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.
Jealous Love
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come around
Girl, you got my world upside down
Jealous love, ooh baby
Jealous love
Jealous love
You got to trust me sometimes
And I know you're so kind
But you're killing my love
Jealous love of mine
Jealous love
I had to go baby and let you found yourself
Trust me (trust me)
Trust me
All you gotta do is trust me baby
Yeah
Home from work
Every day on time
You've got your hand in my pocket
For that number that you thought you'd find
And every time that a pretty girl walks by
I catch you watching me, baby
Upon the corner of your eye
Oh oh oh you're so sweet
I know you're so kind
Can't you see my face, girl
Must gon' be running out of time
Jealous love
I got to go away and then find myself
Oh babe, nuh oh ah
Trust me (trust me)
Trust me
Oh, yeah, trust me babe
Oh, yeah
On time
Girl lets go, you'll find yourself
I don't wanna baby
(I heard oh little baby that you'll find yourself)
You better find, find yourself
Look woman, you left too hard
(I heard oh little baby that you'll find yourself) go away, go away, go away
Girl you done blew your cool
You're running out of food
I seen a woman (take a man's life, take a man's life, take a man's life)
Even though I know she had a whole lot of love for him
Everybody said it was jealous love, and they was right
Love and happiness are like twins
When one is absent to the other, it always seems like something or someone is missing
Probably the Bible expressed the importance of devotion most dramatically
When it says that greater love
Has no man than this, to lay down his life for another
You know this kind of love is lacking in the world today
Too many people are willing to stand back and watch someone
To watch someone experience sorrow either because they're afraid or they don't
Wanna be involved or they simply don't give a damn
About another human being's life
My brother said
Love is emblem of eternity
Think your head on that
Run to the rock
Hide your face
Rocks cry out
There's no hiding place
Where are you gonna run?
Where are you gonna run
Where are you gonna hide
Oh oh baby baby baby baby
Give us love
I think it's time you gave it up
I think it's time you gave it up
Jealous love
I'm gonna away, I'm not your fantasy
Jealous love
You better find yourself
Where are you gonna run
When the sun goes down? Oh oh yeah yeah
In the Bobby Womack song Jealous Love, the lyrics speak about feeling trapped in a relationship where jealousy drives a wedge between two people. Womack sings about wanting to trust his partner, but her constant suspicion and lack of faith in him is causing their love to suffer. He expresses his frustration with her constantly checking his pockets for phone numbers or staring at him when pretty girls walk by. He sings, “Can't you see my face, girl, must gon' be running out of time, Jealous love, I got to go away and then find myself, Oh babe, nuh oh ah, trust me (trust me), trust me, oh, yeah, trust me babe.” He wants her to trust him and give their relationship a chance to work, but he also acknowledges that he may need to leave to find himself.
Through these lyrics, Womack emphasizes the importance of trust and communication in a relationship. He wants his partner to understand that without trust, love cannot thrive. He also recognizes that sometimes it's necessary to take space from a relationship to find oneself and alleviate jealousy.
Overall, the song Jealous Love is a cautionary tale of how jealousy can ruin love and the need for trust and communication. Womack sings of wanting to trust and be trusted, but also recognizing when it's time to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I gave you time
I afforded you an opportunity.
Come around
Show up, return to me.
Girl, you got my world upside down
You have manipulated and destabilized my emotional state.
Jealous love, ooh baby
Our love is poisoned with jealousy.
Jealous love
The previous stated 'Jealous love' is reaffirmed.
Jealous love
Again, the previously stated 'Jealous love' is reaffirmed.
You got to trust me sometimes
Occasionally, you must have faith in me.
Oh oh oh I know you're so sweet
I am aware that you are affectionate and loving.
And I know you're so kind
I understand that you are benevolent and compassionate.
But you're killing my love
Your current behavior is detrimental to our relationship.
Jealous love of mine
Our love is again characterized as jealous.
Jealous love
This phrase is once again restated.
I had to go baby and let you found yourself
I had to leave so that you could discover who you are.
Trust me (trust me)
Have confidence in me.
Trust me
Again, the direct statement to trust is repeated.
All you gotta do is trust me baby
Simply have faith in me.
Yeah
Affirmation.
Home from work
I have returned from my job.
Every day on time
I am never late.
You've got your hand in my pocket
You are taking advantage of me financially.
For that number that you thought you'd find
You are searching for evidence of infidelity.
And every time that a pretty girl walks by
Whenever an attractive woman passes.
I catch you watching me, baby
I observe you glancing at me.
Upon the corner of your eye
Out of the corner of your vision.
Oh oh oh you're so sweet
Reaffirming the compassion of the significant other.
Can't you see my face, girl
My expression displays my discontent.
Must gon' be running out of time
We are quickly approaching the limits of our relationship.
Jealous love
The theme of jealousy is again reiterated.
I got to go away and then find myself
I must leave to discover my own identity.
Oh babe, nuh oh ah
Baby, an expression of affection.
Trust me (trust me)
Reaffirmation of trustworthiness.
Trust me
A direct appeal for trust.
Oh, yeah, trust me babe
Reiteration of the trustworthiness appeal.
Oh, yeah
An expression of affirmation.
Girl lets go, you'll find yourself
We must part ways so that you can discover who you are.
I don't wanna baby
I do not wish to continue this relationship.
(I heard oh little baby that you'll find yourself)
Reiteration of the statement that the person must find themselves.
You better find, find yourself
Encouragement to the significant other to discover their identity.
Look woman, you left too hard
The significant other has been emotionally overbearing.
(I heard oh little baby that you'll find yourself) go away, go away, go away
The person is encouraged to leave and discover themselves.
Girl you done blew your cool
The significant other has lost their composure.
You're running out of food
You will soon find yourself alone.
I seen a woman (take a man's life, take a man's life, take a man's life)
The singer has witnessed a woman committing a violent act.
Even though I know she had a whole lot of love for him
Despite her affection for him, she harmed him.
Everybody said it was jealous love, and they was right
Jealousy was the motivation for violence and destruction.
Love and happiness are like twins
Love and happiness are inextricably linked.
When one is absent to the other, it always seems like something or someone is missing
In the absence of one, the other feels incomplete.
Probably the Bible expressed the importance of devotion most dramatically
The Bible conveys the importance of loyalty in a powerful way.
When it says that greater love
The Bible expresses that the most significant love is characterized by selflessness.
Has no man than this, to lay down his life for another
The ultimate act of love is to sacrifice oneself for another.
You know this kind of love is lacking in the world today
This selfless love is deficient in the world today.
Too many people are willing to stand back and watch someone
People are too willing to be apathetic and watch others suffer.
To watch someone experience sorrow either because they're afraid or they don't
People watch others suffer due to fear or indifference.
Wanna be involved or they simply don't give a damn
People are not invested in other people's well-being.
About another human being's life
The value of human life is neglected.
My brother said
Anecdotal evidence.
Love is emblem of eternity
Love is perennial and long-lasting.
Think your head on that
Consider the statement.
Run to the rock
Seek refuge in a safe haven.
Hide your face
Conceal yourself from danger.
Rocks cry out
Even the most steadfast things can express deep emotion.
There's no hiding place
Nowhere is completely safe.
Where are you gonna run?
There is no escape.
Where are you gonna run
Reiteration of the futility of escape.
Where are you gonna hide
Reiteration of the inability to hide.
Oh oh baby baby baby baby
An expression of sympathy.
Give us love
Exhortation for love.
I think it's time you gave it up
The time has come to surrender.
Jealous love
Reiteration of the destructive influence of jealousy.
I'm gonna away, I'm not your fantasy
I am leaving, I am not the idealization you want.
Jealous love
Confirmation of the theme of jealousy.
You better find yourself
The other must discover themselves.
Where are you gonna run
Reiteration that escape is impossible.
When the sun goes down? Oh oh yeah yeah
What will happen when the situation becomes difficult?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis Ousley, Bobby Womack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind