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.
Simple Man
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if you hang around, hang around, you know you can't resist
I'm a simple man livin' everyday life, I work a hard job every night
And I come home straight to my wife, bring her lot of pay
Don't mind working everyday, it's my right
Ah, uh, you see, I don't put down a man, I work for better hand
I'm a simple man, everyday people, alright
Now listen to me, when it come to my music, music, music, music
Got to be simple but funky, I got to, I got to
Everybody get down, everybody get down, got to, got to
Got to move if the feelin' doesn't groove
Now listen to me, you have got to get a thing, yeah
That you like to do, if you do me, good lord, I'm gonna do you
Hang on in there, hang on in there, we'd only wanna [Incomprehensible]
But we stand just as tall and I have started too late
They're going out and havin' a ball
Everyday people, everyday people, got to, got to, got to, my
Like if a roof caved in you might as well forget it
I take like for what it is, I wanna hear you dig it
I don't believe in volumes, I don't believe in deals
I don't put down a man, I don't put down a man for the way he feels
Got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, got to
There's somethin' that you gonna do but you won't do
Try to understand me, I'm tryin' to understand you, yeah
Get on down, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on down
Got to, got to, got to, got to, tease me, got to, please me
Baby, good lord, baby
Ah, we can work it out, ah, we can work it out without a doubt
Ah, we can work it out, ah, we can work it out
And lets get the thing together and lets get the thing together
Hang on in there, hang on in there
The song "Simple Man" by Bobby Womack is an ode to everyday life and simplicity. The lyrics describe the satisfaction that comes from a hard day's work and the love for one's wife. Womack sings about the importance of finding joy in the little things and not putting down others for their choices. He emphasizes the need for simplicity in one's music, urging listeners to dance and feel the groove. The lyrics also touch on the idea of understanding and working together to make things better. The repetition of "got to" throughout the song reinforces the idea of following through with goals and dreams, no matter the obstacles.
Overall, "Simple Man" is a celebration of the beauty found in everyday life and the importance of keeping things simple. The lyrics urge listeners to find happiness in their daily routine and to embrace the funkiness of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Every thing's simple, ha, it's bound to catch on quick
Life can be simple if we choose to make it so, and that's what makes it so attractive and easy to catch on.
And if you hang around, hang around, you know you can't resist
Once you experience the simplicity of life, you would find it hard to resist and continue living in a complicated way.
I'm a simple man livin' everyday life, I work a hard job every night
The singer is a simple man who lives a common life and works hard every night to earn his livelihood.
And I come home straight to my wife, bring her lot of pay
After working hard, the artist comes home to his wife, whom he loves and feels responsible for, and provides for her financially.
Don't mind working everyday, it's my right
Working hard every day is the artist's right and his way of earning a living, and he does not mind doing it.
Ah, uh, you see, I don't put down a man, I work for better hand
The singer does not criticize other people for their choices and, instead, focuses on working hard to improve his own situation.
'Cause I know I'm doin' the best I can
The singer is confident in his abilities and knows that he is doing the best he can to make a good life for him and his wife.
I'm a simple man, everyday people, alright
The artist is simple, relatable, and just like any other ordinary person in the world.
Now listen to me, when it come to my music, music, music, music
The artist is about to talk about his passion for music and its importance in his life.
Got to be simple but funky, I got to, I got to
The artist's music has to be simple yet funky to be enjoyable and reach a wide audience.
Everybody get down, everybody get down, got to, got to
The singer wants everyone to enjoy his music and dance together to its rhythm.
Got to move if the feelin' doesn't groove
If the music does not make you feel like dancing, then you are not moving your body enough, and the artist wants to change that.
Now listen to me, you have got to get a thing, yeah
The singer encourages everyone to find something they love and pursue it with passion and dedication.
That you like to do, if you do me, good lord, I'm gonna do you
If someone does something good to the singer, he will respond in kind and do something good for them too.
Hang on in there, hang on in there, we'd only wanna [Incomprehensible]
The singer wants everyone to hang on, no matter what challenges they face in life and work towards their goals.
But we stand just as tall and I have started too late
Even if the artist started working on his dreams later in life, he still stands tall, proud, and confident in his abilities.
They're going out and havin' a ball
Other people may be going out and having fun, but the artist is content with his simple life and job.
Everyday people, everyday people, got to, got to, got to, my
The singer relates to everyday people and wants his message to reach them so that they can enjoy his music and start pursuing their own passions.
Like if a roof caved in you might as well forget it
The singer believes in living in the moment and enjoying life rather than worrying about things that may or may not happen in the future.
I take like for what it is, I wanna hear you dig it
The artist accepts life as it is and wants to enjoy it with the people around him.
I don't believe in volumes, I don't believe in deals
The artist does not worry about making big profits or signing lucrative deals but focuses on improving his craft and spreading his message.
I don't put down a man, I don't put down a man for the way he feels
The artist does not judge people based on their beliefs or choices but accepts them for who they are.
Got to, got to, got to, got to, got to, got to
The singer emphasizes the importance of persistence and determination in achieving one's dreams and goals.
There's somethin' that you gonna do but you won't do
The artist encourages people to face their fears, try new things, and pursue their dreams, even if they feel scared or uncertain.
Try to understand me, I'm tryin' to understand you, yeah
The singer wants to connect with his audience and understand them while also sharing his own experiences and stories.
Get on down, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on down
The singer wants people to dance and groove to his music and enjoy themselves to the fullest.
Got to, got to, got to, got to, tease me, got to, please me
The singer wants people to enjoy his music and tease him with their dance moves while also pleasuring themselves with his beats and lyrics.
Baby, good lord, baby
The artist feels grateful and blessed for everything he has and for the love and support of his fans and family.
Ah, we can work it out, ah, we can work it out without a doubt
The artist believes in overcoming obstacles and challenges and finding creative solutions to problems.
And lets get the thing together and lets get the thing together
The singer wants everyone to work together, collaborate, and build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Hang on in there, hang on in there
The singer encourages people to persevere, stay resilient, and keep pushing forward even when things get tough.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: BOBBY WOMACK, JOSEPH HICKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Major Wilkes Jr.
My dad used to play this a lot when I was little. I caught the Rhythm but never paid attention to the lyrics. Listening to it now, I completely understand every lyric and why my dad loved Bobby Womack's music so much. This is serious stuff for hard-working blue-collar men like myself.
Freeman Davis
B5-