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.
Baby Don't Cry
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing so sad as a tear in vain
Ooh ooh
Let him walk on out if he wants to
He really doesn't deserve you
His loss is our gain so don't be blue
Is what he has to be yeah
So baby straighten up come on and fly right
It's no catastrophe yeah
I said now baby baby don't cry
Baby baby here's why
Love is here standin' by
Love is here standin' by
You trusted him and gave him your love
A love he proved unworthy of
Too bad it was him that you trusted
Too bad but you can't be disgusted
It's time that you got readjusted
And realized that tear filled eyes
Can never stop him now no no no
That man is on his way
I think he's gone to stay
You better drop him now yeah
Oowee now baby baby don't cry no no
Baby baby here's why
Because love is here standin' by
I say Love is here standin' by
All you've gotta do is dry your eyes long enough to see
That you have got the love you thought you had in him here in me
Love is hope girl love is strength
Here's someone standin' right beside ya
Who would go to any length to give you love true and deep
And hope you realize at last you found a love that you can keep
And only losers weep
So baby baby don't cry Oh baby don't you cry now
Baby baby don't cry Oh baby let me tell you why now
Baby baby here's why don't you know that
Love is here standin' by
I say love is here standin' by
Your tears are shed in vain I said
So baby baby don't cry c'mon dry your eyes
Baby baby don't cry don't you realize
Baby baby here's why
In Smokey Robinson's song Baby Don't Cry, the lyrics speak of heartbreak and the aftermath of a failed relationship. The first two lines of the song set up the tone of the song, stating "Nothing so blue as a heart in pain, Nothing so sad as a tear in vain." Robinson is emphasizing that the pain of a broken heart can overpower any other emotion and that shedding tears does nothing to change the outcome of the failed relationship.
The chorus encourages the listener to move on, stating "Let him walk on out if he wants to, He really doesn't deserve you, His loss is our gain so don't be blue." Robinson is emphasizing that the person who caused the heartbreak did not deserve the listener's love and that there is no use in holding onto something that will only bring pain. The line "Love is here standin' by" provides hope for the listener, stating that there is someone else who is willing to stand by and offer their love and support.
The second verse speaks to the listener who has been hurt, stating "You trusted him and gave him your love, A love he proved unworthy of." Robinson is emphasizing that the listener's love was not reciprocated and that it is time to move on from that relationship. The line "It's time that you got readjusted" reinforces the idea that the listener needs to move on and find the love they deserve. The chorus repeats, encouraging the listener to focus on the love that is available to them.
Overall, Smokey Robinson's Baby Don't Cry is a song about heartache and pain, but also about the hope and possibility of finding love again. The lyrics offer the listener encouragement to move on from a failed relationship and to focus on the people in their life who will stand by them and offer them love and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing so blue as a heart in pain
Heartache is the most excruciating feeling
Nothing so sad as a tear in vain
Crying for someone who is unworthy of your love is extremely upsetting
Let him walk on out if he wants to
If he wants to leave, let him go
He really doesn't deserve you
He is not worth your time and love
His loss is our gain so don't be blue
His absence benefits us, so don't feel down about him leaving
'cause stone blind and out of his mind
Is what he has to be yeah
He is completely clueless and foolish
So baby straighten up come on and fly right
It's no catastrophe yeah
Get over him and move on, it's not the end of the world
I said now baby baby don't cry
Baby baby here's why
Love is here standin' by
Don't cry, because love is still here for you
You trusted him and gave him your love
A love he proved unworthy of
You placed trust and love in him, but he didn't deserve it
Too bad it was him that you trusted
Too bad but you can't be disgusted
It's time that you got readjusted
And realized that tear filled eyes
Can never stop him now no no no
It's unfortunate that you trusted him, but you can't blame yourself. It's time to move on and realize that crying won't bring him back
That man is on his way
I think he's gone to stay
You better drop him now yeah
He's gone for good, so it's best to let him go
All you've gotta do is dry your eyes long enough to see
That you have got the love you thought you had in him here in me
Love is hope girl love is strength
Here's someone standin' right beside ya
Who would go to any length to give you love true and deep
And hope you realize at last you found a love that you can keep
And only losers weep
If you stop crying and look around, you'll see that you have love in someone else. Love is hope and strength, and here I am standing beside you. I'll always give you true love, and hope you realize you found a keeper
So baby baby don't cry Oh baby don't you cry now
Baby baby don't cry Oh baby let me tell you why now
Baby baby here's why don't you know that
Love is here standin' by
Stop crying, and let me tell you the reason why. Love is still here for you
Your tears are shed in vain I said
So baby baby don't cry c'mon dry your eyes
Baby baby don't cry don't you realize
Baby baby here's why
Don't waste your tears on him, it's pointless. So stop crying, and don't you realize that love is still here for you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mzmaryd
Lyrics
Nothing so blue as a heart in pain
Nothing so sad as a tear in vain
Let him walk on out if he wants to
He really doesn't deserve you
His loss is our gain so don't be blue
'Cause stone blind and out of his mind
Is what he has to be, yeah
So baby straighten up, come on and fly right
It's no catastrophe, yeah
And say now baby, baby don't cry
Baby, baby here's why
Love is here standing by
Love is here standing by
You trusted him and gave him your love
A love he proved unworthy of
Too bad it was him that you trusted
Too bad but you can't be disgusted
It's time that you got readjusted
And realized that tear filled eyes
Can't never stop him now, no no no
That man is on his way I think he's gone to stay
You better drop him now, yeah
Now, baby, baby don't cry, no no
Baby,…
Mzmaryd
All you've got to do
Is dry your eyes long enough to see
That you have got the love you thought
You had in him here in me
Love is hope girl, love is strength
Here's someone standing right beside you
Who would go to any length
To give you love, true and deep
And help you realize at last
You found a love that you can keep
And only losers weep
So ooh baby, don't you cry now
Oh baby, let me tell you why now
Don't you know that love is here standing by, I say
Right here standing by your tears aren't shed in vain I said so
Come on dry your eyes baby
Don't you realize baby
Read more: Smokey Robinson - Baby, Baby Don't Cry Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Mike Amato
This man was soooo blessed. To be able to write and compose these songs. Simply awesome.
Janis Kardash
The best ever!!
QueenBee924
My daily of inspiration this song has help me get over the hurt and pain my husband has caused me ❤️
Colleen Turner
Love this song they don't make music like this anymore 💔
Larry Aldama
🇺🇸😔
coco melanin
Every time I hear a song from Smokey Robinson I become mesmerized,he has a voice of an Angel,
Stormy Weather
I wish the old-timers knew how much the younger generation appreciate and love their music. Some of us know and understand good music when we hear it, this song is a gem for sure.
Dwight Hobbes
They do.
Jesse
@Dwight Hobbes Yeah, it's great!
Aunt Edna
As a old timer, I say you have good taste in music.