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.
Can't Stop A Man In Love
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't care what they say girl
I'm gonna make you mine girl
Even if I have to steal you away
Ya see, look
You'll just have to step aside
Give you up and swallow his pride
Ohhh, I'll never I'll never give you up
And I can't stop tryin'
I never have your love
Even if it means dyin'
Ya can't stop a man in love,
When his mind is made is up made up
Ya can't stop a man in love,
Not when his mind is made is up
Well! Well Well Well!
Even if he looks the other way
It just might be my day
To come and take you
Take you for my own
Girl I don't know don't matter
What I have to go through
Baby, I'm gonna get with you
And I've gotta find
I've got to find a way
Ohhhh, I'll always love you
Wellll, forever
I'm gonna make it through
When we're making love together
Ya can't stop a man in love,
When his mind is made up, well
Hey! Ya can't stop a man in love,
Not when his mind is made
Ya might as well give it up
These lyrics speak of a man who is deeply in love and determined to be with the woman he loves, no matter what obstacles or challenges he may face. He boldly declares that he will make her his, even if he has to steal her away from another man. The singer acknowledges that there may be other men vying for her attention, but he will not let anyone stand in his way, even if it means giving up or swallowing his pride.
He declares his unwavering love and commitment, saying that he will never give up on her, even if it means dying. He believes that true love is unstoppable and cannot be hindered, proclaiming that "you can't stop a man in love when his mind is made up." This unwavering passion and determination are emphasized throughout the song, as he declares his love repeatedly and speaks of the joy they will experience together when they are finally united.
Overall, the lyrics of "Can't Stop a Man in Love" emphasize the power of love and the determination that comes with it. The singer's devotion to his love interest is unyielding, as he refuses to let anyone else come between them. It is a bold and passionate declaration of love that resonates with anyone who has ever been deeply in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care what they say girl
I am not affected by what other people say about us
I'm gonna make you mine girl
I am determined to win your heart and make you mine
Even if I have to steal you away
I am willing to do whatever it takes to have you in my life
You'll just have to step aside
I am asking your current partner to give up on you and walk away
Give you up and swallow his pride
He needs to let you go, even if it hurts his feelings
I can't let any man any man stand in my way
I won't let anyone stop me from getting you, no matter what
Ohhh, I'll never I'll never give you up
I will never give up on pursuing you, even if it gets tough
And I can't stop tryin'
I cannot stop trying to win your heart
I never have your love
I have never experienced your love
Even if it means dyin'
I am willing to risk everything, even my life, for your love
Ya can't stop a man in love,
Love makes a man unstoppable
When his mind is made is up made up
When a man's decision is final, nothing can change it
Well! Well Well Well!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Even if he looks the other way
Even if you don't notice my feelings, I will still pursue you
It just might be my day
My chance to win your heart may come at any moment
To come and take you
To come and make you mine
Take you for my own
To have you as my partner
Girl I don't know don't matter
The obstacles in our relationship do not matter
What I have to go through
I am willing to face any challenge to be with you
Baby, I'm gonna get with you
I am confident that I will win your love and be with you
And I've gotta find
I need to come up with a plan
I've got to find a way
I am determined to find a way to make you mine
Ohhhh, I'll always love you
My love for you will never fade away
Wellll, forever
My love for you is eternal
I'm gonna make it through
I am confident that our love will survive the challenges
When we're making love together
Looking forward to being intimate with you
Ya might as well give it up
You might as well give up on resisting my love
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.