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 Just Want to Make Love to You
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The promise of love was written on your face
You led me on with untrue kisses
Oh, you held me captured in your false embrace
Quicker than I could bat an eye
Seems you were telling me goodbye
Just a minute ago your love was here
Sweetness was only heartache's camouflage
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
We used to meet in romantic places
Oh, you gave the illusion that your love was real
Now all that's left are lipstick traces
From the kisses you only pretended to feel
And now our meeting you avoid
And so my world you have destroyed
Just a minute ago your love was here, oh baby
All of a sudden it seemed to disappear, yeah
The way you wrecked my life was like sabotage
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
Oh, yeah you only filled me with despair
By showing love that wasn't there
Just like the desert shows a thirsty man
A green oasis where there's only sand
You lured me into something I should have dodged
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
Oh yeah, just like a desert shows a, yeah
A green oasis where there's only sand, ooh
You lured me into somthing I should have dodged
"The Love I Saw In You Was Just a Mirage" is a classic Motown song by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, which tells the story of a man who believed he had found true love with a woman, only to realize that it was a mirage. The opening verse describes the woman's captivating beauty and how her face held the promise of love. However, the man goes on to explain how she led him on with untrue kisses and captured him in her false embrace, which turned out to be nothing but a mirage. The chorus emphasizes how the sweetness of her love was only a disguise for the heartache that followed.
The second verse is where the man reflects on the places he and the woman used to frequent together- once romantic, now deserted, and only leaving behind traces of lipstick. The woman avoids meeting him now, and the man has been left with nothing but destruction as he realizes that the love he saw in her was just a mirage. The final verse compares the woman to the desert, which provides the illusion of a green oasis for a thirsty man, only to disappoint him with the reality of sand. The man admits that he was lured into something he should have avoided.
Overall, "The Love I Saw In You Was Just a Mirage" is a soulful song that touches upon themes of deception, heartbreak, and the complexities of love. It is one of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' most famous songs, and it continues to receive recognition in popular culture.
Line by Line Meaning
There you were beautiful
I saw you and thought you were beautiful
The promise of love was written on your face
I thought you looked like you were in love with me
You led me on with untrue kisses
You kissed me even though you didn't really love me
Oh, you held me captured in your false embrace
You pretended to love me, but it wasn't real
Quicker than I could bat an eye
Before I knew it
Seems you were telling me goodbye
It seemed like you were ending our relationship
Just a minute ago your love was here
You seemed to be in love with me a moment ago
All of a sudden it seemed to disappear
But then you stopped pretending to love me
Sweetness was only heartache's camouflage
Your kindness was just a way to hide the fact that you didn't love me
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
The love I thought you felt for me wasn't real
We used to meet in romantic places
We used to go on romantic dates
Oh, you gave the illusion that your love was real
You made it seem like you really loved me
Now all that's left are lipstick traces
All that's left of our relationship is traces of your lipstick on my face
From the kisses you only pretended to feel
From the kisses you gave me even though you didn't love me
And now our meeting you avoid
Now you don't want to see me
And so my world you have destroyed
You have ruined my life
The way you wrecked my life was like sabotage
You destroyed my life like someone intentionally damaging something
Oh, yeah you only filled me with despair
You made me feel really sad
By showing love that wasn't there
By pretending to love me when you didn't
Just like the desert shows a thirsty man
Just like a thirsty person in the desert
A green oasis where there's only sand
Sees an illusion of a beautiful place even though it's just sand
You lured me into something I should have dodged
You tricked me into a relationship I should have avoided
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN TARPLIN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stefani Ventura
I've made love to you a thousand times,
Even if it's only in my mind
I've made love to you a thousand ways
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
It's so real, when I dream about you
I can feel you in the morning
All day long the feeling of my dream
Comes on me without warning
I'm standing there, and suddenly
There you are all over me
I've made love to you a thousand times,
Even if it's only in my mind
I've made love to you a thousand ways
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
Let it be, let it really happen
Set me free form loves desire
And if my imagination is any indication
Then of your love I'll never tire
Oh, hold me close, kiss me sweet,
And repeat and repeat and repeat
And after I've made love to you a thousand times
And after I've made love to you a thousand ways
I'm gonna gonna keep on with the real thing
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
I've made love to you a thousand times,
Even if it's only in my mind
I've made love to you a thousand ways
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
Then I wanna keep on with the real thing
Keep on with the real thing
Keep on keep on keep on with the real thing
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
For a thousand nights and a thousand nights
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
For a thousand nights and a thousand nights
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
For a thousand nights and a thousand nights
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
Southerngirl675
Keep on with the real thing. Happy new year to you all. Thanks for coming by. ❤️❤️
Alana Wilson
This man's voice is amazing ,I undeniably love it , Smokey Robinson you are a musical universal mind
Mary Salley
Sitting in my room, and this song just popped in my head!!!! That’s what great music does!!! #Classic
Stefani Ventura
I've made love to you a thousand times,
Even if it's only in my mind
I've made love to you a thousand ways
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
It's so real, when I dream about you
I can feel you in the morning
All day long the feeling of my dream
Comes on me without warning
I'm standing there, and suddenly
There you are all over me
I've made love to you a thousand times,
Even if it's only in my mind
I've made love to you a thousand ways
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
Let it be, let it really happen
Set me free form loves desire
And if my imagination is any indication
Then of your love I'll never tire
Oh, hold me close, kiss me sweet,
And repeat and repeat and repeat
And after I've made love to you a thousand times
And after I've made love to you a thousand ways
I'm gonna gonna keep on with the real thing
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
I've made love to you a thousand times,
Even if it's only in my mind
I've made love to you a thousand ways
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
Then I wanna keep on with the real thing
Keep on with the real thing
Keep on keep on keep on with the real thing
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
For a thousand nights and a thousand nights
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
For a thousand nights and a thousand nights
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
For a thousand nights and a thousand nights
For a thousand nights and a thousand days
Spell Bound
One of the best love songs ever! Stunning!
Cynthia R.
He could not market this song because it was too risqué at the time. Love
Smokey Robinson to life. He is still a mastermind.
Steve
It was on the radio in San Antonio, just didn't get traction.
Tiger jasper (Tiger King)
This has been my number one song of smokey Robinson since i was 14 im 19 now and i still luv it 🖤
Yhurah Christ
This one woman when we were teens never made love, 30 years later we just reconnected and has grown so close spiritually and we still haven't made love. This song sums up my thoughts and emotions. Beautiful song
me mann
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