, oooohhhhhhh
Id be safe and warm
If I was in LA
California dreamin
On such a winter's day
Such a winter's day
On such a winter's day, yeah, yeah, woahhh
California dreamin
California dreamin
Gotta, gotta, gotta get some sunshine
Cant believe I blew my mind
Gotta get some sunshine
California dreaming
California dreaming
Ohhh, gotta get some
California dreamin, ohhhhhh
California dreamin
Gotta get to LA
Get some sunshine every day
California dreamin
Ohh
@G.A_molope
Ambulance movie brought me here😎 Great song...🎬
@saneledlamini4188
Lol me two 😄
@stevenallen3727
me too 😂
@MRPRINGL1
Same
@j.garcia6206
yes same!
such a beautiful mix
@ehsanmousavi5604
Same as me😁
@antwanjones6048
Damn Bobby put that stank on this one. WOW!! Never heard this version before. Truly a masterpiece.
@tobemiller6091
Damn Bobby put that stank on this one wow never heard this version before truly a massive pieces
@tjpowers88
Ambulance, Winning Time, San Andreas, a recent TV show playing it, etc. almost every version of this song rocks no matter what. Truly a timeless song.
@AA-yo6yg
Fargo Season 2