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.

Find Me Somebody
Bobby Womack Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh yeah
Move it on now

Somebody take this hurt off me
Somebody come and set me free
She left my heart in misery
Somebody come on and see about me

'Cause I refuse to live alone
Gotta have somebody to call my own
Although I know the girl did me wrong
Can't keep a good man down too long

'Cause I'm gon' find me somebody (find me somebody)
Got to find me somebody (find me somebody)
Somebody to love (somebody to love)
Somebody to love, right now (somebody to love)
Lookit' here

Without a warning said we're through
After all I've done for you
Look at the changes you took me through
Look how you made my life so blue

But I'm gon' find me somebody (find me somebody)
I've got to find me somebody (find me somebody)
Somebody to love (somebody to love)
Somebody to love, right now (somebody to love), ooh

This is a mean world
To try and live in all by yourself
And I'm the kinda guy that can't stand living alone
I know it's sorta bad for my health

And I've got to, got to, got to, got to (find me somebody)
Find me somebody (find me somebody)
Somebody to love (somebody to love)
Somebody to love, right now (somebody to love), ooh

Uh, can't go no further
Move it on

Look out, 'cause here I come
With all this good lovin' for someone
I don't care, I don't care
If you're young or old
As long as you can satisfy my soul

I don't need nobody (need nobody)
But I'm gon' find me somebody (find me somebody)
Good god (somebody to love)

Somebody to love, right now (somebody to love)
Somebody to love (somebody to love)

Somebody to love (somebody to love)
Somebody to love (somebody to love)

Overall Meaning

In Bobby Womack’s soulful song “Find Me Somebody,” the singer sings of the pain he feels after being left by his lover. He expresses his desire for someone to help him heal and open his heart to love again. Despite the hurt he feels after being done wrong, he refuses to stay alone and believes he will find someone to share his love with again. Womack’s powerful vocals convey both the pain and resilience of its narrator who is seeking love after heartbreak.

The lyrics of the song are simple yet effective in their message. The singer wants to move on from his past love and find someone who will make him feel loved and wanted. He refuses to let his past love keep him from the possibility of finding another person to share his life with. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes the singer's determination to find love again.

Interestingly, the song was covered by the British rock band Queen in 1977, and was released as a B-side to their single “Need Your Loving Tonight.” This version features Brian May on vocals, while Freddie Mercury provides the backing vocals. The song was also covered by the blues singer Etta James in 1990.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh yeah
Expression of confidence and excitement

Move it on now
Encouragement to continue forward

Somebody take this hurt off me
Requesting emotional support and relief from pain

Somebody come and set me free
Desiring freedom from emotional bondage caused by heartbreak

She left my heart in misery
Acknowledging pain caused by a past lover

Somebody come on and see about me
Asking for someone to provide emotional support and comfort

'Cause I refuse to live alone
Rejecting the idea of living without a partner

Gotta have somebody to call my own
Desiring to have a romantic partner

Although I know the girl did me wrong
Admitting the wrongdoing of a past lover

Can't keep a good man down too long
Resilience to overcome heartbreak and move on

'Cause I'm gon' find me somebody (find me somebody)
Determined to find a new romantic partner

Got to find me somebody (find me somebody)
Emphasizing the importance of finding a companion

Somebody to love (somebody to love)
Desiring a romantic partner to love

Somebody to love, right now (somebody to love)
Immediate need for a romantic partner

Lookit' here
Attention grabbing statement

Without a warning said we're through
The sudden end of a relationship without explanation

After all I've done for you
Feeling unappreciated for previous efforts in the relationship

Look at the changes you took me through
Reflecting on the negative impact the relationship had on them

Look how you made my life so blue
Acknowledging the sadness caused by the past lover

But I'm gon' find me somebody (find me somebody)
Determined to move on from the past lover and find a new partner

I've got to find me somebody (find me somebody)
Emphasizing the necessity of finding a new romantic partner

This is a mean world
Acknowledging the harshness of the world and the difficulty of living alone

To try and live in all by yourself
Highlighting the challenge and struggle that comes with living alone

And I'm the kinda guy that can't stand living alone
Personal aversion to the idea of living without a partner

I know it's sorta bad for my health
Acknowledging the negative impact that living alone can have on mental health

And I've got to, got to, got to, got to (find me somebody)
Emphasizing strong desire to find a new partner

Good god (somebody to love)
Expressing desperation for a new romantic partner

Look out, 'cause here I come
Announcing intention to actively pursue finding a new romantic partner

With all this good lovin' for someone
Desiring to give love to a new partner

I don't care, I don't care
Indifference to superficial factors when finding a new partner

If you're young or old
Acceptance of partners of different ages

As long as you can satisfy my soul
Desiring a partner who can emotionally fulfill them

I don't need nobody (need nobody)
Acknowledging self-sufficiency but still desiring a romantic partner

But I'm gon' find me somebody (find me somebody)
Emphasizing determination to find a new romantic partner

Somebody to love (somebody to love)
Desire for a new romantic partner

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bobby Womack

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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