Smokey Robinson and the Miracles was the performing and recording name from… Read Full Bio ↴Smokey Robinson and the Miracles was the performing and recording name from 1965 to 1972 of renowned American R&B/soul group The Miracles. From Detroit, Michigan, the band Miracles remain notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records. Over their career across the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the Miracles were one of Motown's signature acts with over forty top 40 R&B hits. Over the same time period, their original lead singer and founding member Smokey Robinson became one of the most successful songwriters and record producers of all time.

The hit songs "Do It Baby" and Love Machine (written by Billy Griffin & Pete Moore) were performed by Billy Griffin as the lead singer after the departure of original founder member Smokey Robinson.
http://myspace.com/billygriffinthemiracles

I Need a Change
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh ooh
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
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

Overall Meaning

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

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Comments from YouTube:

@cassandramuhammad4127

3y↑6

The people that gave the thumbs down obviously was not around when this song was a hit, they're probably youngsters and don't know Smokey for real. This was the jam at the house parties we could slow dance, hand dance (off time) or cha-cha. This is definitely one of my favorites.