Alan Thicke married actress Gloria Loring, known for starring in programs such as 'Days of Our Lives', in 1970, and he had the two sons Brennan Thicke and Robin Thicke. Half-brother Carter Thicke would become another member of the clan years later after Alan Thicke divorced and remarried. Brother Robin grew up in a household filled with music, with his dad being a singer (of tracks such as "Thicke of the Night") as well as a co-composer for several TV show theme songs and a seminal actor on both the big and small screens (examples being the shows 'Growing Pains' and 'How I Met Your Mother').
The young Robin Thicke taught himself to play piano at the age of twelve. Even at the age of fourteen, he found that he could play just about anything that he heard on the radio, feeling a drive to keep going further. Before his days as a singer-songwriter performing his own material,Robin Thicke wrote songs for the soul and pop groups 3T (with 1995's "Sexual Attention" bringing Thicke alongside Damon Thomas), Brownstone (with 1997's "Around You"), and Color Me Badd (an example being 1996's "Sexual Capacity"). He also collaborated with the acclaimed production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on several songs for Jordan Knight's 1999 self-titled album. Thicke seemed to receive a great omen when Knight's album was certified Gold and gained huge fan acclaim.
In 2000, Thicke went to work on material for his debut album, which ended up being titled 'A Beautiful World'. The album focused more on blue-eyed soul than his pop-centered offerings for other artists, and he mixed in influences from eclectic funk (in the vein of the British group Jamiroquai) and and modern neo-soul music (in the vain of Canadian crooner Remy Shand). Thicke hoped that he was primed for huge things by late 2002 when the album became ready for release.
Thicke's lead single, called "When I Get You Alone", had a distinctive music video made for it. The disco and slick rnb fueled track sounded rather unlike the commercial pop ethos of the time, having a distinctive sampling of Walter Murphy's 70s dance music hit "A Fifth of Beethoven" (which itself had been inspired by Beethoven's Fifth Symphony). The video featured an unshaven Thicke, with long, grungy hair, as a courier racing through the streets of Manhattan on a bicycle. It received some rotation on MTV 2 and BET's "Rated Next", the song being spun moderately on urban radio. On the Hot 100, it reached #29 quite quickly, yet it fell out the chart just as fast. Globally, however, the song was quite popular. With his single peaking at #17 in Australia, #15 in Belgium, #15 in Italy, #8 in New Zealand, and #5 in the Netherlands, Thicke felt that he wanted another shot at the 'big time' in the U.S.
Devising the re-release of this album, which it then gaining its final title of 'A Beautiful World', Thicke added a few extra songs that he seemed confident of. Yet the album received very little corporate promotion, irritating Thicke despite the release of a second single, a Prince-like groove mixing funk with rock called "Brand New Jones". The album debuted at #152 in the Billboard 200 and didn't do much from there, selling a mere 59,000 copies. Still, his work ended up being received well by many critics and musical peers, with Trevor Nelson and Lil' Wayne (Weezy's 2005 release 'Tha Carter, Vol. 2' would even include some of Thicke's work) lauding Thicke's music, as well as many fans.
In 2004, artist Pharrell Williams asked Jimmy Iovine, CEO of Interscope, “What are you doing with Robin Thicke?” A few months later, Robin was recording a new single, titled “Wanna Love You Girl” with Pharrell in Miami, as a newly signed artist on Pharrell’s label, Star Trak Records. With the two musicians sharing the same love for genre-hopping, deliberately 'retro' music, the single immediately attracted the attention of radio and club DJs across the world after its August 2005 release. The song often given revamped names such as "Wanna Love U Girl", "Wanna Love You Girl (Feat. Pharrell)", and the like, it ended up doing very well in the U.K. in particular, hitting #5 on Trevor Nelson's BBC Radio 1 "Soul Nation" chart.
Now appealing more to the mainstream, Thicke cut off his trademark long hair in an attempt to further recreate himself. By October 2006, when his second album, titled 'The Evolution of Robin Thicke', came out in its entirely, he had built up a ton of momentum, and his work paid off. Thicke earned the #1 slot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and additional singles such as "Got 2 Be Down" and "Lost Without U" saw huge fan responses. As the months went by, his album even earned platinum certification by the RIAA.
Having 'made it' in the truest sense commercially as well as critically, Thick remarked, "My greatest desire with this album was to write songs that were completely honest and sing them with the emotion I was feeling when I wrote them, so that whoever listens to my music is brought as close to my experiences and life as possible."
With this intention, Robin created songs such as, “Lost without You” (the second single). An instant classic, this song is about Robin’s insecurities and his need to be desired and loved. With sweeping vocals over rhythmic Spanish guitar, this song takes you away and makes you sing along.
On the psychedelic, “High School Man” is where Robin infuses rock and hip-hop and poetically admits “I’m a hater” as he hates on those with more success than him realizing, ironically, he just wants what they have.
Finishing off The Evolution of Robin Thicke is the hopeful and encouraging “Thank You.” On this gospel inspired, piano ballad Robin sings, “maybe I’m the one who never gets up ‘till he falls,” making the discovery that he has to be thankful for everything that comes into his life…the tears, the joy, the failures and the successes.
Always carrying a heavy heart, Robin taught himself to play piano at the age of twelve so he could have an outlet to express himself. By the age of fourteen, he could play anything he heard on the radio. At sixteen, with no formal training, Robin began professionally writing and producing music for recording artists like Brandy and Brian McKnight. Over the years he has amassed dozens of gold and platinum records with artists including Usher, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera.
Reflective, redemptive, passionate and etched with a soulfulness that is undeniable, The Evolution of Robin Thicke is an imaginative and heart-felt album that you cannot help but be moved by, bob your head to and smile throughout.
The album was released on October 3rd, 2006 and includes songs with Lil Wayne and Faith Evans, as well as Pharrell. The song "Got 2 Be Down" featuring Faith Evans was recently leaked (June '06). There will be two to three more videos released before the album comes out. Lately, there was a Busta Rhymes remix video shot for "Wanna Love You Girl," a Lil’ Wayne feat Robin Thicke "Shooter" video, and Robin has released the video for "Lost Without You," making that song the official 2nd single of the album.
I'm Coming Home
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
San Francisco open up your door
I don't wanna cry anymore
San Francisco open up your door
I've been begging
Begging for so long
Baltimore open up your door
I've been losing my mind in Chicago
Ooh, Chicago don't be so blind
I left my heart in Jackson
Left my soul in Memphis
Left my smile in Alabama
My soul all alone
Coming home
An empty man
I need a loving hand
That all my pieces of my soul
Back in line
I'm coming home
I'm coming home baby
My daddy don't recognize what grew lies
My mama don't recognize my new state of mind
My girl don't understand why I cry
I'm picking up the pieces
That I left behind
Down here in Jackson
There's some mystery
You don't wanna remember
Down here in New Orleans
When you gotta
Gotta learn to survive
I left my heart in Jackson
Left my soul in Memphis
Left my smile in Alabama
My soul all alone
Coming home
An empty man
I need a loving hand
That all my pieces of my soul
Back in line
I'm coming home
I'm coming home baby
In this song, Robin Thicke expresses his desire to come back to San Francisco and leave behind everything that has hurt him in his life. He is tired of lying and crying, and wants to start afresh. He has begged for so long to find peace, but couldn't find it in Baltimore, Chicago or any other place he has been. He left a part of him behind in many places, such as Jackson, Memphis and Alabama, but now he is finally returning home as an empty man needing a loving hand. He wants to put all the pieces of his soul back in line and start a new life.
Thicke talks about the different places he has been to, and how each has had a different impact on him. Jackson holds some mystery that he doesn't want to remember, and in New Orleans, he had to learn to survive. He has left his heart in Jackson, his soul in Memphis, and his smile in Alabama. But now he is coming back to San Francisco, where he hopes to put all his troubles behind him and find himself again.
Overall, "I'm Coming Home" is a song about self-discovery and the desire to start over. It speaks to anyone who has gone through tough times and is looking for a fresh start in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna lie anymore
I'm tired of pretending and hiding things
San Francisco open up your door
I'm asking San Francisco to give me a chance
I don't wanna cry anymore
I'm tired of being emotional and vulnerable
San Francisco open up your door
I'm still asking San Francisco to give me a chance
I've been begging
I've been asking and pleading
Begging for so long
I've been doing this for a while
Baltimore open up your door
I'm now asking Baltimore to give me a chance
I've been losing my mind in Chicago
I've been struggling and going crazy in Chicago
Ooh, Chicago don't be so blind
I'm hoping Chicago will see me and understand
I left my heart in Jackson
I have an emotional connection to Jackson
Left my soul in Memphis
I feel like Memphis is a part of me
Left my smile in Alabama
I was happy in Alabama, but not anymore
My soul all alone
I feel empty and disconnected
Coming home
I hope returning home will fix that
An empty man
I feel hollow and incomplete
I need a loving hand
I need someone to help and support me
That all my pieces of my soul
I need to put myself back together
Back in line
I need to be in the right place in my life
I'm coming home
I hope returning home will help me find myself
I'm coming home baby
I still need someone to help me through this
My daddy don't recognize what grew lies
My father doesn't understand why I'm not the same person
My mama don't recognize my new state of mind
My mother doesn't understand how I've changed
My girl don't understand why I cry
My girlfriend doesn't know how to help me
I'm picking up the pieces
I'm trying to put myself back together
That I left behind
Things I left in the past are still affecting me
Down here in Jackson
I'm back in Jackson now
There's some mystery
There are some things I still need to figure out
You don't wanna remember
It's something you'd rather forget
Down here in New Orleans
I'm now in New Orleans
When you gotta
When you have to
Gotta learn to survive
You have to learn to survive
Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ashley Ranele
His voice is very mature here, on this song. I love it! The man's got soul! :)
Nic Lofton
I love this song. It's so soulful.
Catherine Rouquine
Amazing tune !!! Fantastic voice... ♥
ebonypocahontas
So old school! I mean real old school. This has the type of old old school vibe that we forget about.
Fictitious Brown
I’m Coming Home
Robin Thicke
Everything I want from life is inside these walls
So why am I leaving when I hear the siren's song
A power dark and strong is inside of me
But there's no use running when you're all I need
And it's so cold without your love
And it's so cold without you love
I'm coming home just to be with you
We shut out the world
Yeah that's what we do
When it's just two of us how you find me love
Take me to the life I've been dreaming of
'Cause I've been chasing after things that
Leave me alone and poor
When all the loves and riches I could ever want
Are here inside my door
I want to put you first
Where you should be
Return to you my love
Give you the best of me
'Cause it's so cold without your love
Yes it's so cold without you love
Songwriters: Robin Alan Thicke
ionna
Robin Thicke and Ray LaMontagne are the reason's why music has NO color, because even a White man can sing Soul Music and sound amazing!!!
inhisimage70
So if it's not on an album how do you buy it ?????? Really want it!
FEARLESSLEADER100
Lot of soul in dis song
moreno b
HOT SONG