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.
Happy Landing
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they saw that I was falling for you
You better beware they told me that girl ain't gonna be true
She'll have you walking with your head in the air
Have you thinking that she really, really care
Then a, then she'll let you down, she'll really let you down
She's a girl with no understanding
And when she's getting tired of you hanging around
Oh but I fell for you anyway
I didn't care what my friends have to say
'Cause I was so glad that I had found you
I build my whole world right around you
You had me hope on a lie for awhile
Have me thinking you'd be mine for awhile
Oh, then you let me down, you really let me down
'Cause you're a girl with no understanding
And when you're getting tired of me hanging around
You let me drop and said have a happy landing (happy landing)
So now you want me to take you there
Staying away for a long, long time
You won't call it a lost of loving
Now ya coming back to the scene of your crime
Gonna keep you in suspense for awhile
Keep you hanging on a fence for awhile
Then a I'll let you down, then I'll let you down
I ain't gonna have no understanding
And when I get tired of you hanging around
I'll let you drop and say you have a happy landing (happy landing)
Have a happy landing, now (have a happy landing)
I've got to put you down (have a happy landing)
Don't want ya hanging around, now (have a happy landing)
You know that you better (have a happy landing)
You know that you better (have a happy landing)
So come on and have (have a happy landing)
Don't you know that I ought to
The lyrics to Smokey Robinson's song "Happy Landing" describe a cautionary tale of falling for someone who is not trustworthy. Despite friends warning the singer of this person's character, he falls for her anyway and builds a world around her. However, she ultimately lets him down and shows no understanding of his feelings. In the end, the singer decides to put her down and let her have a "happy landing" when she comes back into his life.
Through his lyrics, Robinson captures the experience of being blinded by love and ignoring the warnings of those around you. The singer's experience and feelings of disappointment and betrayal by the person he fell for are relatable and speak to our human desire for connection, even if it's with someone who ultimately proves untrustworthy. The song's use of a jazzy, upbeat sound adds to its overall message, highlighting how love can often be both joyful and hurtful at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
You better beware, my friends all told me
My friends warned me about you
When they saw that I was falling for you
When they saw that I was starting to like you
You better beware they told me that girl ain't gonna be true
They warned me that you were not trustworthy
She'll have you walking with your head in the air
She'll make you feel proud and confident
Have you thinking that she really, really care
Make you believe that she loves you
Then a, then she'll let you down, she'll really let you down
But she will disappoint you eventually
She's a girl with no understanding
You lack empathy and emotional intelligence
And when she's getting tired of you hanging around
And when she's had enough of your presence
She'll let you drop and say have a happy landing (happy landing)
She'll leave you without much care or sympathy
Oh but I fell for you anyway
But I loved you anyway
I didn't care what my friends have to say
I didn't listen to my friend's advice
'Cause I was so glad that I had found you
Because I thought you were special to me
I build my whole world right around you
I made you the center of my life
You had me hope on a lie for awhile
You gave me false hope for a while
Have me thinking you'd be mine for awhile
Made me believe that you would be with me for some time
Oh, then you let me down, you really let me down
But then you hurt me, and it was devastating
'Cause you're a girl with no understanding
Because you don't understand how to treat people well
And when you're getting tired of me hanging around
And when you have had enough of me being near you
You let me drop and said have a happy landing (happy landing)
You left me without really caring about my feelings or well-being
So now you want me to take you there
So now you want me to be with you
Staying away for a long, long time
After being apart for a long time
You won't call it a lost of loving
You won't see our past as a waste of time
Now ya coming back to the scene of your crime
Now you are returning to where you caused me pain
Gonna keep you in suspense for awhile
I'm going to keep you guessing for a while
Keep you hanging on a fence for awhile
Keep you waiting and unsure for some time
Then a I'll let you down, then I'll let you down
And then I'll hurt you the way you hurt me
I ain't gonna have no understanding
I won't act with empathy or compassion
And when I get tired of you hanging around
And just like you did, if I get tired of you near me
I'll let you drop and say you have a happy landing (happy landing)
I'll leave you without much sympathy or care
Have a happy landing, now (have a happy landing)
Goodbye, and move on
I've got to put you down (have a happy landing)
I must say goodbye
Don't want ya hanging around, now (have a happy landing)
I don't want you close anymore
You know that you better (have a happy landing)
You should be ready to move on
So come on and have (have a happy landing)
Say goodbye to me
Don't you know that I ought to
Don't you know that we should end this
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONALD WHITE, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind