Robert Dwayne Womack (born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA on March 4, 1944, died J… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Dwayne Womack (born in Cleveland, Ohio, USA on March 4, 1944, died June 27, 2014), was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Working in the soul and R&B genres, he achieved his greatest success in the 1970s and 1980s. Womack wrote and originally recorded The Rolling Stones' first UK No. 1 hit, "It's All Over Now" and New Birth's "I Can Understand It" among other songs. As a singer he is most notable for the hits "Lookin' For a Love", "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", "Woman's Gotta Have It", "Harry Hippie", "Across 110th Street" and his 1980s hit "If You Think You're Lonely Now". In 2009, Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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.
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.
Fact Of Life/He'll Be There When The Sun Goes Down
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
You know, people always ask me say, "
Bobby why do you always talk before you sing?
You know like I notice in most of your songs, you always have somethin to say." People that talk usually I think that you should have somethin to say, or you shouldn't talk just to be talkin.
But I feel that anytime I got somethin to say Imma say it, cause I cause maybe it'll help you on your merry way.
Like I'm an entertainer, I'm in show business, and I like to speak for all people that's in show business, lot of people don't understand.
They look at us different, but there's no difference we need the same thing, that you need.
It's simple like, let's say if you were away from home, know what I mean?
And uh, you make home, or you try, or you make an attempt to make home, where it was, know what I mean?
Where it is.
So like uh, so like a few days ago, I was in uh, Chicago, and after the show I had previously I had seen this young lady sitting backstage and she was uh, seem like she had a whole lot of time on her hands, or I didn't know.
So after the show, I was a little lonely and I didn't want to go back to the hotel by myself, and I had been feeling her vibe all through the whole night, so I said, "
Hey Baby what're you doin after the show?" She said, "
Oh I ain't doin nothin."
I said,"
Well dig, like I'm at the Holiday Inn room 234, why don't you stop by and have a drink?" She said,"
Aw you don't wanna buy me no drink, you can buy me a drink right here." Said,"
You just wanna get me up in your room." You know?
And so many times this is said to entertainers and it makes em feel so bad, you know what I mean?
It's like, I've always been the kind of person if that was the case I would tell you, "
Yes I want you in my room." The only reason you'd be hangin around was because you would want to be there anyway, or was waitin on an opportunity if that was the case.
Know what I mean?
See what people gotta learn is to start doing is don't d-don't don't be jivin yourself, you can't fool yourself.
You know?
I'm just gon, if I if if I want water, I'm gon ask for water I'll say, "
Say I'm thirsty." You know what I mean?
But the whole thing to all of this is just that, you know Imma be gone tomorrow, I mean even if I wanted to stay my job won't permit me to.
You know what I mean?
It gets real technical, it gets down in the contract, agencies.
People like that you know?
And it's all about money, and it seems, but with me it's all about feelings.
I don't wanna get you involved, I don't wanna mess up your life if you got somethin goin, like keep a man, it's cool to have a man from 9 to 5.
Ain't nuthin wrong with that.
Like I say, don't get hung up on me, cause tomorrow I might be gone on down the road.
It's cool if you can handle it, if you got a good man remember one thing.
Oh, he'll be there, when your sun go down
And I'll be somewhere runnin down that same old line
In another town
I thought I'd let you know, where I'm comin from
I don't really mean you no wrong,
But I gotta keep movin on, gotta keep movin on
And he'll be there when your lights go dim,
So why chase me up and down the road,
And in your mind you know you should be with him' ohh
I can't help, but we can't help what we feel inside, baby,
Wanna let it out, be we all hung up on pride
But oh pride can't fulfill the need inside,
Come and get it, go on home, but leave it outside
Ohh
Cause he'll be there, (I'm just tellin you like it is) when the sun go down
You ain't always be sweet sixteen, so while you still caryin little weight, find you somebody that's gon really mean you some good.
Mmmmmm.
Listen to me.
But don't get me wrong,
I fall in love like any other man do.
But I gotta keep movin from place to place,
And in my heart, I might just wanna be with you
I have to get it where I can,
Can't you see I'm like ohhh any other man
Bobby why do you always talk before you sing?
You know like I notice in most of your songs, you always have somethin to say." People that talk usually I think that you should have somethin to say, or you shouldn't talk just to be talkin.
But I feel that anytime I got somethin to say Imma say it, cause I cause maybe it'll help you on your merry way.
Like I'm an entertainer, I'm in show business, and I like to speak for all people that's in show business, lot of people don't understand.
They look at us different, but there's no difference we need the same thing, that you need.
It's simple like, let's say if you were away from home, know what I mean?
And uh, you make home, or you try, or you make an attempt to make home, where it was, know what I mean?
So like uh, so like a few days ago, I was in uh, Chicago, and after the show I had previously I had seen this young lady sitting backstage and she was uh, seem like she had a whole lot of time on her hands, or I didn't know.
So after the show, I was a little lonely and I didn't want to go back to the hotel by myself, and I had been feeling her vibe all through the whole night, so I said, "
Hey Baby what're you doin after the show?" She said, "
Oh I ain't doin nothin."
I said,"
Well dig, like I'm at the Holiday Inn room 234, why don't you stop by and have a drink?" She said,"
Aw you don't wanna buy me no drink, you can buy me a drink right here." Said,"
You just wanna get me up in your room." You know?
And so many times this is said to entertainers and it makes em feel so bad, you know what I mean?
It's like, I've always been the kind of person if that was the case I would tell you, "
Yes I want you in my room." The only reason you'd be hangin around was because you would want to be there anyway, or was waitin on an opportunity if that was the case.
Know what I mean?
See what people gotta learn is to start doing is don't d-don't don't be jivin yourself, you can't fool yourself.
You know?
I'm just gon, if I if if I want water, I'm gon ask for water I'll say, "
Say I'm thirsty." You know what I mean?
But the whole thing to all of this is just that, you know Imma be gone tomorrow, I mean even if I wanted to stay my job won't permit me to.
You know what I mean?
It gets real technical, it gets down in the contract, agencies.
People like that you know?
And it's all about money, and it seems, but with me it's all about feelings.
I don't wanna get you involved, I don't wanna mess up your life if you got somethin goin, like keep a man, it's cool to have a man from 9 to 5.
Ain't nuthin wrong with that.
Like I say, don't get hung up on me, cause tomorrow I might be gone on down the road.
It's cool if you can handle it, if you got a good man remember one thing.
Oh, he'll be there, when your sun go down
And I'll be somewhere runnin down that same old line
In another town
I thought I'd let you know, where I'm comin from
I don't really mean you no wrong,
But I gotta keep movin on, gotta keep movin on
And he'll be there when your lights go dim,
So why chase me up and down the road,
And in your mind you know you should be with him' ohh
I can't help, but we can't help what we feel inside, baby,
Wanna let it out, be we all hung up on pride
But oh pride can't fulfill the need inside,
Come and get it, go on home, but leave it outside
Ohh
Cause he'll be there, (I'm just tellin you like it is) when the sun go down
You ain't always be sweet sixteen, so while you still caryin little weight, find you somebody that's gon really mean you some good.
Mmmmmm.
Listen to me.
But don't get me wrong,
I fall in love like any other man do.
But I gotta keep movin from place to place,
And in my heart, I might just wanna be with you
I have to get it where I can,
Can't you see I'm like ohhh any other man
The lyrics to Bobby Womack's song "Fact Of Life/He'll Be There When The Sun Goes Down" delve into the perspective of an entertainer in show business who is reflecting on the challenges and complexities of relationships. Bobby Womack begins by addressing the question of why he tends to speak before singing in his songs. He believes that if he has something to say, it may help others along their own journey. As an entertainer, he feels a responsibility to speak for those in show business, emphasizing that there is no difference between entertainers and regular people, as they all have the same needs.
He then shares an anecdote about meeting a young lady backstage after a show and feeling a connection with her. Despite his invitation for her to join him for a drink at his hotel, she misunderstands his intentions and assumes he only wants her in his room for a romantic encounter. Bobby Womack expresses his frustration with how people often assume such motives from entertainers, making them feel bad. He emphasizes the importance of being honest about one's intentions and not fooling oneself or others.
The overall message that Bobby Womack conveys in the song is that as an entertainer, he is constantly on the move, and even if he wanted to stay, his job obligations wouldn't allow it. He encourages those who may be involved with him or other entertainers to not get too hung up on them because they may be gone the next day. He advises that it's fine to have a man in one's life from 9 to 5 and not to let his presence disrupt one's life. Ultimately, he highlights the transient nature of his lifestyle and emphasizes the need for understanding and clear communication in relationships.
Writer(s): Bobby Womack
Contributed by Emily I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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✨Teary✨
I heard this for the first time very recently and I said to myself, “That Bobby Womack was something else!” This was smooth.
Jessica Wiley
Sorry for writing you, just out of curiosity your page come up on my suggested friend lists so I was just wondering if I knew you from somewhere??
James Greene
Jessica where are you from
Jessica Wiley
How about you?
Roger Cook
Young lady where have you been? This classic song came out in 1973. Lol. I was a teenager. Every time the wind blow I was ready, if you know what I mean. Lol
michael myles
This will forever be my jam and Bobby Womack will always be one of my favorite artists. He tells it like it is
David Babafemi Aka
He is the poet...
Farrah C
He sang what he spoke and he spoke what he thought. That's honesty from Mr Womack. 💖🎶 (27.01.19)
Jessica Wiley
Sorry for writing you, just out of curiosity your page come up on my suggested friend lists so I was just wondering if I knew you from somewhere?!!
Kenneth Craddock
Absolutely