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.
If You Wanna Make Love
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hope you're prepared to stay
Lets put on our favorite song
Lets put all our cares away
If you wanna make love
If you wanna make heartache and frustration disappear
If you wanna make time
Come round here
Oh, baby (Come round here)
Baby, why don't you (Come round here)
Come round here, babe (Come round here), come round here
Make some hurt and make some joy
Make yourself a few mistakes
Make up, make fun, make believe
There are many makes you can make
But when you wanna make love
When you wanna make heartache and frustration disappear
When you wanna make time
And more than conversation
Come round here
Baby, baby, why don't you (Come round here)
Come round with me, baby (Come round here)
Come round here, babe (Come round here) come round here
Yeah, when you wanna make love
When you wanna make heartache and frustration disappear
When you wanna make time
More, more, baby
Come round here
Baby, baby, why don't you (Come round here)
When you wanna make love
Heartache and frustration disappear
Time, time
More than conversation
Come round here
Oh, baby, why don't you (Come round here)
When you wanna make love
The song "If You Wanna Make Love" by Smokey Robinson is an invitation to spend the night together without any cares or worries. The song starts off with a slow tempo that picks up as the lyrics progress, reflecting the excitement and anticipation of the moment. Robinson sings about making love as a way to escape the stresses of life and experience a deeper connection with each other. The lyrics suggest that making love is not just physical but also emotional, promising to make heartache and frustration disappear.
The chorus of the song is particularly catchy, with Robinson repeating the invitation to "come round here" as a way of signaling his desire for his partner to join him. The verses that follow outline the different kinds of things that can be made during the course of the night, and the chorus serves as a reminder of the main goal: to make love.
Overall, "If You Wanna Make Love" is a sensual and romantic song that captures the essence of a long, passionate night with someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
This may take me all night long
Engaging in an intimate moment may take a while
I hope you're prepared to stay
Are you willing to be present in this moment?
Lets put on our favorite song
Let's create an atmosphere that will add to the intensity of what we are about to do.
Lets put all our cares away
We need to remove all distractions and focus on this moment.
If you wanna make love
If you are ready to commit to the emotional and physical connection we are about to embark on...
If you wanna make heartache and frustration disappear
...If you're looking for a way to forget the negative emotions of the day...
If you wanna make time
...If you're ready to share a deep moment in life...
If you wanna make more than conversation
...If you're ready to take things to the next level...
Come round here
Join me in this moment of passion
Oh, baby (Come round here)
My love for you, your presence is needed
Baby, why don't you (Come round here)
Please give yourself completely to me
Make some hurt and make some joy
We can create moments of past hurt, and past joys, we can share some of ourselves
Make yourself a few mistakes
Not everything will go perfectly but that is okay.
Make up, make fun, make believe
Let's enjoy this moment, and let our imaginations run wild.
There are many makes you can make
There are an indefinite amount of possibilities
But when you wanna make love
When you are ready for true, authentic soulful sex...
When you wanna make heartache and frustration disappear
...When you're looking to release strong negative feelings...
When you wanna make time
...When you're willing to give your full attention and time...
And more than conversation
...When we're ready to connect on a deeper level bed
Come round here
Meet me where I am emotionally and physically
Baby, baby, why don't you (Come round here)
Please give yourself completely to me
Come round with me, baby (Come round here)
Let's share this intimate moment together
Come round here, babe (Come round here) come round here
Let's connect and elevate our love
Yeah, when you wanna make love
When you're looking to connect in a deep and profound way...
More, more, baby
...Let us forget about the outside world and focus on each other
Oh, baby, why don't you (Come round here)
Please give yourself completely to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind