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.
Somebody Special
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna be somebody special in your life
Oh, hear me, girl
I, I just can't stand
Lord knows I just can't stand to hear you tell me no
Think about it twice
Do you know what, I
That you'll let stand by your side
And oh, ah, can't you see
I wanna be your protector and your guard
And that's why I'm striving hard everyday, darling
'Cause, I
I wanna be somebody special in your life
Oh girl
And I just can't stand to hear you tell me no
Oh, darling, think about it twice
That's all you got to do
'Cause I know
Ninety-nine, ninety-nine and a half just won't do
One thing I know, it's gonna take a hundred
And I say I've been thinking of you darling, to see me through
And I get down on my knees and beg to you, darling
And oh I know
I know you know, I know you know I wanna be
Somebody special in your life
Ah, oh darling
It ain't no harm to moan sometime
Oh-oh
The song "Somebody Special" by Bobby Womack is a love song where the singer expresses his desire to be someone special in his lover's life. He wants to be the only man that she allows to stand by her side, and he wants to protect her and be her guard. The song suggests that the singer is determined to win her over regardless of any obstacles. He cannot stand to hear her tell him no and tries to convince her to think about it twice. He believes that 99 and a half just won't do, and it will take a hundred to be somebody special in her life.
The song's lyrics are simple, but they reveal the singer's passion for the woman he loves. He is willing to do anything to prove his love and make her feel special. The use of the phrase "think about it twice" suggests that the woman might have rejected him before. The repetition of the phrase "I know" in the last stanza conveys the singer's confidence in his feelings and his ability to win her over.
Overall, "Somebody Special" is an expression of love, devotion, and determination. The lyrics reveal the singer's vulnerability and his desire to be with someone who recognizes his worth.
Line by Line Meaning
I, oh I
I am expressing my desire to be someone special in your life.
I wanna be somebody special in your life
I want to hold a special place in your heart and be an important person to you.
Oh hear me, girl
I am pleading with you to listen to what I have to say.
I, I just can't stand
I cannot bear to hear you say no to me, it hurts me deeply.
Lord knows I just can't stand to hear you tell me no
It causes me immense pain when you reject me.
Think about it twice
I am asking you to consider my request carefully before giving me an answer.
Do you know what, I
I am expressing my intent to you.
I wanna be the only man
I want to be the sole person in your life who stands by your side.
That you'll let stand by your side
I want to be the only person you trust and allow to be close to you.
And oh, ah, can't you see
I would like you to understand my intentions and my love for you.
I wanna be your protector and your guard
I want to take care of you and make sure you are always safe.
And that's why I'm striving hard everyday, darling
I am working hard every day to show you that I am worthy of your love and trust.
Oh girl
I am addressing you affectionately.
Ninety-nine, ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Being partially loved is not enough for me; I want to be loved fully and completely.
One thing I know, it's gonna take a hundred
I am confident that it will require a lot of effort to win your love and affection.
And I say I've been thinking of you darling, to see me through
I have been thinking of you all the time, and your love is what keeps me going.
And I get down on my knees and beg to you, darling
I would do anything to prove my love to you and make you mine.
Oh I know
I am acknowledging my knowledge of something.
I know you know, I know you know I wanna be
I am aware that you are aware of my intentions.
Somebody special in your life
I want to be special and meaningful to you, and I hope you see that.
Ah oh darling
I am calling out to you affectionately.
It ain't no harm to moan sometimes
It is okay to express our feelings and emotions, and I hope you can do that with me.
Writer(s): Bobby Womack
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Badr Yaqoubi
I, oh I, I wanna be somebody special in your life
Oh, hear me, girl
I, I just can't stand, Lord knows
I just can't stand to hear you tell me no
Think about it twice
And do you know what, I, I wanna be the only man
That you'll let stand by your side
And oh, I, can't you see
I wanna be your protector and your guard
And that's why I'm striving hard everyday, darling
Cuz I, I wanna be somebody special in your life
Oh girl, and I just can't stand to hear you tell me no
Oh, darling, think about it twice
that's all you got to do
Cuz I know ninety-nine
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
One thing I know, it's gonna take a hundred
And I say I've been thinking of you
darling, to see me through
And I get down on my knees and beg to you, darling
And oh I know you know
I know you know I wanna be somebody
Special in your life
Ah ah oh, darling
It ain't no harm to moan sometime
Oh
spinning45s
What kind of people ? You're talking absolute bollox mate.
Tetsuoha
Famous singers, who live in the nights and glamour. You very well know what I'm talking about. Check most of f@ck*n singers and actors, generally they are that kind. Yes, not everybody, but most of them. I do not give a sh* for the political correctness, I speak about truth.
BORFWHISTLE1
All I get out of that little tirade is that you don't like singers and actors, because many of them are egotistical assholes. So fucking what ? Why does that torque your E string ? You don't have to live with them. You don't even have to listen to their music, or watch their movies. So, what's got your testes in a tangle ? Did you find a booger in your Fruity Pebbles ?
Illuminati Brain Control
Are you talking about black people or singers? I seriously have a hard time telling
Tetsuoha
This kind of people always sing about true love, but they always f*ck with every woman.
BORFWHISTLE1
The world is full of people who can't seem to live up to commitments, of all sorts, including fidelity. Why single out entertainers, just because you're goofy enough to pay attention to their shitty little affairs, and nasty break-ups ? If everyone's lives were on display, you'd get dizzy, trying to spot the people who weren't just as fucked up as the famous folks. If you want to hate music, because the people who created it might be unpleasant people... you just might be an idiot. But, I'll let you figure that one out, for yourself.