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 Want You 'Round
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now you say every time you need some affection
The one you love goes in another direction
And you just sit there in a daze reminiscing
When you know some other lips he's been kissing
Now when you need the love
He's never shown you
And when you need some loving arms
To hold you
Come round here
Now I may not be the one you want
Oh but I know I'm the one you need
Said I may not be the one you want
Ooh, but I know I'm the one you need
Your life stands still the minute he goes
You count the hours just hoping he shows
Girl can't you see while you're longing for his touch
That I'm the one who loves you so much
While you're longing for his embrace
You're all alone there with tears on your face
Now when you feel the need to cry to someone cry to me
And when you feel the need to lean on someone lean on me
Now I may not be the one you want but
I'm sure 'nough the one you need
Oh baby I may not be the one you want
Ooh, but I know I'm the one you need
Now the days the days you sit alone by yourself
He's out fooling 'round with somebody else
Leaving you alone here with nothing to do
Just waiting 'till he has time for you
Now when the loneliness
Gets hard to bear
Girl come round here
And when you need a little tender loving care
Girl come round here
Now I may not be the one you want, ooh
But I know I'm the one you need, ooh
In Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' song "I'm the One You Need," the singer addresses a woman who is in love with someone who doesn't reciprocate her affections the way she desires. The woman sits alone, reminiscing about the man she loves while knowing that he is with someone else. The singer assures her that even though he may not be the man she wants, he is the one she truly needs. The singer urges the woman to come to him when she needs affection, and to cry on his shoulder when she's feeling low. The song ends with the singer reiterating that he may not be whom the woman wants, but he knows he is the one whom she needs.
The song's lyrics demonstrate the singer's selflessness, as he puts the woman's needs before his own desires. Moreover, the song's structure is quite simple, as it follows a basic ABAB rhyme scheme throughout, emphasizing the repetitive nature of the woman's longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you say every time you need some affection
You tell me that every time you need love and attention,
The one you love goes in another direction
The person you love looks for love somewhere else, leaving you behind.
And you just sit there in a daze reminiscing
You're lost in thoughts and memories, not knowing what to do.
When you know some other lips he's been kissing
You're aware that he's been kissing someone else instead of being with you.
Now when you need the love He's never shown you
When you want the love he never gave you,
Come round here
Come to me for love and affection.
And when you need some loving arms To hold you
When you want someone to hold you tight and comfort you,
Come round here
Come to me for comfort and affection.
Now I may not be the one you want Oh but I know I'm the one you need
I may not be the person you desire, but I am the one who can give you the love and care you need.
Said I may not be the one you want Ooh, but I know I'm the one you need
I understand that I might not be the one you wish to have, but I am the one who can be there for you and provide you love.
Your life stands still the minute he goes
Your life becomes stagnant the moment he leaves you.
You count the hours just hoping he shows
You spend all your time waiting for him to come back to you.
Girl can't you see while you're longing for his touch
Don't you realize while you're yearning for his touch,
That I'm the one who loves you so much
I am the one who loves you deeply and cares about you more than anyone else.
While you're longing for his embrace
While you're yearning for him to hold you,
You're all alone there with tears on your face
You're alone and crying with tears streaming down your cheeks.
Now when you feel the need to cry to someone cry to me
When you feel like crying and need someone to talk to, come to me.
And when you feel the need to lean on someone lean on me
When you need someone to rely on and offer support, I am here for you.
Now I may not be the one you want but
I am aware that I might not be the person you want.
I'm sure 'nough the one you need
But I am confident that I am the one you need in your life.
Oh baby I may not be the one you want
I understand that you might prefer someone else over me.
Ooh, but I know I'm the one you need
But I am convinced that I am the one who can give you the love and care you require for your well-being.
Now the days the days you sit alone by yourself
The days you spend alone by yourself,
He's out fooling 'round with somebody else
He is spending his time with someone else.
Leaving you alone here with nothing to do
Leaving you feeling isolated and having nothing to do with your day.
Just waiting 'till he has time for you
You're waiting for him to find time for you.
Now when the loneliness
When you're feeling lonely,
Gets hard to bear
When loneliness is becoming unbearable for you.
Girl come round here
Come to me for comfort and companionship.
And when you need a little tender loving care
When you need someone to take care of you and offer empathy,
Girl come round here
Come to me for the love and attention you require in your life.
Now I may not be the one you want, ooh
I am aware that I might not be the person you want.
But I know I'm the one you need, ooh
But I am confident that I am the one who can provide you the affection and love you need.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER, BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cecelia Williams
Sounds good. First time hearing this
JERRY HANKINS DCB4L
smokey n mary to great voices
Eastside Inca
IBM u hugging ui ugly bring g of