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.
If You Think You
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I expect that might be the whole world
Because everybody needs something or someone to love
When it's cold outside who are you holding?
You know, if y'all don't mind I'd like to talk about this woman of mine
She's always complainin' ‘bout me never bein' at home
But when I'm down broke
She's tellin' me about the things that her girlfriend's got
What she ain't got and she wants me to go out and get ‘em for her
But girl, I can't be in two places at one time
If you think you're lonely now, huh
Wait until tonight, girl
(If you think you're lonely now)
I'll be long gone
(Wait until tonight, girl)
And you'll find another man that'll treat you right
(If you think you're lonely now)
When I ain't there to rub your back
(Wait until tonight, girl)
Just remember I made it a long fact
And it's gotta just come out of the closet
And chase you all around your room
And the memories sail ‘round like a ghost
And that's a matter of fact, no joke, ah
(If you think you're lonely now)
Oh, wait until tonight (wait until tonight, girl)
I'll be long gone (If you think you're lonely now)
(You just wait until tonight, girl) and you'll never find another man that'll treat you right
(If you think you're lonely now) you think you're lonely now
(Wait until tonight, girl) wait, wait, wait until tonight, girl
Oh, ain't it funny how the tables turn
When things aren't goin' your way?
But when love runs out and the pain walks in
And settles for a stay, ooh
(If you think you're lonely now)
Lord, help me, I feel like I wanna testify (wait until tonight, girl)
(If you think you're lonely now)
Girl, wait until tonight (wait until tonight, girl)
If you think you're lonely, lonely now
(Wait until tonight, girl) oh, you just wait until tonight, girl
(If you think you're lonely now)
(Wait until tonight, girl)
You see tonight's the night when the needs come out
When your needs come out to breathe
And you toast the stars and there ain't now way you can sleep, ooh
(If you think you're lonely now) if you think you're lonely now
(Wait until tonight, girl) I feel like I wanna testify this evenin'
(If you think you're lonely now) I'm lonely, ‘cause I know I gotta leave you, oh, girl
I just can't take no more (wait until tonight, girl)
(If you think you're lonely now) ooh, hoo, hoo
Ah, girl, you just wait (you just wait until tonight, girl)
(If you think you're lonely now)
If you think you got problems now, baby, you just wait
(Wait until tonight, girl) wait
(If you think you're lonely now)
Too far gone
(Wait until tonight, girl) like you're runnin' out
(If you think you're lonely now) ooh, hoo, ooh, hoo, babe
(Wait until tonight, girl)
You say you're a little lonely
(If you think you're lonely now)
But everybody needs somebody to love
(Wait until tonight, girl)
(If you think you're lonely now)
It's good that you know that you got somebody that'll stand by your side
That'll build you up when you're fallin' down (wait until tonight, girl)
And you had that someone, baby
(If you think you're lonely now)
‘Cause I've done my time
(Wait until tonight, girl) and it's your turn now
(If you think you're lonely now) if you think you're lonely now
(Wait until tonight, girl) wait, wait until tonight
(If you think you're lonely now)
I'm tired, tired of this same old stuck in the hour
It's been too long
(If you think you're lonely now)
You think, you could start all over again, it's been too long
(Wait until tonight, girl)
You think you could start it just one more time
(If you think you're lonely now)
Bobby Womack's song "If You Think You're Lonely Now" is a tribute to all the lonely lovers. The song reflects on the feelings of loneliness that come with being in a relationship where one person is not emotionally present or available. In the intro verse, Womack sets the stage for his message, suggesting that everyone needs someone to love and something to love in their life. He then goes on to talk about his own relationship and how his partner complains about never spending time together. However, when he is gone, she wants him to get her things that she sees her girlfriends having, which isn't possible since he can't be in multiple places at the same time. The chorus drives home the point when Womack tells his partner that if she thinks she's lonely now, she should wait until tonight when he is long gone and when she finds someone else who will treat her right.
The lyrics of the song celebrate the complexity of love and relationships, highlighting how easily someone can be lonely even when they are in a relationship. Womack identifies the contrast between the happiness of love and the desperation that follows when love ends or relationships turn sour. He emphasizes that everything in life can change in the blink of an eye and that people who are lonely should stay optimistic and always believe that happiness and love are within reach.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna dedicate this song to all the lovers tonight
Bobby Womack is dedicating the song to all the people in love
And I expect that might be the whole world
He expects that everyone needs someone to love
Because everybody needs something or someone to love
Love is essential for everyone
When it's cold outside who are you holding?
Who do you hold close to keep you warm when it's cold outside?
You know, if y'all don't mind I'd like to talk about this woman of mine
Bobby wants to talk about his woman
She's always complainin' ‘bout me never bein' at home
Bobby's woman complains about him never being home
But when I'm down broke
But when Bobby is broke
She's tellin' me about the things that her girlfriend's got
Bobby's woman talks about the things her friends have
What she ain't got and she wants me to go out and get ‘em for her
She wants Bobby to get her the things she doesn't have
But girl, I can't be in two places at one time
Bobby can't be in two places at the same time
If you think you're lonely now, huh
If you feel lonely now
Wait until tonight, girl
Just wait until tonight
(If you think you're lonely now)
Repeating the chorus
I'll be long gone
Bobby will leave
(Wait until tonight, girl)
Repeating the chorus
And you'll find another man that'll treat you right
Bobby's woman will find someone who treats her better than he did
When I ain't there to rub your back
When Bobby is not around to comfort you
Just remember I made it a long fact
Remember Bobby is gone for good
And it's gotta just come out of the closet
Your emotions will eventually surface
And chase you all around your room
Your emotions will haunt you
And the memories sail ‘round like a ghost
Memories will linger like a ghost
And that's a matter of fact, no joke, ah
This is a reality, not a joke
(If you think you're lonely now)
Repeating the chorus
Oh, wait until tonight (wait until tonight, girl)
Just wait until tonight
(You just wait until tonight, girl)
Repeating the chorus
And you'll never find another man that'll treat you right
Bobby's woman won't find someone who treats her better than he did
You see tonight's the night when the needs come out
Tonight is when people need companionship the most
When your needs come out to breathe
Your needs will surface
And you toast the stars and there ain't now way you can sleep, ooh
You can't sleep when you're longing for someone you love
Lord, help me, I feel like I wanna testify (wait until tonight, girl)
Bobby feels like he needs to express his feelings like a testimony
Girl, wait until tonight
Wait until tonight
If you think you're lonely, lonely now
Repeating the chorus
Oh, you just wait until tonight, girl
Just wait until tonight
Too far gone
It's too late now
Like you're runnin' out
It's like you're running out of time
You say you're a little lonely
You admit you're a little lonely
But everybody needs somebody to love
Everyone needs someone to love
(If you think you're lonely now)
Repeating the chorus
It's good that you know that you got somebody that'll stand by your side
It's good to know you have someone who supports you
That'll build you up when you're fallin' down (wait until tonight, girl)
Someone who will comfort you when you need it
And you had that someone, baby
Bobby's woman had him
‘Cause I've done my time
Bobby has been in the relationship long enough
And it's your turn now
It's his woman's turn to find someone new
(If you think you're lonely now)
Repeating the chorus
I'm tired, tired of this same old stuck in the hour
Bobby is tired of being stuck in the same situation
It's been too long
It's been too much time
You think, you could start all over again, it's been too long
Bobby's woman thinks she can start over, but it's been too long
You think you could start it just one more time
She thinks she can start again, but it may be too late
(If you think you're lonely now)
Repeating the chorus
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY WOMACK, PATRICK MOTEN, SANDRA SULLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spainjones1747
If you’re listening to this in 2024 you have great taste in music
@sydnithreadgill2037
Thanks
@VINDICATED806
Yep❤
@prettykitty75
Sure do❤
@SamsonOnoneme
If you're listening to this in 2023, you have a beautiful taste in music my friend.
@francesfalana1187
Good afternoon is your name from Africa ? Sorry to have disturb you
@smokeweed75100
Great taste
@natashacashaw9803
Yes
@kamarannansingh6889
I know love me 70s 80s early 90s souls
@sheeba8334
For old times sake