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 Look of Love
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is in your eyes
A look your smile can't
disguise
The look of love
Is saying so much more than
Just words could every say
Well it takes my breath away
[Chorus]
I can hardly wait to hold you
Feel my arms around you
How long I have waited
Waited just to love you
Now that I have found you
You've got the look of love
It's on your face
A look that time can't erase
Baby be mine, tonight
Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let's take a lovers vow
And seal it with a kiss
[Chorus]
Don't ever go
Don't ever go
I love you so
The look of love
Let this be just the start of
So many nights like this
Let's take a lover's vow
And baby we'll seal it with a kiss
[Chorus]
In Bobby Womack's song "The Look of Love," the singer is expressing his deep love and adoration for his partner. He notices the look of love in his partner's eyes, which he can see even when they smile. He believes that this expression of love communicates more than just words can convey. This look of love takes his breath away and makes him eager to hold his partner in his arms. He hopes that this is just the beginning of a beautiful romance, and he wants to make a lovers' vow and seal it with a kiss.
"The Look of Love" is a song that speaks to the power of nonverbal communication in expressing love. The lyrics convey the idea that actions and expressions often convey more meaning than words alone. The use of the phrase "the look of love" is a potent image that captures the intensity and depth of the singer's emotion. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the central idea that the singer has waited a long time for this moment and is eager to make a commitment to his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
The look of love
The expression on your face that shows your love and affection towards me.
Is in your eyes
I can see the love you have for me in your eyes.
A look your smile can't disguise
Even though you're trying to hide it, I can still see the love in your expression.
The look of love
The expression on your face that shows your love and affection towards me.
Is saying so much more than
Your expression is conveying a lot of emotions beyond what you say in words.
Just words could every say
Your expression is more powerful than any verbal expression of love.
And what my heart has heard
Your expression conveys so much that it's like music to my heart.
Well it takes my breath away
Your expression is so beautiful that it makes me feel overwhelmed and breathless.
I can hardly wait to hold you
I'm so eager to embrace and hold you close.
Feel my arms around you
I want to comfort you and make you feel loved by holding you in my arms.
How long I have waited
I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Waited just to love you
I have been waiting for the chance to show you my love.
Now that I have found you
Now that I have found you, I can't wait to make you mine.
You've got the look of love
Your expression is filled with love and passion.
It's on your face
Your expression is visible on your face.
A look that time can't erase
Your expression is so strong and powerful that it will never fade away.
Baby be mine, tonight
I want you to be mine tonight.
Let this be just the start of
This moment should be the beginning of something great.
So many nights like this
We should have many more nights like this filled with love and passion.
Let's take a lovers vow
Let's make a commitment to love and support each other.
And seal it with a kiss
Let's show our love for each other with a kiss.
Don't ever go
I don't want you to ever leave me.
I love you so
I love you very much.
The look of love
Your expression of love and affection.
Let this be just the start of
This moment should be the beginning of something great.
So many nights like this
We should have many more nights like this filled with love and passion.
Let's take a lover's vow
Let's make a commitment to love and support each other.
And baby we'll seal it with a kiss
And we'll show our love for each other with a kiss.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Espinola Marshall
One of my favorites! I like his version! RIP.
summersbr1
Purchased this album in 1975 and played the heck out of it. Sounds just as good today
Valter Santiago
This song is powerfull
TooDarnSoulful
Wonderful version :)
WHAT UP?
awesome track from bobby womacks 1973 classic soul album "Facts of Life". My pops use to play the hell out this album. Remember hearing this all the time when i was a kid.
Jan Hughes
Fantastic arrangement. ..
Wilbert McGinnis
One of Bobby's best he put his own flavor to it and made it his own Rest in soul paradise.
kaglerl1
COVERED BY MANY. This rendition will be DUPLICATED BY NONE! The "Great" Robert Dwayne Womack ya'll!
stela menezes
Amazing,amazing, song The Look Of Love ....Boby Womack
WHAT UP?
pure singing.