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.
Ruby Dean
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma my Mother
Ya underestimate such a child
the trouble was only three
I still had had eyes-- Oh, I could see
I could'nt respect your mama
That's why I called you -- called you by your first name
I said Ru - by -- Ru - by Dean
Whooa Ruby Dean -- No, No
Don't take your love to town -- don't do it now
cause I can't stand to hear the screen door slam
I know leaving me -- why cant you let it be
You're everything to me -- just too blind too see
True ruby dean -- please stop doing my dad this way -- Yeahh
Don't take your love to town
Ruu-by don't take your love to town
He breeds you and me far as the eyes can see
Let my dad go free == don't mind you doin' it to me Ruby Dean
been good to me -- why don't you let him be
Please Ruby Dean -- Oh Ruby Dean
Ohhhhh Oh Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby Dean
You take your love to town
Ruuu- by Deeean -- Don't take your love to town
Whoaaa Whoa Yeah
Don't take your love to town
Why don't ya spend a little more time aro
I can look in my dad's eyes
I can see that he's tired of being alone
Ruby Ruby Dean
Ruu by Ruby Dean
The lyrics to Bobby Womack's song Ruby Dean describe a young child's perspective on their parents' relationship, specifically their mother's infidelity. The child expresses their disdain and lack of respect for their mother's actions and addresses the woman their father is involved with, Ruby Dean, pleading with her not to take her love to town, essentially urging her not to leave their father for someone else. The child is torn apart by the possibility of losing their father and speaks to Ruby Dean directly, asking her to stop "doing" their dad this way.
The singer's voice conveys a sense of desperation and sadness as they observe their father's loneliness and plead with Ruby Dean not to leave him. The lyrics also imply that the child's mother is neglectful, as the singer addresses her as "Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma my Mother" and expresses that they could see the trouble brewing despite being only three years old. This emphasis on the child's youth serves to highlight the devastation caused by their mother's actions and the potential loss their family may face.
Overall, the lyrics to Bobby Womack's "Ruby Dean" offer a poignant exploration of the complicated emotions and relationships that can emerge within a family context.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother
Addressing his mother
Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma my Mother
Expressing affection towards his mother
Ya underestimate such a child
Suggesting that he was smarter than his mother thought
the trouble was only three
Implying that he was causing trouble at a young age
I still had had eyes-- Oh, I could see
Asserting that he was aware of his surroundings
I couldn't respect your mama
Indicating that he did not have respect for his mother
That's why I called you -- called you by your first name
Explaining why he addressed Ruby Dean by her first name
I said Ru - by -- Ru - by Dean
Calling Ruby Dean's name
Don't take your love to town
Begging Ruby Dean not to leave him
Whooa Ruby Dean -- No, No
Emphasizing that he does not want Ruby Dean to leave him
Don't take your love to town -- don't do it now
Reiterating that he doesn't want Ruby Dean to leave him
cause I can't stand to hear the screen door slam
Suggesting that he doesn't want to hear Ruby Dean leaving him
I know leaving me -- why cant you let it be
Questioning why Ruby Dean has to leave him
You're everything to me -- just too blind too see
Expressing his love for Ruby Dean that she cannot comprehend
True ruby dean -- please stop doing my dad this way -- Yeahh
Asking Ruby Dean to stop hurting his father
Don't take your love to town
Reiterating his plea for Ruby Dean not to leave
Ruu-by don't take your love to town
Repeating his plea for Ruby Dean not to leave
He breeds you and me far as the eyes can see
Referring to the vastness of their relationship
Let my dad go free == don't mind you doin' it to me Ruby Dean
Pleading with Ruby Dean to let his father go free and hurt him instead if she must
been good to me -- why don't you let him be
Asking Ruby Dean to leave his father alone because he has been good to him
Please Ruby Dean -- Oh Ruby Dean
Begging Ruby Dean for his father's sake
Ohhhhh Oh Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby Dean
Calling Ruby Dean's name again
You take your love to town
Accusing Ruby Dean of leaving him
Ruuu- by Deeean -- Don't take your love to town
Reiterating his plea for Ruby Dean not to leave
Whoaaa Whoa Yeah
Adding emphasis to his plea
Don't take your love to town
Repeating his plea once more
Why don't ya spend a little more time aro
Suggesting that Ruby Dean should spend more time with him instead of leaving
I can look in my dad's eyes
Explaining his understanding of his dad's feelings
I can see that he's tired of being alone
Observing that his dad is not happy being alone
Ruby Ruby Dean
Calling Ruby Dean's name one last time
Ruu by Ruby Dean
Calling Ruby Dean's name again and expressing his plea not to leave
Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.