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.
Checkin' Out
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For one of the greatest writers of all time
My friend Don Govey
He's got it all
He's got it all
Listen to me
I just got finished
Back the room key
And I paid my bill
You see, I was outside in the car
In the shadows of the parking lot
Telling this woman that I was with
How happy she had made me
And she had made me feel real good
Kissing and hugging
And all of a sudden
Another car pulled up
On the parking lot
And, people
I couldn't believe my eyes
'Cause the woman that was
Sitting in the front seat
Besides another dude
Turned out to be my old lady
There she was with another man
Oh, oh, it hurt me so bad
And the only thing I could say about it
Oh, I was checking out
And my old lady
She was checking in
You see, I was with my other woman
What hurt me so bad
She was with her boyfriend
Listen to me
Tears, tears began to fall like rain
She waited outside, y'all, in the car
While he went inside to rent the room
I wanted to say something to her
But there was nothing to say
'Cause the woman I was with
Yes, she was married too
Ow, checking out, my old lady
Old lady, my old way
Was checking in
See, y'all have to understand
Where I'm coming from
I was trying to be cool
About the situation, sitting there
Another woman asking me
Saying, baby, what's wrong
Are you that happy
I see tears falling down
But y'all see I don't understand
Another man was taking my old lady
Into the Hideaway Motel
And I was with my other woman
And I couldn't say a damn thing
She, she
She was supposed to be at home
Minding the kids
But both of us were being untrue
Ooh, I guess I'll have to go on
Go on being blind
'Cause I can't reveal you
Not without showing mine
Not without showing mine
Oh, I was checking out
Hear me, people
My old lady with another man
Was checking in
You see, people
What made it really so bad
Was, uh, the hotel operator
Gave her the same room
That I had just checked out
Oh, the tears started
Falling down like rain, rain
Every time I thought
I had it turned down
It would just start acting up again
Oh, oh, oh, I, I, I, I
Somebody, somebody, talk to me
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Have you ever been there
All you got to do is wave your hand
Let me know I'm not alone, oh, oh
Baby, I'm checking out
That woman you see with
Another man was checking in
And what make it so bad
That's my woman, oh
The song "Checkin' Out" by Bobby Womack is about a man who is cheating on his wife with another woman, and when he is caught, he sees that his wife is also with another man. He is hurt and confused and doesn't know what to do. The lyrics convey his pain and frustration in a very emotional way. He also expresses regret and sadness about the situation, recognizing that both he and his wife are being unfaithful.
The lyrics are very powerful, as they reveal the complicated feelings and emotions that come with infidelity. The main character is torn between his feelings for two women and doesn't know what to do. He is guilty about his own behavior but also feels betrayed by his wife. The song is a reflection of the pain and hurt that come with cheating and the consequences that follow. Overall, "Checkin' Out" is a poignant and heartfelt song about love, loss, and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
I would like to dedicate this song
I wrote this song as a tribute to my friend Don Govey, one of the greatest writers of all time.
He's got it all
Don Govey is incredibly talented and gifted.
Listen to me
I want you to pay attention to what I'm about to say.
I just got finished
I have just left my hotel room.
Giving the hotel manager
I returned my room key and paid my bill to the hotel manager.
Back the room key
I returned the key to my hotel room.
You see, I was outside in the car
I was sitting in my car outside the hotel.
In the shadows of the parking lot
I was parked where I couldn't be seen by other people.
Telling this woman that I was with
I was having a conversation with the woman I was with.
How happy she had made me
I was expressing to the woman how happy she had made me feel.
And she had made me feel real good
The woman had made me feel really good.
Kissing and hugging
We were showing affection to each other by kissing and hugging.
And all of a sudden
Unexpectedly, something happened.
Another car pulled up
Another car entered the parking lot.
On the parking lot
The other car was parked in the parking lot.
And, people
Listen closely, everyone.
I couldn't believe my eyes
I was in disbelief at what I saw.
'Cause the woman that was
The woman who was sitting in the other car.
Sitting in the front seat
She was sitting in the front passenger seat of the other car.
Besides another dude
She was sitting next to another man.
Turned out to be my old lady
It was my girlfriend or wife who I refer to as 'old lady'.
There she was with another man
My girlfriend or wife was with another man.
Oh, oh, it hurt me so bad
It hurt me really badly.
And the only thing I could say about it
I had no good thing to say about it.
Oh, I was checking out
I was leaving the hotel.
And my old lady
My girlfriend or wife that I refer to as 'old lady'.
She was checking in
She was entering the hotel that I just left.
See, y'all have to understand
I need you to pay attention to what I'm explaining.
Where I'm coming from
You need to know my perspective and motivations.
I was trying to be cool
I was trying to act relaxed and unaffected.
About the situation, sitting there
Although the situation bothered me, I was sitting calmly.
Another woman asking me
Another woman I was with asked me a question.
Saying, baby, what's wrong
She asked me if I was upset or sad.
Are you that happy
She wondered if I was crying tears of joy.
I see tears falling down
She noticed tears were falling from my eyes.
But y'all see I don't understand
However, you must realize that I am confused.
Another man was taking my old lady
Another man is involved with my girlfriend or wife.
Into the Hideaway Motel
They probably went to this motel to be alone together.
And I was with my other woman
I was with another woman who I'm also having an affair with.
And I couldn't say a damn thing
I had nothing to say and felt helpless about the situation.
She, she
My girlfriend or wife who I refer to as 'she'.
She was supposed to be at home
She should have been at home taking care of our children.
Minding the kids
Looking after our children and their needs.
But both of us were being untrue
Both of us were lying and betraying each other.
Ooh, I guess I'll have to go on
I must continue to live despite this hurt and heartbreak.
Go on being blind
I have to continue to ignore the obvious and deceive myself.
'Cause I can't reveal you
I can't expose or reveal your infidelity without revealing my own.
Not without showing mine
I cannot reveal your unfaithfulness without exposing my own wrongdoing.
Hear me, people
Listen carefully, everyone.
My old lady with another man
My girlfriend or wife is with another man.
You see, people
You must understand.
What made it really so bad
The worst part about it was that.
Was, uh, the hotel operator
The hotel staff member.
Gave her the same room
They gave her the room that I just checked out of.
That I had just checked out
I had just left that room recently.
Oh, the tears started
I began to cry.
Falling down like rain, rain
Tears were flowing down my face like drops of rain.
Every time I thought
Whenever I thought about the situation.
I had it turned down
When I thought I could handle it.
It would just start acting up again
My emotions would take over again and I couldn't control them.
Somebody, somebody, talk to me
I need someone to talk to me about my feelings and emotions.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Sounds of crying and emotional distress.
Have you ever been there
Do you know what I'm going through?
All you got to do is wave your hand
If you understand, just signal to me that you do.
Let me know I'm not alone, oh, oh
Tell me that I'm not the only one going through this.
Baby, I'm checking out
I'm leaving this situation behind.
That woman you see with
The woman you see me with.
Another man was checking in
My girlfriend or wife was entering the hotel with another man.
And what make it so bad
The worst part was that.
That's my woman, oh
That's my girlfriend or wife who I deeply care about.
Writer(s): Don Covay
Contributed by Levi K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.