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.
Everybody's Talkin'
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don′t hear a word they're sayin'
Only the echoes of my mind
Listen to me
People stop and stare
But I don′t see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes
Here′s what I gotta do
Well, I'm goin′ where the sun keeps shinin'
Through the pourin′ rain
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off the northeast wind
Sailing on a summer breeze
Look at me
Skipping over the ocean like a stone
Well, I′m goin' where that sun keep shinin'
Through the pourin′ rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off the northeast wind
Sailing on a summer breeze
Look at me
Skipping over the ocean like a stone
Everybody put your hands together and clap, woh
Everybody′s talkin' at me
But I don′t hear a word they're sayin′
Only the echoes of my mind
People, people stoppin', starin′
But I don't see their faces
Only the shadows of their eyes, yeah
Everybody's talkin′ at me
Everybody′s talkin' at me
Everybody′s talkin' at me
The lyrics in Bobby Womack's song Everybody's Talkin' can be interpreted as a reflection of the feeling of being disconnected from the world and the people around you. The first verse portrays a sense of isolation and detachment from the noise and chatter around, while the second verse talks about being aware of the stares of others but not being able to connect with them on a deeper level. The repetition of the line "Everybody's talkin' at me" emphasizes the feeling of being overwhelmed and disoriented by the external environment.
The chorus of the song talks about a desire to escape this overwhelming feeling by going somewhere far away where the sun keeps shining through the pouring rain and the weather suits one's clothes. The imagery of "banking off the northeast wind" and "sailing on a summer breeze" creates a vivid picture of the journey to a better place. The last line of the chorus, "look at me skipping over the ocean like a stone", suggests a feeling of freedom and lightness that comes with this escape.
Overall, the song can be seen as a commentary on the need for emotional and psychological escape in the face of overwhelming circumstances. The escape is not physical but rather a mental state of being where one can disconnect from the noise of the world and find some inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's talkin' at me
Everyone is talking to me
I don't hear a word they're sayin'
I'm not really listening to what they're saying
Only the echoes of my mind
I'm lost in my own thoughts
People stop and stare
People are looking at me
But I don't see their faces
I'm not paying attention to their appearance
Only the shadows of their eyes
I can only see the reflections of their eyes
Well, I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
I'm going to a place where it's always sunny
Through the pourin' rain
Even during a heavy rainstorm
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes
I'm going to a place where I can wear my preferred attire
Banking off the northeast wind
I'm using the wind to move in a certain direction
Sailing on a summer breeze
I'm enjoying the calming feeling of a warm breeze
Look at me
Take a moment to observe me
Skipping over the ocean like a stone
I'm traveling easily across the water
Everybody put your hands together and clap, woh
Everyone should applaud and celebrate
Everybody's talkin' at me
People are still speaking to me
But I don't hear a word they're sayin'
I'm still not really listening
Only the echoes of my mind
I'm still lost in my own thoughts
People, people stoppin', starin'
People are still looking at me
But I don't see their faces
I'm still not paying attention to their appearance
Only the shadows of their eyes, yeah
I'm still only seeing the reflections of their eyes
Everybody's talkin' at me
People are still talking to me
Writer(s): Fred Neil
Contributed by Evan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.