Early years and formation of the Miracles
Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and was nicknamed "Smokey" as a child, because of his love of westerns. The name originally came when an uncle (who would take a young Robinson to see westerns) gave him the name "Smokey Joe", Robinson began being called "Smokey" whilst in his teens. In 1955, Robinson founded a group he called "The Five Chimes" with his best friend Ronnie White, and Northern High School classmates Pete Moore, Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. By 1957, the group was called "The Matadors" and included cousins Bobby Rogers and Claudette Rogers in place of Dawson and Grice. With Robinson as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr., who co-wrote for them the single "Got a Job," an answer song to The Silhouettes' hit single "Get A Job." The group renamed itself The Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Robinson suggested to Berry Gordy that he start a label of his own.
In 1959, Gordy founded Tamla Records, which he soon reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles were among the label's first signees. Gordy and Robinson had a synergistic relationship, with Robinson providing a foundation for Motown's hit-making success and Gordy acting as a mentor for the budding singer and songwriter. By 1961, Gordy had appointed Robinson vice-president of Motown Records, a title Robinson held for as long as Gordy remained with the company.
Motown and The Miracles
The 1960 single "Shop Around" was Motown's first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart, and the first big hit for The Miracles. They scored many more hits over the years, including "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (1963), "Ooo Baby Baby (1965), "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965), "Going to a Go-Go" (1965), "More Love" (1967), and "I Second That Emotion" (1967).
Besides penning hits for his own group, Robinson also wrote and produced hits and album tracks for other Motown artists. Mary Wells had a big hit with the Robinson-penned "My Guy" (1964), and Robinson served as The Temptations primary songwriter and producer from 1963 to 1966, penning hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Since I Lost My Baby," and "Get Ready." Among Robinson's numerous other Motown compositions are "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops, "Don't Mess With Bill" by The Marvelettes, "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone" by Marvin Gaye, "My Guy" by Mary Wells and "First I Look at the Purse" by The Contours.
Fellow singer/songwriter Bob Dylan described Robinson as "America's greatest living poet." Robinson's hit ballads also earned him the title "America's poet laureate of love." Over the course of his almost 50-year career in music, Robinson has over 4,000 songs to his credit.
After marrying Claudette Rogers, Robinson started a family, and named both of his children after Motown: his son was named Berry after the company's founder, and his daughter was named Tamla after the Motown imprint for which Robinson and The Miracles recorded.
The Miracles remained a premier Motown act through most of the 1960s. Albums were released as "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" after 1965. By 1969, the group's fortunes began to falter, and Robinson decided to quit The Miracles so that he could remain at home with his family and concentrate on his duties as vice president. The group stopped recording and Robinson prepared to leave the group. Unexpectedly, however, their 1966 recording of "The Tears of a Clown" was released as a single in 1970, and became a #1 hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Due to the surprise success of "Tears of a Clown," Robinson was convinced to remain with The Miracles for a few more years. In 1972, he followed through on his original plans to leave the group, and The Miracles began a six-month farewell tour. On July 16, 1972, Smokey and Claudette Robinson gave their final performances as Miracles at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, DC, and Robinson introduced the group's new lead singer, Billy Griffin. The Miracles went on for a while, even having another #1 hit, "Love Machine," in 1976.
Successful solo career
Smokey Robinson began a low-key solo career while concentrating on his duties as vice-president of Motown, releasing his first solo LP, Smokey, in 1973. His first hit single, "Sweet Harmony" (1973), was dedicated to The Miracles.
In 1975, Robinson's solo career went into full-drive after the success of the #1 R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha." Robinson's 1976 single "Quiet Storm" and its accompanying album typified a smooth, slow style of R&B that is today called "quiet storm." Other Robinson solo hits include "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (a UK #1 hit) (1981), "Tell Me Tomorrow" (1982), and "Ebony Eyes," a duet with labelmate Rick James (1983). He also recorded the soundtrack to the film Big Time (1977).
Spokesmanship
Smokey Robinson is the spokesman of the Great American Smokeout, which takes place annually one week before Thanksgiving. It's a day when smokers quit smoking for at least a day. In 2006, It takes place on November 16th.
Later years
During the mid-1980s, Robinson fell victim to cocaine addiction. His recording slowed, and his marriage to Claudette faltered; the two were divorced in 1986. Robinson eventually overcame the addiction and revitalized his career, scoring hits in 1987 with "Just To See Her" and "One Heartbeat." Also in 1987, British band ABC scored a US and UK hit with their tribute to Robinson, entitled "When Smokey Sings". In 1988, Robinson published his autobiography, Smokey, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Upon Motown's sale to MCA in 1988, Robinson resigned from his position as vice-president. After one last album for Motown, Love, Smokey (1990), Robinson departed the company. He released one record for SBK Records, Double Good Everything (1991), the same year he won a Soul Train Music Award for Career Achievement. Eight years later, he returned to Motown, which by then was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and released Intimate (1999).
Since then, Robinson has continued to periodically perform and tour. In 2003, Robinson served as a guest judge for American Idol during "Billy Joel Week." He issued a gospel LP, Food for the Spirit in 2004. A new album of pop standards from the early 20th century, Timeless Love, was released in June 2006. It was originally recorded with a jazz combo, but strings were added after the fact, giving the album more of a lush sound but removing much of the jazz feeling of the disc.
In 2004, Robinson's company, SFGL Foods, launched a special brand of gumbo called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul is in the Bowl' Gumbo." [1].
In May 2006, at its 138th Commencement Convocation, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.
Smokey Robinson is scheduled to appear on Duets on Fox along with Randy Travis, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Aaron Neville, Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Brian McKnight, Macy Gray, Richard Marx, and Cyndi Lauper. David Foster will be a judge.
On 27th October 2006 Smokey appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
Asleep On My Love
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How mistaken can you be
To make you mine is what I intend, yeah
While wide awake, it's seems that you've been a...
Asleep on my love
Asleep on my life
Asleep on my love
Maybe it's your intent to deceive
Trying to hide what you know
'Cause I find it so hard to believe
Oh, but anyone could be so naïve, not to be...
Asleep on my love
Asleep on my life
Asleep on my love, yeah
Asleep on my life
(Asleep on my love)
And I'd do everything to make you aware
(Asleep on my life)
That another feel for you is really there
Asleep on my love
Asleep on my life
You know I come whenever you call
Oh, and I'm always ready to give my all in all
Yet when crisis is over
Your crisis is over seems that you fall
Asleep on my love
Asleep on my life, yeah
Asleep on my love, yeah
Asleep on my life
Oh, baby
Oh, baby, oh, baby
Asleep on my love, yeah
Asleep on my life
Asleep on my love
Asleep on my life
Asleep on my love
Asleep on my life
Asleep on my love, yeah
Asleep on my life
Asleep on my love
Asleep on my life
The lyrics to Smokey Robinson's "Asleep On My Love" are about unrequited love and the frustration and confusion that comes with it. The singer is in love with someone who thinks they only want to be friends, but the singer's true intentions are to make this person theirs. The singer feels that the object of their affection is asleep on their love, meaning that they are unaware of it or not acknowledging it. The repetition of the phrase "asleep on my love" emphasizes the singer's feelings of longing and disappointment.
The second verse suggests that the object of the singer's affection may be trying to hide their true feelings or intentions, and the singer is having a hard time believing that anyone could be so naive as to not recognize their love. The lines "And I'd do everything to make you aware / That another feel for you is really there" show that the singer wants to do whatever it takes to make this person see their true feelings.
The bridge highlights the singer's frustration with the situation, as they are always ready to be there for this person but feel that they are only needed in times of crisis. The repetition of "asleep on my life" at the end of the song emphasizes that this person is missing out on a significant part of the singer's life by not acknowledging their love.
Overall, the lyrics to "Asleep On My Love" portray the pain of unrequited love and the hope that the object of the singer's affection will awaken to their true feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
You think I want you for just my friend
You misunderstand my interest in you and assume that I only want a platonic relationship.
How mistaken can you be
You are very wrong in your assumption about my feelings towards you.
To make you mine is what I intend, yeah
My intention is to have a romantic relationship with you.
While wide awake, it's seems that you've been a...Asleep on my love
You have been oblivious to my love and affection for you, even though it has been evident while you were awake.
Maybe it's your intent to deceive
It is possible that you are intentionally hiding your own feelings.
Trying to hide what you know
You are attempting to conceal your true emotions.
'Cause I find it so hard to believe
I am finding it difficult to believe that you are oblivious to my love.
Oh, but anyone could be so naïve, not to be...Asleep on my love
It is surprising that you are not aware of my love and affection for you.
(Asleep on my love)And I'd do everything to make you aware(Asleep on my life)That another feel for you is really there
I will make every effort to make you conscious of my love and convince you of my true feelings towards you.
You know I come whenever you call
You are aware that I am always available and ready to be there for you whenever you need me.
Oh, and I'm always ready to give my all in all
I am always willing to go above and beyond to support you and make you happy.
Yet when crisis is over
When the situation has resolved, and you no longer need my support,
Your crisis is over seems that you fall
You seem to forget about me and our relationship once your problems are resolved.
Asleep on my love
You are not conscious of my love for you.
Asleep on my life, yeah
You are not aware of the impact my love has on my life.
Oh, baby
An affectionate expression towards the subject.
Asleep on my love, yeah
You are unconscious of the depth of feeling I have for you.
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.