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.
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Special Occasion
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Special occasion
Like when you dress up in your tie and tails, yeah
Special occasion
Ev'ry time and it never fails
To give me a thrill
That's fresh and new
Every time I'm kissin' you
That makes ev'ry time I kiss you
A real special occasion
Like one that calls for toast of champagne
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Special occasion
Ev'ry time and it's hard to explain
How the same old touch
From the same old hand
Can make me feel like a diff'rent man
I just can't understand
But all the time you touch me
It's a real special occasion yeah, yeah
Special occasion, oh
Mmh, mmh, yeah
Ooh, beautiful music begins to play
You are the sun
Brighten up my day
Why don't you stay
'Cause ev'ry time I'm with you
It's a real special occasion
Like when in school
You got your cap and gown yeah
And it's a real special occasion
And every time that you come around, baby
The lyrics in Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' song Special Occasion depict the feeling of being with someone special and how every moment feels like a unique and significant event. The song starts by comparing the feeling of being with someone special to dressing up in formal wear for a special event, emphasizing how the feeling is always fresh and new, and never gets old. The song goes on to highlight how the simplest touch or gesture from that special someone can make them feel like a different person and create a unique occasion every time.
The lyrics also suggest that the person the singer is talking about brings joy and happiness into their life. The second verse further emphasizes this point by associating the feeling of being with someone special with the playing of beautiful music and the brightening of a day. Overall, the song is a celebration of the feeling of being with someone special and how every moment shared with that person can be a unique and memorable occasion.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmh, yeah
Expression of agreement and anticipation
Special occasion
An event worth celebrating
Like when you dress up in your tie and tails, yeah
Similar to dressing up for a formal event
Special occasion
Just like every time you meet
Ev'ry time and it never fails
Without exception, it delivers excitement
To give me a thrill
To make me feel excited and happy
That's fresh and new
An experience that feels unique and original
Every time I'm kissin' you
Whenever we are intimate
It's something that you do
Actions that you take
That makes ev'ry time I kiss you
The act of kissing you
A real special occasion
Makes it feel like a very important and memorable moment
Like one that calls for toast of champagne
Similar to the celebration that demands a glass of champagne
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Another expression of joy and enthusiasm
Special occasion
No matter how many times we meet, this feeling remains
Ev'ry time and it's hard to explain
Every time it feels different and unexplainable
How the same old touch
Same gesture and touch
From the same old hand
Performed by the same person
Can make me feel like a diff'rent man
Gives me a feeling of being transformed and renewed
I just can't understand
It's hard to comprehend
But all the time you touch me
Every time you contact me
It's a real special occasion yeah, yeah
Creates a memorable event that fills me with happiness and joy
Special occasion, oh
Another statement of the celebration of every encounter
Mmh, mmh, yeah
One more expression of eagerness
Ooh, beautiful music begins to play
The atmosphere is perfect for a special occasion
You are the sun
You are the center of the event
Brighten up my day
Make things happier and more exciting
Why don't you stay
Asking to enjoy more time together
'Cause ev'ry time I'm with you
Every moment spent together
It's a real special occasion
Is like a unique and significant experience
Like when in school
Similar to when we graduated
You got your cap and gown yeah
We dressed up in our academic attire
And it's a real special occasion
It was an unforgettable moment
And every time that you come around, baby
Every encounter with you is a special occasion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALFRED CLEVELAND, WILLIAM ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Veronica Pitts
Mr.William "Smokey" Robinson it
is a real "special occasion" anytime I listen to one of your many songs written by you for you
or the numeruos other artists you
have wrote songs for such as "The Temptations", Mary Wells, The Marvellettes, Joss Stone and last and certainly not least the song "Who's Loving You" that is the song
you wrote and when you sing it people say that you are singing
Michael Jackson's song. I read in a book about "Motown" that you
Mr.William "Smokey" Robinson
went to "Berry Gordy's home and
while you were there you were introduced to one of Motown's
new acts "The Jackson Five" featuring Michael Jackson who was singing the song you wrote
"Who's Loving You" and the rest
shall we say is music history.
Veronica Pitts
William "Smokey" Robinson when
you were first introduced to Michael Jackson and he was singing "Who's Loving You" you
Michael Jackson sounded better
singing that song. After, you said
Michael Jackson sang "Who's Loving You" better Berry Gordy
then said,"I think he sings that song better than you sing it".
Needless to say, the Jackson
Five recorded "Who's Loving You"".
That is the reason many still say
that "Who's Loving You" is Michael
Jackson's song because his version of the song is more well
known and is played more over
the "airway" or on the radio..
Even though he sung that song
I know that in the "music" industry
the mega "money" is made in song writing. Last and certainly not least
congratulations William "Smokey" Robinson for being awarded the
"Gershwin" award for songwriting
in 2016 and congratulations for
receiving a "star" on the "hollywood" walk of fame as an individual and as one of the members of the group the "Miracles".
joseph peden
Special occasion like when you dress up in your tie and tails
Special occasion every time and it never fails
To give me a thrill that's fresh and new every time I'm kissing you
It's something that you do that makes every time I'm kissing you a real
Special occasion
Like one that calls for a toast of champagne yeah yeah yeah
Special occasion every time and it's hard to explain
How the same old touch from the same old hand can make me feel like a different man
I just can't understand how every time you touch me it's a real special occasion yeah yeah
[Horn goes wild]
Beautiful music begins to play you are the Sun that brightens up my day
Why don't you stay cause every time I'm with you it's a real special occasion
Like when at school you get your cap and gown
Yeah now it's a real special occasion every time that you come around
Baby it's a real.....
Margaret Swanagan
LOVE ALL OF SMOKEY'S SONGS
Billy Thomas
Comeon!!! Smokey is about as smooth as it gets, I'm digging it.
Captain Keyboard
Also, I am loving it so much that if it is good, changing it would be just bad.
Carla Griggs
I feel this song in my soul. Reminds me of when I was a kid. Mom would play Smokey all the time...
Captain Keyboard
Like the other Motown and Atlantic songs, "Special Occasion" is soothing my heart, right in this year 2022. I would not want to have it any other way.
Robert Velez
Many black colleges from the South played Special Occasion excessively during 1968-1969 as an anthem for graduation! If you remember, please share your experience with us!
jenny B
At my high school prom was when it was played. Oh what a marvelous time we had as we left home to attend college or get married and attend college.
kathy Johson
This song just popped into my head, today and here I am, again...👍👍👍👍👍👍
Lora Montoya
Great song! Remember this song many years ago, and it still sounds great now in 2019!!🙋♀️
Rachel Huerta
Memories of my mom and dad when Friday nights their friends would come by to play cards, drink , listen to music dance whatever but always a good time when good friends would just kick it.