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.
Just A Mirage
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
In Smokey Robinson's song "Just A Mirage," the singer reflects on a relationship that turned out to be nothing more than an illusion. The song begins with the singer describing his partner as beautiful and talks about how the promise of love was evident on her face. However, the partner led the singer on with false kisses and held him captive in a pretend embrace. In what seemed like a minute, the love that was promised by the partner disappeared, and all that was left were traces of lipstick from kisses the partner only pretended to feel. The partner avoided all their meetings and destroyed the singer's world, leaving him devastated.
The lyrics of the song express the feeling of heartbreak after investing time and emotions in a relationship that turned out to be fake. The metaphorical use of comparing the love to a mirage highlights the idea that what appeared to be real was only an illusion. The singer describes how he was lured into something he should have dodged, which depicts the hope and expectations that arose in the singer's mind before reality dawned on him. The song ends with the assertion that the love was just an illusion, and the singer was misled.
Line by Line Meaning
There you were,
You were present in front of me,
Beautiful
You were physically attractive,
The promise of love was written on your face
You appeared to be someone who was capable of loving me,
You led me on
You misled me,
With untrue kisses
You kissed me in a way which didn't reflect your true feelings,
Oh, you held me captive in your false embrace
You kept me close to you under the pretense of being in love,
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
A short while ago, you seemed to love me,
All of a sudden it seemed to disappear
Suddenly, your love disappeared,
Sweetness was only heartaches camouflaged
Your affectionate behavior was concealing the pain you caused me,
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
The love I thought you had for me was an illusion,
We used to meet in
In the past we would go to,
Romantic places
locations which were conducive to romance,
Oh, you gave the illusion that your love was real
You created the impression that you genuinely loved me,
Now all that's left
What remains now,
Are lipstick traces
Are only lipstick marks,
From the kisses you only pretended to feel
From the kisses which had no emotional basis,
And all our meetings you avoid
You deliberately try to avoid meeting me,
And so my world you have destroyed
You have destroyed my worldview,
The way you wrecked my life was like sabotage
You ruined my life in a manner similar to a sabotage act,
Oh yeah, you only filled me with despair
You only made me feel hopeless,
By showin' love that wasn't there
By displaying love which didn't exist,
You lured me into something I should have dodged
You attracted me into a situation which I should have avoided,
Just like the desert shows a thirsty man
Similar to how a parched person in a desert sees a mirage of water,
A green oasis where there's only sand
An area which appears to have vegetation, even though it's only sand,
You lured me into something I should have dodged, oh
You attracted me into a situation which I should have avoided,
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
The love I thought you had for me was an illusion,
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN TARPLIN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@prophetbillmartin6262
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Love I Saw in You was Just a Mirage
There you were beautiful
The promise of love was written on your face
You led me on with untrue kisses
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
All of a sudden it seemed to disappear
Sweetness was only heartache's camouflage
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
You promised that happiness we'll ever share
But all I have are memories of love that was never there
We used to meet in romantic places
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
All of a sudden it seemed to disappear
The way you wrecked my life was like sabotage
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
You brought me up just to throw me down
you love me and my dreams shattered all on your ground
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
To you I gave true love from deep within
You made me hungry for your love
When it was not deeper than your skin
Just like the desert shows a thirsty man
A green oasis where there's only sand
You lured me into, into something I should have dodged
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Marvin Tarplin / Smokey Robinson / William Robinson Jr.
The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@Muziekgenot
There you were beautiful
The promise of love was written on your face
You led me on with untrue kisses
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
All of a sudden it seemed to disappear
Sweetness was only heartache's camouflage
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
You promised that happiness we'll ever share
But all I have are memories of love that was never there
We used to meet in romantic places
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
All of a sudden it seemed to disappear
The way you wrecked my life was like sabotage
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
You brought me up just to throw me down
you love me and my dreams shattered all on your ground
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
To you I gave true love from deep within
You made me hungry for your love
When it was not deeper than your skin
Just like the desert shows a thirsty man
A green oasis where there's only sand
You lured me into, into something I should have dodged
The love I saw in you was just a mirage
@cheryltandia9176
I'm 71 and this was my Favorite song by The Miracles. "Just a Mirage" is so harmonious and filled with heart breaking emotion.
@Kelly-nm4kw
Hello Cheryl, How are you doing?
@TheMrXScorpio
You got that right in every thing you said.
@buddygriggs9461
@@Kelly-nm4kw 0
@jeffhutch580
I am right behind you Cheryl because I'm 70. And I told Marv Tarplin that this song in 67 was like the best written song by far. When me and my friends purchased this from the record shop we listened with amazement we got down on our knees and said we're not worthy(repeating) This girl hurt me just coming out of Jr. H.S. and I wrote the words of this song to her in a letter. She cried bawled and asked for forgiveness lol I dumped her the following week. Nobody but Smokey with how he plays with words could have written a song like this. Nuff said.
@davidulbrich2715
Just 70 but after missing it some how in my day it has become one of my favorites 2023
@jeremymanning2132
Smokey had a unique voice, so gentle yet full of soul. Great songwriter too.
Also a key figure at Motown records. Absolute legend.
@jeffhutch580
Great songwriter too?? He is the MASTER SONGWRITER. You need to read what the Beatles said about him
@jeffhutch580
Let me just add...you're right a unique voice he did had and he used it like an instrument. The way he arranged this song with the lyrics is no short of impeccable!!
@sunrah4469
Looking back its amazing how many of these classics were built around Marv Tarplin's guitar riffs. Salute 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿