Smokey Robinson Quotes & Sayings

You are most certainly the inspiration for all of today's rock 'n' roll guitarists. Your music is timeless. — Smokey Robinson

I left Motown because of the regime of people who were there. — Smokey Robinson

My philosophy on writing a song for myself is that I always, always, always want to write a song. I always want to write a song. I realize that as a record producer or a singer or whatever I might not, if I recorded on myself or someone else, the first time out I might not give it the right treatment, so that the world or many people will accept it and it'll be a public hit, or anything like that. — Smokey Robinson

We're all going to be victims of temptation at several points in our lives. — Smokey Robinson

People still look at Michael Jackson as being a Motown artist. — Smokey Robinson

You know what, life is full of temptations. — Smokey Robinson

There are very few courses around Detroit I haven't played. — Smokey Robinson

She may be cute, but she's just a substitute. — Smokey Robinson

One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth. — Smokey Robinson

Even if I don't release it myself, somebody else might hear it and want to record it. When you write a song, it gives it that potential. — Smokey Robinson

If I hear one of my songs by anybody, it's a dream come true every time for me as a songwriter, because I want to write a song, I want to write a song that the world can sing and will always sing. — Smokey Robinson

Pretty girls come a dime a dozen, try to find one who's gonna give you true loving. — Smokey Robinson

I love hearing my music, I love hearing it by other people. I hope it will always be played. — Smokey Robinson

Mistakes, I know I've made a few. But I'm only human, you've made mistakes, too. — Smokey Robinson

That's what love is made of, snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails, sugar, spice, and everything nice. — Smokey Robinson

I always try to write a song, I never just want to write a record. — Smokey Robinson

The only thing you're taking out of here is your spirit and your soul, so we need to be conscious to try and develop that part of ourselves, because we're all spiritual creatures. — Smokey Robinson

As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff - furs and cars and diamonds and money. — Smokey Robinson

There is nothing that means more to a woman than a love she can count on. — Smokey Robinson

Once you're a Motown artist, you're always a Motown artist. — Smokey Robinson

Now if I appear to be carefree it's only to camouflage my sadness. In order to keep my pride I try to cover the hurt with a show of gladness. — Smokey Robinson

Had I not come out with an inspirational CD, you perhaps would have never known that I feel like I feel, that all songs, all the music I've ever done is a gift from God. — Smokey Robinson

I played golf all over Detroit. — Smokey Robinson

If some of those people who wanted to ban Beethoven's music could hear the music that's being played today, wow, what would they do, man? — Smokey Robinson

So I wanted to sing inspirational music, and that's exactly how I approached it - only the words have been changed to declare my relationship with God. — Smokey Robinson

Put your trust in me, let this love be. This is for real, let time stand still. — Smokey Robinson

As a kid, this is what I wanted my life to be. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever dare to dream that it would be this. — Smokey Robinson

Originally I was not writing songs for myself. — Smokey Robinson

I don't like you, but I love you. — Smokey Robinson

My uncle Claude was my favorite uncle he was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy because I loved cowboy movies. He got a cowboy name for me, which was Smokey Joe. So from the time I was three years old if people asked me what my name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them my name was Smokey Joe. — Smokey Robinson

We're very physical creatures, and we worry about how we look sometimes more than our spiritual selves. — Smokey Robinson

Everybody has their own soul. — Smokey Robinson

That's because we did not set out to make black music. We set out to make quality music that everyone could enjoy and listen to. — Smokey Robinson

The Beatles were huge. And the first thing they said when you interviewed them, 'Oh yeah, we grew up on Motown.'..They were the first white act to admit they grew up listening to black music. — Smokey Robinson

I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music. — Smokey Robinson

Drugs are in every walk of life - doctors, lawyers, preachers, the guy who works for IBM, teenagers on the street, teenagers in school. — Smokey Robinson

With a heart that is truthful, keeping you youthful. — Smokey Robinson

Before you ask some girl for her hand now, keep your freedom for as long as you can now. My Mama told me, you better shop around. — Smokey Robinson

If you feel like loving me, if you've got the notion, I second that emotion. — Smokey Robinson

Once you're a Motown artist, that's your stigmatism, and I was there from the very first day. — Smokey Robinson

Though you treat me badly, I love you madly. — Smokey Robinson

I'm blessed, because I enjoy every part of my life. I enjoy writing songs. I've been trying to write songs since I was five years old. — Smokey Robinson

Beethoven was just music, and it didn't matter if he could hear it or not - he could feel it. He could hear it in his mind. He could write it down hearing it in his mind. He was just music. Yeah, he's one of my favorite writers of all times. — Smokey Robinson

In fact, I wouldn't really call this a Gospel album, I call it more an inspirational album. — Smokey Robinson

I've been speaking at churches for years, as well as juvenile jails, rehabs and hospitals, and I always talk about my faith. That is a declaration of my relationship with God. — Smokey Robinson

And I can say this, most of the people who have recorded my songs are songwriters themselves. — Smokey Robinson

When someone picks up one of my songs and records it, I'm a flattered man, it's a blessing to me. — Smokey Robinson

There's some sad things known to man, but ain't too much sadder than, the tears of a clown when noones around. — Smokey Robinson

I will build you a castle with a tower so high it reaches the moon. — Smokey Robinson

People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell a joke or two Although I might be laughing loud and hearty Deep inside I'm blue So take a good look at my face You'll see my smile looks out of place If you look closer, it's easy to trace The tracks of my tears.. — Smokey Robinson

I will bring you a flower from the floor of the sea to wear in your hair. — Smokey Robinson

They don't tell you this in school, Everybody plays the fool. — Smokey Robinson

Motown will always be a heavy-duty part of my life because those are my roots. — Smokey Robinson

You know what, I'm probably one of the most blessed people there's ever been, and I thank God for it. — Smokey Robinson

Ron White was not one of the very first original members of the Motown staff, but eventually he was. — Smokey Robinson

When you write a song, a song has longevity. — Smokey Robinson

Just like Pagliacci did, I try to keep my surface hid. Smiling in the crowd I try, but in a lonely room I cry. — Smokey Robinson

My mother was a churchgoing lady, so I always heard about God at home. — Smokey Robinson

I had been stockpiling Gospel songs for other artists, and had planned to submit them to Gospel artists. — Smokey Robinson

There's so many wonderful gospel people out there, and I don't necessarily want to compete with those people. — Smokey Robinson

Hickory dickory dock, I just want to be your clock. Just set me for a lifetime, and I'll wake you up every morning. — Smokey Robinson

I've never been to rehab, I've never been to psychotherapy or the doctor or anything like that. I went to a church and I was prayed for, and I've always had a great relationship with God. — Smokey Robinson

I really haven't strayed too far, musically, from my roots. — Smokey Robinson

Songwriting is my gift from God. — Smokey Robinson