Come 'Round Here I'm The One You Need
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles 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
Come round here
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
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 sure 'nuff the one you need
Oh baby I may not be the one you want
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
But I know I'm the one you need

Overall Meaning

In this song, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles address a woman who's in a one-sided relationship. The woman's partner is never there for her when she needs him, always going off in another direction when she needs some affection. She is left reminiscing about their time together, while he's off kissing other lips. The song suggests that the woman needs to realize that she does not need her partner to be happy or fulfilled. The lyrics go on to urge the woman to come to Smokey Robinson himself when she needs support. He may not be the one she wants, but he knows he's the one she needs. Smokey Robinson assures her that he can provide her with the arms to hold her and the love that she craves, even if it's not from the person she wants.


Throughout the song, Smokey Robinson asserts himself as the one who can truly provide the woman with love and support. By contrasting his own loyalty and devotion with her partner's disinterest, Robinson is urging the woman to see that she is better off without her current partner, and that he is the one who can truly take care of her. With its catchy chorus and moving message, Come 'Round Here I'm The One You Need remains a beloved classic of Motown.


Line by Line Meaning

Now you say every time you need some affection
You mention that every time you crave some love and care.


The one you love goes in another direction
However, the person you love moves away from you and seeks love from someone else.


And you just sit there in a daze reminiscing
That leaves you alone, lost in your thoughts, recollecting the past.


When you know some other lips he's been kissing
You are aware that he is embracing someone else.


Now when you need the love
Whenever you need care and affection


He's never shown you
The person whom you love, has never shown you the care and love you deserve


Come round here
Come over to me


And when you need some loving arms
When you need someone to hold and cuddle with


To hold you
Embrace you tightly


Come round here
Come over to me


Now I may not be the one you want
I may not be the person who you desire to love and care for you.


Oh But I know I'm the one you need
But I'm the one who can give you the care and love that you need.


Said I may not be the one you want
I repeat that I may not be the person you want.


But I know I'm the one you need
However, I'm the one you need to care and love you.


Your life stands still the minute he goes
Your life comes to a halt when he leaves.


You count the hours just hoping he shows
You wait, counting each hour with the hope that he would come back.


Girl can't you see while you're longing for his touch
Can't you realize that, while you are waiting for his attention,


That I'm the one who loves you so much
There is someone who loves you profoundly - that's me.


While you're longing for his embrace
When you crave for him to hold you,


You're all alone there with tears on your face
You are left all alone, in tears.


Now when you feel the need to cry to someone cry to me
When you have to let your emotions out, speak to me.


And when you feel the need to lean on someone lean on me
When you need a shoulder to support you, lean on me.


I sure 'nuff the one you need
I'm the one you require by all means.


Oh baby I may not be the one you want
Dear, remember, I may not be the one you desire


Now the days the days you sit alone by yourself
The days you spend alone sitting by yourself


He's out fooling round with somebody else
He's spending his time with someone else, having fun.


Leaving you alone here with nothing to do
This leaves you alone and bored with nothing to do.


Just waiting 'till he has time for you
You wait anxiously until he returns to you.


Now when the loneliness
When you feel alone and lonely


Gets hard to bear
Becomes challenging


Girl come round here
Dear, come to me


And when you need a little tender loving care
When you need someone to care for you affectionately


Girl come round here
Come to me, my dear


Now I may not be the one you want
As I've mentioned earlier, I may not be the one you want.


But I know I'm the one you need
However, I'm the one that can provide you the love and care that you need.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID MORALES, ALEC SHANTZIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@willisknapick4405

I was a freshman in Philly when this song came out. A white boy from the sticks. Song knocked me out! Still listening to it 55 years later!

@anitacalloway3032

This song has the best lyrics I’ve ever heard. Clever, thoughtful, super imagery, great rhythm n rhyming! And he wails it with so much emotion!

@CaptainIrvitron

Pretty much all of Smokey Robinson’s songs are exceptional lyrically like this one. That’s why he’s been my songwriting hero for years… ❤

@TheMrXScorpio

Anita Holland Dozier Holland wrote this for the Miracles. They would have songwriting competition.

@CaptainIrvitron

Smokey Robinson is STILL my songwriting hero… 😊

@lutherbuckhurst3887

This reminds me of being with my lovely late mum whilst we were shopping in the 70s in Brixton, this song was coming out if one of the shops, wonderful days

@williamg2552

The MIRACLES have FINALLY been inducted into THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME after being ignored for 26 years...and here people are STILL refering to their tunes as "Smokey Songs"...giving him sole credit, as if he was in the studio by himself. This is a MIRACLES song.

@Brickcitygirl

yes indeed

@davidhuxtable1553

What a great old tune, Smokey is the all round package …..still listening and enjoying after fifty years!

@ToniA5555

I was a huge Miracles fan back in the 60s. In the 70s, not so much. I guess I have finally come back around.

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