The 1972 Atlantic release Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway is a million-selli… Read Full Bio ↴The 1972 Atlantic release Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway is a million-selling duet album by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway produced by Joel Dorn and Arif Mardin.

Flack and Hathaway were both solo artists on the Atlantic roster who'd enjoyed critical acclaim, but Flack had enjoyed limited commercial success. Both had attended Howard University, although Flack's attendance there pre-dated Hathaway's. The singers' careers had overlapped, however: Flack had included Hathaway compositions on her First Take and Chapter Two albums, with the latter also featuring Hathaway as pianist, arranger and background vocalist. It was Jerry Wexler who suggested that a joint venture might consolidate Flack and Hathaway's popularity.

The first single from Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was a version of "You've Got a Friend" recorded before the single release of the James Taylor version: both tracks debuted on the Hot 100 dated May 29, 1971 — marking Flack's first chart appearance — and, although Taylor's version reached #1, the Flack/Hathaway duet ascended as high as #29 and was a top ten R&B hit at #8. (The B-side, "Gone Away," was a Chapter Two track written by Hathaway.)

The second single from the duets album was a remake of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" that became a #30 R&B hit, peaking on the Hot 100 at #71.

It was the album's third single "Where Is the Love" — released in April 1972, almost a year after the album itself — that would be the smash hit, largely due to Flack having had her solo career breakthrough with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".

Although Hathaway had enjoyed more solo success than had Flack prior to their teaming up, his subsequent solo career was desultory, with no high-profile success prior to his re-teaming with Flack for "The Closer I Get to You" in 1978. Hathaway had recorded two songs for a second duet album with Flack — that became the Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway album — at the time of his death on January 13, 1979.

Be Real Black for Me
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway Lyrics

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Our time, short and precious
Your lips, warm and luscious
You don't have to wear false charms
'Cause when I wrap you in my hungry arms

Be real black for me
Be real black for me

Your hair, soft and crinkly
Your body, strong and stately
You don't have to search and roam
'Cause I got your love at home

Be real black for me
Be real black for me

In my head I'm only half together
If I lose you, I'll be ruined forever
Darling, take my hand and hold me
Hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

You know how much I need you
To have you, really feel you
You don't have to change a thing
No one knows the love you bring

Be real black for me
Be real black for me
Be real black for me
Be real black for me

I want you to do that
Be real black for me
Be real black for me
Be real black for me
Be real black for me

Lord, have mercy

Be real black for me
Be real black for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway's song "Be Real Black for Me" are a celebration of Blackness and a call for authenticity in a relationship. The song's opening lines acknowledge the brevity of life and the importance of cherishing those precious moments. The second line, "Your lips, warm and luscious," sets the tone for the sensual nature of the song.

The chorus, "Be real black for me," is a plea for the partner to be true to themselves and embrace their Blackness. The lyrics highlight the beauty and strength of the partner's physical attributes such as their hair and body. The line, "No one knows the love you bring," highlights the unique qualities that the partner brings to the relationship because of their Blackness.

Overall, "Be Real Black for Me" is a song that celebrates the beauty of Blackness and encourages its partner to embrace their true selves. It reinforces the idea that love should be rooted in authenticity and acceptance of one's partner's whole self.

Line by Line Meaning

Our time, short and precious
The limited amount of time we have together is extremely valuable.

Your lips, warm and luscious
Your mouth is inviting and pleasurable.

You don't have to wear false charms
You don't need to pretend or put on a facade to impress me.

'Cause when I wrap you in my hungry arms
When I hold you, I crave you deeply.

Be real black for me
Just be yourself and embrace your blackness, for me.

Your hair, soft and crinkly
Your hair is curly and gentle.

Your body, strong and stately
Your physique is robust and dignified.

You don't have to search and roam
You don't have to look elsewhere for love or validation.

'Cause I got your love at home
I have all the love you need right here with me.

In my head I'm only half together
I'm incomplete and troubled without you.

If I lose you, I'll be ruined forever
If I don't have you, I'll be utterly destroyed.