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 You Go
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't break my heart, don't do it babe
Don't break my heart, please don't do it babe
Don't you break my heart
'Cause I sacrifice to make you happy
Get nothin' for myself
Now you wanna leave me
For the love of someone else
I believe, baby, you'd better keep on keepin' on
Girl, I try to do my best
Girl, I try to do my best, don't do it babe
Don't break my heart, oh don't do it baby
Don't break my heart
My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much
And lettin' you know
'Cause now you've got me where you want me
And you're gonna let me go
My heart was made glad when you strolled, you see
Heartaches and misery you've been causin' me
Girl, I try to do my best
Girl, I try to do my best
Don't you do it, don't break my heart
Go down to the river and there I'll be
I'm gonna jump in, baby, if you don't see by me
Open up your eyes; can't you see I love you?
Open up your heart; can't you see I need you?
I'm no good without you, can't go on without you
Life's no good without you, what'm I gonna do without you?
Baby don't do it, don't you break my heart
Don't you do it, baby, don't you break my heart
What'm I gonna do without you?
Got to go on, baby
Baby don't you do it
The song "Baby Don't You Go" by Smokey Robinson is a pleading love song from the perspective of a man who is desperately trying to convince his partner not to leave him. The song addresses the fear of losing someone that he loves deeply and the sacrifice he has made to keep his partner happy. He pleads, "Baby don't you do it, don't do it babe, Don't break my heart, don't do it babe" repeatedly throughout the song to emphasize the fear he has of losing his partner. The repetition of the phrase gives the song a profound sense of urgency, desperation and deep love.
The lyrics indicate that the singer has sacrificed everything to please his partner, but his partner wants to leave him for someone else. Smokey Robinson uses his words to create a picture of his partner's disregard for his gifts, her love for another man, and the deep pain that he feels as a result of her departure. The song's narrative momentum is driven by the powerful emotional effect that the singer's situation has on his audience, relying on the listener's relationship to the universal experience of love and loss.
Overall, "Baby Don't You Go" is a poignant and emotional appeal for love and understanding from someone who is desperately trying to hold on to the person they love. Smokey Robinson creates an intimate and vulnerable atmosphere with his lyrics, making it a powerful addition to the Motown catalog.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby don't you do it, don't do it babe
Please don't leave me, I beg of you.
Don't break my heart, don't do it babe
Don't hurt me by leaving me.
Don't break my heart, please don't do it babe
I can't handle another heartbreak.
Don't you break my heart
I don't think I can survive another heartbreak.
'Cause I sacrifice to make you happy
I've given up a lot to keep you happy.
Get nothin' for myself
I don't do things for myself anymore.
Now you wanna leave me
You're thinking of leaving me.
For the love of someone else
You've found someone else you love more than me.
My pride is all gone, whether right or wrong
I've lost all my sense of pride, regardless of whether I'm right or wrong.
I believe, baby, you'd better keep on keepin' on
I hope you'll stay with me, but I know I can't force you.
Girl, I try to do my best
I've done everything I could to keep you happy.
My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much
My only mistake was loving you too much.
And lettin' you know
I regret ever telling you how I feel about you.
'Cause now you've got me where you want me
You have the power to hurt me now that I've let you know how I feel.
And you're gonna let me go
You've decided to leave me.
My heart was made glad when you strolled, you see
I was happiest when you were with me.
Heartaches and misery you've been causin' me
You've been causing me a lot of pain and sadness.
Go down to the river and there I'll be
I'll be waiting for you down by the river.
I'm gonna jump in, baby, if you don't see by me
I can't imagine life without you and I might do something reckless if you leave me.
Open up your eyes; can't you see I love you?
Please realize how much I love you.
Open up your heart; can't you see I need you?
I need you more than anything in the world.
I'm no good without you, can't go on without you
I don't think I can live without you.
Life's no good without you, what'm I gonna do without you?
I can't bear the thought of living without you.
Got to go on, baby
I know I have to continue with my life, even if you leave me.
Baby don't you do it, don't you break my heart
Please don't break my heart by leaving me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
willcat
MORE SONGS in the GRAMMY HALL OF FAME than ANY OTHER MOTOWN GROUP !!!
Deborah Council
One of my favorites and you can really hear Claudette's wonderful voice
Official Breez Music
Definitely one of the best that does not get enough play!
rollerchickable
I LOVE THIS SONG THANK YOU FOR SHARING, THIS IS MY JAM THIS A TUNE FOR MY SOUL. RIP BOBBY ROGERS, I LOVE SMOKEY ROBINISON AND THE MIRACLES. THIS SONG BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES I LOVE IT. THIS IS A TRUE SONG.
Raymond Galindo
How could anyone give this jam a thumbs down
You don't know music
Bad Ass jam !
DezWW777
Raymond Galindo they are disgruntled, hating, jilted people. Lol. Smokey is amazing.
DezWW777
I can't remember a time when I didn't love Smokey's voice. Wonder if I came out of my mom's womb loving him. This song...!
Ruth Blanding
like the sound of Smokey's voice in this song. different from his ballads; a little huskier, very sexy.
Aquil Shamsid-Deen
> THIS SONG IS A DAMN MASTERPIECE > PRICELESS <
Richard Lepe
Hell yeah ...... Damnit takes me back.....