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.
I Can't Find
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody comes into my life
Oh, and for a little while
It seems they're the answer to my dreams
To my prayer
As sudden as they come
They start to fade
Oh, how can they stay with me when
They're only penciled in
You're always there
So all my love
If you can find it in your heart
To do just one thing for me
Come back (Come back), come back (Come back)
Come back (Come back), come back
I don't wanna look
When I know where
Just what I need is
Oh, honey, you've got it with you
So what else can I do
But come to you, my love and say
Take me in your arms
Hold me close
I need to feel you
Oh, to me there's nothin like your touch
It's what I need so much
Oh, yes, I do, my love
So if you feel the need
To ever be with me again
Don't let another moment pass
Come back (Come back), come back (Come back)
Come back (Come back), come back
(I can't find) My way to a very special somewhere
(I can't find) Myself ?cause without you, I'm just out there
(I can't find) That person I wanna put that much in
(I can't find) Anybody like you who makes touchin' more than touchin'
I've been lookin'
There's just nobody around, ooh
No sense lookin'
For who can never be found
Mmm...
So if you feel the need
To ever be with me again
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it
Come back (Come back), come back (Come back)
Come back (Come back), come back
(I can't find) Sleep at night, I'm either watchin' TV or walkin'
(I can't find) Any conversation that means more to me than talkin'
(I can't find) Satisfaction even when I do surrender
(I can't find) Anybody like you who makes tender more than tender
I've been lookin'
There's just nobody around, oh
No sense lookin'
For who can never be found, oh, oh...
(I can't find) Anybody like you who gets my full attention
(I can't find) Anybody who means enough for me to mention
(I can't find) That person
The song "I Can't Find" by Smokey Robinson is a soulful ballad that talks about the search for love and how the temporary relationships that come and go can never compare to the true and deep connections that are worth holding on to. Robinson opens the song with the introduction of the short-lived flings – the people who seem perfect but disappear just as quickly as they come. The metaphor of 'floating smoke rings' is used to describe how fleeting these relationships can be. Robinson contrasts these transient relationships with the one he truly desires in the chorus – his true love. The lyrics implore the listener to return or 'come back' to him and describes how they complete him in a way that no one else can.
Throughout the song, Robinson expresses the different things he can't seem to find - from sleep and satisfaction to someone who gets his full attention. In the final verse, Robinson introduces a plea to return to the one he loves, stressing that no matter what he is searching for or what he finds, nothing compares to her.
Overall, "I Can't Find" is a heartfelt appeal to a lost love, with Robinson expressing the universal desire to find the one person who can fill the void in our lives. As he touches on themes such as transience and the power of true love, the song serves as a reminder that no matter how long it takes, finding the right person is worth the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
Every now and then
Occasionally, someone enters my life
Somebody comes into my life
Someone new comes into my life
Oh, and for a little while
This person seems like they could be the answer to my dreams
It seems they're the answer to my dreams
They appear to be the perfect fit for what I've been looking for
To my prayer
To my long-held desires
As sudden as they come
As quickly as they enter my life
They start to fade
Their presence starts to diminish
Like floating smoke rings
As if they were never really there
Oh, how can they stay with me when
How can they be with me if
They're only penciled in
They were never fully committed to begin with
You're always there
You are the one constant in my life
So all my love
My affection for you
If you can find it in your heart
If you're able to forgive me
To do just one thing for me
To grant me a single wish
Come back (Come back), come back (Come back)
Return to me
I don't wanna look
I don't want to have to search anymore
When I know where
When I know who I want to be with
Just what I need is
All that I need is
Oh, honey, you've got it with you
Oh, darling, all that I need is with you
So what else can I do
What other choice do I have
But come to you, my love and say
Except to come to you and express my love
Take me in your arms
Embrace me
Hold me close
Hold me tightly
I need to feel you
I need to be close to you
Oh, to me there's nothin like your touch
To me, your touch is incomparable
It's what I need so much
It's what I crave the most
Oh, yes, I do, my love
Indeed, I do, my love
So if you feel the need
If you ever feel like
To ever be with me again
Being with me once more
Don't let another moment pass
Don't hesitate
Come back (Come back), come back (Come back)
Come back to me
(I can't find) My way to a very special somewhere
I'm lost and can't find what I'm looking for
(I can't find) Myself ?cause without you, I'm just out there
I'm lost without you in my life, I feel directionless
(I can't find) That person I wanna put that much in
I can't find someone who I care about that deeply
(I can't find) Anybody like you who makes touchin' more than touchin'
I can't find anyone who touches me like you do
I've been lookin'
I've been searching
There's just nobody around, ooh
I can't find anyone to fill the hole you left
No sense lookin'
It doesn't make sense to keep searching
For who can never be found
For someone who may never exist
So if you feel the need
If you ever feel like
To ever be with me again
Being with me once more
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it
Don't hesitate!
Come back (Come back), come back (Come back)
Come back to me
(I can't find) Sleep at night, I'm either watchin' TV or walkin'
I can't sleep at night, I'm either too restless or too bored
(I can't find) Any conversation that means more to me than talkin'
I can't find a conversation that is more meaningful than just talking with you
(I can't find) Satisfaction even when I do surrender
I can't find satisfaction even when I try to give up
(I can't find) Anybody like you who makes tender more than tender
I can't find anyone who can make tenderness feel more profound than you do
I've been lookin'
I've been searching
There's just nobody around, oh
I can't find anyone to fill the hole you left
No sense lookin'
It doesn't make sense to keep searching
For who can never be found, oh, oh...
For someone who may never exist
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind