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.
Beiing With You
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't care what they say.
I don't care what they think if you're leaving,
I'm gonna beg you to stay.
I don't care if they start to avoid me,
I don't care what they do.
I don't care about anything else but being with you, being with you.
Honey don't go, don't leave this scene,
Be out of the picture, and off of the screen.
Don't let them say we told you so,
They tell me you'll love me and then let me go.
I heard the warning voice from friends and my relations,
They tell me all about your heartbreak reputation.
I don't care what they think about me, and
I don't care what they say.
I don't care what they think if you're leaving,
I'm gonna beg you to stay.
I don't care if they start to avoid me,
I don't care what they do.
I don't care about anything else but being with you, being with you.
People can change, they always do,
Haven't they noticed the changes in you?
Or can it be that like love I am blind,
Do I want it so much 'til it's all in my mind?
One thing I know for sure is really, really real,
I never felt before the way you make me feel.
I don't care what they think about me, and
I don't care what they say.
I don't care what they think if you're leaving,
I'm gonna beg you to stay.
I don't care if they start to avoid me;
I don't care what they do.
I don't care about anything else but being with you, being with you.
The lyrics to "Being with You" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles are about a love that is so strong that the singer doesn't care what anybody else thinks. The singer is willing to ignore the warnings of friends and family about the subject of their love, even if it means being avoided by others. The singer only cares about being with their love interest and is adamant about begging them to stay if they think about leaving. The singer expresses how much they are willing to fight for their love throughout the song.
The chorus of the song repeats the central theme of the song: the singer only cares about being with the person they love, and nothing else matters. It is suggested in the lyrics that the love in question has a troubled past or a negative reputation, yet despite this, the singer is still willing to pursue the relationship.
Overall, "Being with You" is a declaration of devotion and a willingness to stand by someone no matter what others may think or say.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't care what they think about me, and
I am not affected by others' opinions and judgments towards me.
I don't care what they say.
I am not bothered by what others say about me.
I don't care what they think if you're leaving,
I am not influenced by others' opinions about whether you should leave me or not.
I'm gonna beg you to stay.
I will plead with you to stay with me.
I don't care if they start to avoid me,
I am not concerned if others start avoiding me.
I don't care what they do.
I am not troubled by the actions of others.
I don't care about anything else but being with you, being with you.
I am completely focused on wanting to be with you and nothing else matters to me.
Honey don't go, don't leave this scene,
Please don't leave me, don't abandon us.
Be out of the picture, and off of the screen.
Disappear from sight, be gone from everyone's view.
Don't let them say we told you so,
Don't give others the chance to say 'I told you so' if things don't work out.
They tell me you'll love me and then let me go.
Others have warned me that you have a history of breaking hearts.
I heard the warning voice from friends and my relations,
My friends and family have warned me about you.
They tell me all about your heartbreak reputation.
They have informed me of your reputation for breaking hearts.
People can change, they always do,
People are capable of change and it is a common occurrence.
Haven't they noticed the changes in you?
Hasn't anyone else noticed the changes in you?
Or can it be that like love I am blind,
Perhaps I am blinded by love and cannot see the truth.
Do I want it so much 'til it's all in my mind?
Do I desire this so much that it is clouding my judgment?
One thing I know for sure is really, really real,
The one thing I am positive about is the very real feeling I have for you.
I never felt before the way you make me feel.
My feelings for you are unique and unlike any I have ever experienced before.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
fainhk
I don't care what they think about me
And I don't care what they say
I don't care what they think,
If you're leaving
I'm gonna beg you to stay
I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do
I don't care about anything else
But being with you,
Being with you
Honey don't go,
Don't leave this scene
Be out of the picture and off of the screen
Don't let them say: "We told you so"
They tell me you'll love me
And then let me go
I've heard the warning voice
From friends and my relations
They tell me all about your heartbreak
Reputation
I don't care what they think about me
And I don't care what they say, no
I don't care what they think,
If you're leaving
I'm gonna beg you to stay
I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do
I don't care about anything else
But being with you,
Being with you
People can change,
They always do
Haven't they noticed
The changes in you?
Or can it be,
That like love I am blind?
Do I want it so much
'Til it's all in my mind?
One thing I know for sure
Is really really real
I never felt before
The way you make me feel
I don't care what they think about me
And I don't care what they say
I don't care what they think,
If you're leaving
I'm gonna beg you to stay
I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do
I don't care about anything else
But being with you,
Being with you
Being with you
Being with you
I don't care about anything else
But being with you,
Being with you
I wanna be with you
Emmanuelle Lannes
I don't care what they think about me, and
I don't care what they say
I don't care what they think if you're leaving
I'm gonna beg you to stay
I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do
I don't care about anything else but being with you, being with you
Honey don't go, don't leave this scene
Be out of the picture, and off of the screen
Don't let them say we told you so
They tell me you'll love me and then let me go
I heard the warning voice from friends and my relations
They tell me all about your heartbreak reputation
I don't care what they think about me, and
I don't care what they say
I don't care what they think if you're leaving
I'm gonna beg you to stay
I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do
I don't care about anything else but being with you, being with you
People can change, they always do
Haven't they noticed the changes in you?
Or can it be that like love I am blind
Do I want it so much 'til it's all in my mind?
One thing I know for sure is really, really real
I never felt before the way you make me feel
I don't care what they think about me, and
I don't care what they say
I don't care what they think if you're leaving
I'm gonna beg you to stay
I don't care if they start to avoid me
I don't care what they do
I don't care about anything else but being with you, being with you
Cooking with Sammi - Easy Jamaican Recipes
I swear he's got honey in his voice ....one of the sweetest voices of all times.
Irish O connell
Yes smokie has one magnificent voice indeed
Linda Bergman
Ummm yes he does😍🌹
Peter Gullage
One of the best voices you'll ever hear awesome
Anthony Oflaherty
Golden blossom baby
Anita Kos
Smooth and so beautiful ❤️🌈☀️☀️
Almigh Zodi
The casual walk to smell the flower, the pool shot and how he puts on his shades, this guy is pure swag!
Linda Bergman
True talent awesome voice🥰
Linda Bergman
@William Smokey absolutely love your voice n songs. Favorite is Crusin 😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰😍😍
William Smokey
@Linda Bergman did you send me an email yet ?