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 Roots In Me
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let me play among the stars
Let me see, oh I wanna see what spring is like
On Jupiter, on Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words darkling, I love ya, oh
Fill, fill my heart with song
Forever more, baby
You, all that I long for, oh
All that I long for, worship and adore
Can't ya see that I love ya?
I'm simply tryna tell ya
That I care for you darling, oh
Fly, fly fly fly fly fly fly fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
The lyrics to Bobby Womack's song "Fly Me To The Moon" are enchanting and filled with passion. The artist requests to be flown to the moon where he can play among the stars, and specifically asks to see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars. He wants to experience the wonders of the universe with his loved one, which is why he requests that they hold hands and fill his heart with their song. The artist's love for his partner is clearly evident, as he confesses that they are all that he longs for and worships and adores. He wants to enjoy their company forevermore.
The song speaks about the desire to escape from the mundane reality to a world where one can be in love and free from the worries of the world. The song also depicts the power of love, and how it can transport someone to another world, even if only symbolically. In essence, "Fly Me To The Moon" is a love song that showcases the power of love and how it can bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly, fly me to the moon
Take me on a journey to outer space
And let me play among the stars
Allow me to have a unique experience among celestial bodies
Let me see, oh I wanna see what spring is like
Permit me to witness the extraordinary nature of another planet's weather
On Jupiter, on Jupiter and Mars
More specifically, I want to explore the weather patterns of Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
Simply put, I want you to be with me on this adventure
In other words darkling, I love ya, oh
Also, I want to express my love for you in a unique way
Fill, fill my heart with song
Emotionally move me with your music
I wanna sing to you darling
I want to express my emotions back to you in the form of song
Forever more, baby
Our love will last for a long time
You, all that I long for, oh
You are everything I desire and yearn for
All that I long for, worship and adore
You are my everything, and I love and worship you because of that
Can't ya see that I love ya?
Isn't it clear that I am fully in love with you?
I'm simply tryna tell ya
I am only attempting to express my true feelings
That I care for you darling, oh
I want to emphasize how much I truly care for you
Fly, fly fly fly fly fly fly fly me to the moon
Again, please take me on this unforgettable journey to outer space
And let me play among the stars
Give me the opportunity to create unforgettable memories among the stars
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bart Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RG S
Pure romance! .. something u don't hear in today's music. Romantic music has long gone.
RIP Mr Womack!... a genius!
NoLoyalty I.
I love this song...
R.I.H Bobby Womack
Francis Ellis
As one of his albums suggest this man is truly a gifted poet ... Love you Bobby !
William Watt
A real poet l love all music but it is something that Bobby Womack do a song is like he is talking to you seen him a couple of times and wow
Gary Sullivan
O school
Gary Sullivan
Yes cool snh
Janie Hill
You have returned to The Father and your music will sustain me.
Dean Mcglothlin
I love u Bobby womack gone but never forgotten I love this one roots in me yessss .
Traci Smith
I love this song
blacklane1960
Listen to these wise words my friends