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.
Got To Get You Back
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm singin' to ya --
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go?
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go?
Say, girl -- I tried to fake it
But it hurt so bad -- Ohhh, I dont believe I can take it
Your love has put me in a jam -- Yes it did --
I got to get ya' back -- Owwwww!!!
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go?
Listen to me now --
Say girl -- I bear it
You love your heart your soul --
Please lemme share it girl
Just like a nightmare -- it get's so plain -- Ohhh, Yeah
I know you gon' drive ohhh me insane
I got to get ya' back -- OOOOOHHHH!!!
Gotta, Gotta, Awwww!!!!!
Get on Get on Get on Get on down --
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go -- Say it again (2x)
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go
Your love put me in a jam -- Your love (background singers)
It's gon' take more man than I am
Ohhh I need you back ---
OOOOOHHHHH!!!!! --- Owwwww!!!!! OOOOOHHHHH!!!!! ---- Owwww!!!!! (back and forth with background singers)
Get on Get on Get on Get on down --
Tell em one more time --- Say It again (background singers)
We can talk it over -- Awwww Yeahhh
Let me sing this song
Need ya by my side
ohh I can't take anymore
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go
The lyrics to Bobby Womack's song "Got To Get You Back" are about a man pleading for his lover to return to him. The song opens with Womack admitting that he was wrong and he wants his lover back. He asks why she had to leave, showing his desperation for her. Womack tries to pretend that he is okay without her, but it hurts too much and he knows he can't keep up the facade. The love that they shared has put him in a difficult situation, and he can't handle another lonely night without her. He concludes that he must get her back, and the song ends with him repeating his plea for her to return.
The lyrics express a raw vulnerability and a willingness to be honest about feelings. Womack's passion and intensity are evident as he sings about his need for his lover. The repetition of the phrase "Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go?" is effective in conveying both the pain and desperation that Womack is feeling. The staccato "owwww!" and "gonna" convey urgency and determination.
Overall, "Got To Get You Back" is a classic R&B love song that showcases Womack's vocal talent and emotional depth. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but they convey a powerful message of love and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
See, I was wrong -- don't leave me alone
The singer expresses regret about their past behavior and begs the listener not to abandon them.
I'm singin' to ya --
The singer is pouring out their heart and soul to the listener through song.
Ooooh baby -- why did ya have to go?
The singer is lamenting the listener's departure and asking why they had to leave.
Say, girl -- I tried to fake it
The artist admits to pretending that everything was okay when it really wasn't.
But it hurt so bad -- Ohhh, I dont believe I can take it
The artist reveals that they are in a lot of pain and don't know if they can handle it.
Your love has put me in a jam -- Yes it did --
The singer is in a difficult situation because of the listener's love and the impact it has had on them.
Spend one more lonely night -- It's gonna take more man than I am
The singer is unable to handle spending another night alone and feels inadequate to deal with the situation.
I got to get ya' back -- Owwwww!!!
The artist is determined to win back the listener and expresses their urgency.
Listen to me now --
The artist wants the listener's full attention as they make their case.
Say girl -- I bear it
The artist is willing to bear any burden or hardship to regain the listener's love.
You love your heart your soul --
The singer is acknowledging the depth and sincerity of the listener's love.
Please lemme share it girl
The artist wants to be a part of the listener's love and share in their emotions.
Just like a nightmare -- it gets so plain -- Ohhh, Yeah
The singer is saying that the reality of their situation is like a nightmare and feels unbearable.
I know you gon' drive ohhh me insane
The singer knows that without the listener, they will go crazy and struggle to cope.
Gotta, Gotta, Awwww!!!!!
The singer feels an intense desire to win back the listener's love.
Get on Get on Get on Get on down --
The artist is urging everybody to dance, letting the music take over and moving on from their troubles for the moment.
Your love put me in a jam -- Your love (background singers)
The singer's backup singers are echoing the artist's sentiment of being in a difficult situation because of the listener's love.
It's gon' take more man than I am
The singer isn't confident in their ability to handle their situation alone and feels they need help.
Ohhh I need you back --- OOOOOHHHHH!!!!! --- Owwwww!!!!! OOOOOHHHHH!!!!! ---- Owwww!!!!! (back and forth with background singers)
The singer is expressing their desperation for the listener's return and the backup singers are echoing the same sentiment.
Tell em one more time --- Say It again (background singers)
The backup singers are encouraging the artist to repeat their message one more time.
We can talk it over -- Awwww Yeahhh
The artist and listener need to communicate and work together to resolve their issues.
Let me sing this song
The song itself is the artist's attempt to express their emotions to the listener, hoping to bridge the gap between them.
Need ya by my side
The singer cannot bear to be apart from the listener and wants them to return.
ohh I can't take anymore
The artist has reached their breaking point and can't take any more pain.
Contributed by Isaiah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.