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.
Lookin for a Love
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm lookin' for a love
I'm gonna find
I've got to find someone
I'm lookin' for a love
Everyday I'm lookin' for a love
Well I'm and I'm lookin' here and there
And I'm lookin' I'm lookin'
I'm lookin', I'm lookin'
I'm lookin' for a love, lookin' for a love
Well now and I'm lookin' here and there
Searching everywhere gotta, gotta, gotta
I've gotta, I've gotta find someone
Someone to get up in the mornin'
And rub my head
Someone to fix my breakfast
And bring it to my bed
Someone to do a little housework
And back with me again yeah
With lots of love and kisses
And ?
But right now, oh
I'm lookin' for a love, yes sir
Everyday of my life
And I'm lookin' here and there
And I'm searching everywhere
And I'm lookin' I'm lookin'
I'm lookin', I'm lookin'
I'm lookin' for a love
I'm lookin' for a love
I'm lookin' for a love
The lyrics of Bobby Womack's song "Lookin' for a Love" express the singer's search for the perfect partner. He is willing to do anything to find that special someone, even search everywhere in the world. The song's choruses repeat the phrase "I'm lookin' for a love" to emphasize the singer's longing and determination to find a partner.
The lyrics also describe the singer's ideal partner as someone who will wake up with him every morning, fix his breakfast, clean the house, and shower him with love and affection. The verses paint a picture of someone who is caring, nurturing, and loving, someone who will be the perfect companion for the singer.
Overall, the song is a classic soulful love ballad that speaks to the desire we all have to find that perfect partner who will make our lives complete.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm lookin' for a love
The singer expresses his desire to find a lasting romantic relationship
I'm gonna find
The singer is determined to find his perfect partner
I've got to find someone
The singer knows he needs someone to share his life with
Everyday I'm lookin' for a love
The singer is actively searching for a partner
Well I'm and I'm lookin' here and there
The singer is open to finding love in different places
And I'm searching everywhere
The singer is not limiting his search to certain places or types of people
Someone to get up in the mornin'
The singer wants a partner who will be there for him in the morning
And rub my head
The singer desires affection and care from his partner
Someone to fix my breakfast
The singer wants a partner who will take care of him and do things for him
And bring it to my bed
The singer wants his partner to be intimate and attentive to his needs
Someone to do a little housework
The singer wants a partner who will share responsibilities with him
And back with me again yeah
The singer wants a partner who will come back to him and stay committed
With lots of love and kisses
The singer desires love and affection from his partner
But right now, oh
The singer is currently single and looking for love
Yes sir
The singer is enthusiastic about finding love
Everyday of my life
The singer wants a lifelong partner
Lyrics © Alfred
Written by: NEIL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind