During their nineteen year run on the American music charts, The Miracles charted over fifty hits and recorded in the genres of doo wop, soul, disco, and R&B. Twenty-six Miracles songs reached the Top Ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including four R&B number ones. Sixteen of the Miracles' songs charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven songs charting within the Top Ten and two - 1970's "The Tears of a Clown" and 1975's "Love Machine" (Part 1) - reaching number-one.
Original members:
Ronald "Ronnie" White (1955–1978, 1980–1983, 1993–1995 (died 1995)
Warren "Pete" Moore (1955–1978) (died 2017)
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (1955–1972)
Claudette Robinson (1956 - 1972, 2005 -2011)
Marvin "Marv" Tarplin (1958 - 1973) (died 2011)
Waldo Roderick DeHammersmith
The Miracles Lyrics
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How he lived to be a man
I'm sure only heaven knows
Cause a man so low
Only needs a day in day out cry
Even for his Mother let me tell ya brother
He can break bread at your table
And be your lover's if he's able
He'll steal what ain't nailed down
And take it to the pawnshop to get a loan
Before ya get home
Cause he's a no good robber
And a ghost from Chinatown
Just to see what he can do
To people like me and you
Waldo Roderick de Hammersmith
There goes a man and if you ain't worried
He will get you upset
You blow your mind all the time
Yes, he will say he'll cheat back
Make his Mama cry yes he will
Butch is a bad, bad man
Everytime he sets a girl
Cryin' softly in her hands
She just can't understand
Why she would see that no good man
If he came back again, again
He's a devil, a no good robber
And a ghost from Chinatown
Just to see what can he
Do people like me and you
Waldo Roderick de Hammersmith
There goes a man and if you ain't worried
He will get you upset
You blow your mind all the time
Waldo Roderick de Hammersmith
There goes a man and if you ain't worried
He will get you upset
You blow your mind all the time.
The lyrics of The Miracles's song "Waldo Roderick DeHammersmith" talk about a person named Butch who is portrayed as a bad boy who has grown up to become a lowly man. The singer remarks that Butch is so low that he only needs to cry his eyes out day in and day out. The song suggests that Butch is a thief who can break bread at your table, be your lover, but when you're not around, he'll steal your belongings and take them to the pawnshop for a loan. Butch is depicted as a no-good robber and a ghost from Chinatown who sets his hands on anyone, even the women who cry softly in his embrace, and is a devil to a person or anyone like me and you.
The song suggests that Butch is a danger to the people around him, and the repeated mention of "Waldo Roderick DeHammersmith" in the lyrics suggests that Butch is a notorious criminal. The song could be interpreted as a warning to people to stay away from people like Butch, who have a shady past and may not be trustworthy. Or it could also be a social commentary on the harsh realities of life where people get involved with bad characters like Butch out of desperation or hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Butch was a bad boy
Butch was a delinquent
How he lived to be a man
It's a mystery how he made it to adulthood
I'm sure only heaven knows
The answer is unknown, perhaps only revealed in the afterlife
Cause a man so low
A person that depraved
Only needs a day in day out cry
Continuously sobs without reprieve
Even for his Mother let me tell ya brother
Even his own mother suffers
He can break bread at your table
He can share a meal with you
And be your lover's if he's able
If possible, he may steal your significant other
And Mister when you ain't around
When you're not there
He'll steal what ain't nailed down
He'll take anything not bolted to the ground
And take it to the pawnshop to get a loan
He'll pawn it for cash
Before ya get home
Before you return
Cause he's a no good robber
He's a thief and a scoundrel
And a ghost from Chinatown
A phantom from the local Chinese neighborhood
Just to see what he can do
Out of curiosity to test his own limits
To people like me and you
To folks such as ourselves
Waldo Roderick de Hammersmith
The name of this lowly individual
There goes a man and if you ain't worried
He's out there, and if that doesn't concern you
He will get you upset
He will certainly aggravate you
You blow your mind all the time
You're continually vexed by him
Yes, he will say he'll cheat back
He'll retaliate if wronged
Make his Mama cry yes he will
He won't hesitate to distress his own mother
Butch is a bad, bad man
Butch is a wicked and immoral individual
Everytime he sets a girl
When he begins a relationship with a woman
Cryin' softly in her hands
She weeps quietly in her own hands
She just can't understand
She's at a loss to comprehend
Why she would see that no good man
Why she'd become involved with a degenerate like him
If he came back again, again
If he were to resume a relationship with her
He's a devil, a no good robber
He's a demon, a malevolent thief
And a ghost from Chinatown
A specter from the Chinese community
Just to see what can he
Just to discover what he's capable of
Do people like me and you
To people like you and me
Writer(s): WARREN MOORE, WILLIAM L GRIFFIN
Contributed by Isaiah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tone Pagan
on I Love You Secretly (Alternate Intro)
These are not the lyrics