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.
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spending my money, no, I didn't care
Takin' my friend John out for a mighty good time
Buyin' high-priced liquor, champagne and wine
Then I began to fall so low
Didn't have a friend, nor no place to go
If I get my hands on a dollar again
Soon as I get back up on my feet again
Everybody wants to be my long-lost friend
It's might strange, without a doubt
Nobody wants you when you're down and out
Lord, soon as I get up on my feet again
Everybody wants to be my long-lost friend
It's mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody wants you when you're down and out
That's what I mean when you're down and out
The lyrics to Bobby Womack's "Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out" tell the story of a man who was once wealthy and popular, but has fallen on hard times. He spends all his money on extravagant things and parties with his friend John, without a care in the world. However, as his fortune dwindles, he finds himself with no friends and nowhere to turn. He longs for the day when he has money again, and vows to hold onto it tightly once he does.
The theme of the song is the fickleness of human nature and how people will only show interest in you when things are going well. When the singer was wealthy, he had plenty of friends, but now that he is poor, nobody wants anything to do with him. It's a sad, but true commentary on how we often judge people based on their financial or social status. Even though the song was written in the 1970s, it is still relevant today in a world where people are often judged by their appearance, job, or income.
Overall, the message of "Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out" is a cautionary tale about the importance of true friends who will stick by you through thick and thin, regardless of your wealth or status. It's also a reminder to be grateful for what we have and not to take people for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, once I lived the life of a millionaire
I was wealthy and living a luxurious life.
Spending my money, no, I didn't care
I was carelessly spending my money.
Takin' my friend John out for a mighty good time
I was taking my friend out, treating him to a good time.
Buyin' high-priced liquor, champagne, and wine
I was buying expensive alcohol.
Then I began to fall so low
I fell into hard times.
Didn't have a friend, nor no place to go
I lost my friends and my home, and became homeless.
If I get my hands on a dollar again
If I get some money again.
I'm goin' to hold on to it until the eagle grins
I will hold on to it for a very long time.
Soon as I get back up on my feet again
As soon as I get my life back together.
Everybody wants to be my long-lost friend
Everyone wants to be my friend again.
It's might strange, without a doubt
It's very strange and surprising.
Nobody wants you when you're down and out
When you're in hard times, people ignore or avoid you.
Lord, soon as I get up on my feet again
As soon as I get my life back together.
Everybody wants to be my long-lost friend
Everyone wants to be my friend again.
It's mighty strange, without a doubt
It's very strange and surprising.
Nobody wants you when you're down and out
When you're in hard times, people ignore or avoid you.
That's what I mean when you're down and out
That's what I mean when I say nobody wants you when you're in hard times.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jimmy Cox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kj singh
Well, once I lived the life of a millionaire
Spending my money, no, I didn't care
Takin' my friend John out for a mighty good time
Buyin' high-priced liquor, champagne and wine
Then I began to fall so low
Didn't have a friend, nor no place to go
If I get my hands on a dollar again
I'm goin' to hold on to it until the eagle grins
Soon as I get back up on my feet again
Everybody wants to be my long-lost friend
It's might strange, without a doubt
Nobody wants you when you're down and out
Lord, soon as I get up on my feet again
Everybody wants to be my long-lost friend
It's mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody wants you when you're down and out
That's what I mean when you're down and out
Gafanhoto
Ouvindo em 2020 essa beleza de música!
Marcos Sergio Sousa
2021
Matthew Strahan
So true rite now
Ngoli Nyirenda
2022 !
Michael Whittaker
Gospel to me my life in a song
Love music bad all genres
2020 and my love for Bobby Womack never dies....May his soul Rest In Peace... love from Jamaica 🇯🇲
Belle Starr
2022 feels the same love music bad genres
Jackstar601
Rasta fari!
rolando bailey
Love from Jamaica in 2023🇯🇲
Pamela Womack
Bobby knows the blues and how to put just the right amount of reality into his singing to bring it home