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.
Don
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the empty pockets made for money
I was made for you and you for me, babe
Made to do it comes so naturally
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Why not together, love?
We fit just like a glove
Our fire on top of fire
We'll take each other higher
And higher, higher, higher, yeah
Baby, don't cha love it (love it, don't, don't cha love it)
(Don't cha love it, love it, don't, don't cha love it)
Oh, don't cha love it (love it, don't, don't cha love it)
(Don't cha love it, don't cha love it, don't cha, ah)
I'm the beans and rice and you're the gravy
Add a little spice and make it tasty, oh
I'm the loving girl, and you're my lady
Don't you love the way we do it, baby, ooh
Why not together, love?
We fit just like a glove
Can you dig it, baby?
Our fire on top of fire
We'll take each other higher
And higher, higher, higher, yeah
Baby, don't cha love it (love it, don't, don't cha love it)
(Don't cha love it, love it, don't, don't cha love it)
Oh, don't cha love it (love it, don't, don't cha love it)
(Don't cha love it, don't cha love it, don't cha, baby)
Why not together, love?
We fit just like a glove
Can you dig it, baby? (can you dig it? )
Our fire on top of fire
We'll take each other higher
And higher, higher, higher, yeah
Baby baby don't cha love it
(Don't cha love it) Baby, baby don't cha love it (don't cha love it, don't cha love it)
Love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha, don't cha, don't cha, baby
Love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha, don't cha, don't cha, baby
Love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
Don't cha love it, love it, don't don't cha love it
In Smokey Robinson's song "Don," he compares his relationship to various things that are made for each other. He compares himself to honeycomb, which is made for honey, and compares empty pockets to money. These comparisons suggest that Smokey and his lover are meant to be together just as those things are made for each other. He also compares himself to beans and rice, and his lover to the gravy that adds a little spice and makes it tasty. Overall, the song is about how perfectly matched Smokey and his lover are and how they bring out the best in each other.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "don't cha love it" and encourages his lover to love their relationship. The repetition of this phrase suggests that he is trying to convince his partner that they should be together because they are so well-suited for one another. The song also includes the line "our fire on top of fire, we'll take each other higher" which suggests that being together makes them better and stronger individually.
Overall, "Don" is a joyful and upbeat love song that celebrates the harmony and compatibility between Smokey Robinson and his lover.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm like the honeycomb is made for honey
I was made for you, just like a honeycomb is made for honey.
Like the empty pockets made for money
Just as empty pockets are made to be filled with money, we were meant to be together.
I was made for you and you for me, babe
Our true purpose is to be together, it's the reason we were created.
Made to do it comes so naturally
Being together comes naturally to us, it feels like it’s what we were made to do.
Why not together, love?
We should be together, there's no reason why we shouldn't be.
We fit just like a glove
We fit so perfectly together, like a glove.
Can you dig it, baby?
Do you feel what I'm saying? Can you understand how perfect we are for each other?
Our fire on top of fire
Our passion for each other is so intense, it's like we have two fires burning at once.
We'll take each other higher
Being together will make both of us better, we'll raise each other up to new heights.
And higher, higher, higher, yeah
We'll keep growing and improving, reaching new levels of greatness together.
Baby, don't cha love it
Aren't you thrilled with our love? Don't you adore the way we fit together?
I'm the beans and rice and you're the gravy
We each bring something different to the relationship, and when we're together, it's delicious and satisfying like a perfect meal.
Add a little spice and make it tasty, oh
We enhance each other and make each other's lives more vibrant and exciting.
I'm the loving girl, and you're my lady
We both have unique roles to play in the relationship, and they fit together perfectly like puzzle pieces.
Don't you love the way we do it, baby, ooh
Aren't you thrilled with how well we mesh? Don't you love the amazing connection we share?
Can you dig it, baby? (can you dig it? )
Do you really understand how wonderful we are for each other? Can you appreciate our deep connection like I do?
Why not together, love?
I can't see any reason why we shouldn't be together forever. Can you?
Don't cha, don't cha, don't cha, baby
Aren't you thrilled and satisfied with our love? Don't you feel it's everything you've been looking for?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTINE PERREN, FREDDIE PERREN, CHRISTINE YARIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind