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.
The Bravest Man in the Universe
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the one who has forgiven first
The bravest man in the universe
I got a story I want to tell
Gather round me
Gather round me boys and girls
But now I’m found
When I beer up so high
I always know how to come down
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who has forgiven first
Yeah
Shame on me, shame on you
It’s up to us
What we say and what we do
Would you stay in the sun
Would you stay in the sun much too long
You try to find the shade
Shade that makes you feel at home
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who can forgiven first
The bravest man in the universe
Oh ah
The bravest man in the universe
The lyrics of "The Bravest Man in the Universe" by Bobby Womack express the idea that forgiveness is a powerful virtue and requires courage. The song speaks to the human experience of feeling lost and then finding a way back to oneself. Womack starts by repeating the mantra of the bravest man being the one who forgives first, indicating that forgiveness is not only an act of bravery but also a necessary one. The second verse describes the singer telling a story and inviting listeners to gather around, emphasizing the communal aspect of learning and sharing experiences. Womack then shares his personal journey of being lost and found again through overcoming addiction. Acknowledging his mistakes, Womack recognizes the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and making amends, which relates to the idea of forgiveness.
The third verse references the importance of self-care and avoiding the dangers of staying in the sun for too long. The metaphor of finding shade that makes you feel at home relates to finding balance in life and taking care of oneself. The chorus reminds listeners that forgiveness takes courage and can be the most important step to moving forward. In conclusion, the song not only celebrates the virtue of forgiveness but also acknowledges the struggles that bring us to a point of needing to forgive others and ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
The bravest man in the universe
The person who shows immense courage and strength in forgiveness takes the title of the bravest man on this planet.
Is the one who has forgiven first
The one who forgives the other first regardless of the situation showcases their exceptional courage in the act of forgiveness.
I got a story I want to tell
The singer wants to share his personal story with others that he believes will have a significant impact on them.
Gather round me
The singer invites everyone to listen to his story with great interest and attention.
Gather round me boys and girls
The singer deliberately tries to address the audience with utmost care and affection for children.
I once was lost
The singer previously found himself in a difficult situation, both mentally and physically.
But now I’m found
The singer’s change of heart and mindset brought him out of the situation that entangled him.
When I beer up so high
When the singer gets caught up in an exuberant state of mind,
I always know how to come down
He still knows when to stop and not cross the limits of what is appropriate.
Shame on me, shame on you
He blames both himself and the other person for any wrongdoing that may have taken place between them.
It’s up to us
It's completely on the individuals involved to decide how their relationships will go from there on.
What we say and what we do
The things that we speak and the actions we take are the basis on how our relationships move forward in the future.
Would you stay in the sun
Would you knowingly stay in a harmful and dangerous situation,
Would you stay in the sun much too long
Would you prolong the stay in an environment that is not suitable for you and puts you in trouble.
You try to find the shade
You try to find a way to get out of the unideal situation and search for a better environment.
Shade that makes you feel at home
The shade represents the ideal environment for you that makes you feel comfortable, happy, and satisfied in every possible way.
Oh ah
The singer emphasizes the title's importance and what it represents by repeating it with exhilaration and reverence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAMON ALBARN, HAROLD TIMOTHY PAYNE, RICHARD RUSSELL, BOBBY WOMACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xvevettex
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who has forgiven first
The bravest man in the universe
I got a story I want to tell
Gather round me
Gather round me boys and girls
I once was lost
But now I’m found
When I beer up so high
I always know how to come down
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who has forgiven first
Yeah
Shame on me, shame on you
It’s up to us
What we say and what we do
Would you stay in the sun
Would you stay in the sun much too long
You try to find the shade
Shade that makes you feel at home
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who can forgiven first
The bravest man in the universe
Oh ah
The bravest man in the universe
Mitch James
This is a living legend been in the business for 50 years and has so many great hits and and has worked with so many other artist he's a song writer composer singer and a gifted musician I wasnt even born when he first started recording but my parents played his music as I grew up I was so into his music he captures the very core of Soul music and now he has been diagnosed with early alzheimer's symptoms I pray that he retains as much of his memory as possible he is truly my inspiration.
Angie Anderson
What a voice ...so meaningful RIP Bobby
xvevettex
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who has forgiven first
The bravest man in the universe
I got a story I want to tell
Gather round me
Gather round me boys and girls
I once was lost
But now I’m found
When I beer up so high
I always know how to come down
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who has forgiven first
Yeah
Shame on me, shame on you
It’s up to us
What we say and what we do
Would you stay in the sun
Would you stay in the sun much too long
You try to find the shade
Shade that makes you feel at home
The bravest man in the universe
Is the one who can forgiven first
The bravest man in the universe
Oh ah
The bravest man in the universe
B Tarrrrr
Bobby's voice and lyrics are like a fine wine-they get better with age.
Shaytards.butler
Rest in peace, man. I discovered him a few weeks before he passed and I was so sad. He makes brilliant music
veonnisual
Kudos to XL for leading several career revivals. This song is amazing.
bolder2009
Bobby Womack is a legend! One of the alltime greats of soul music. You can't front on his body of work as a singer/songwriter and session musician.
JordyC1993
Production on this is wicked, Damon is a genius and Bobby's voice sounds great.
galukya1
Oooo this is nice! Good message and funky funky beat, yeh! May God continue to strengthen and preserve you Brother Womack.
Ramary
Infelizmente mais um ídolo se foi,descanse em Paz ! Bobby Womack !