Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack

Bobby Womack, 1944–2014 · co-written with his sister-in-law Shirley Womack

Bobby Womack wrote the song with Shirley Womack, his sister-in-law, and sang it himself on the Valentinos’ record. He objected when the Stones wanted it — the story, as Wikipedia and other accounts tell it, is that he wanted Mick Jagger to go and find his own song — and Sam Cooke talked him round. When the first royalty cheque arrived he reversed himself entirely and said Jagger could have anything he wanted. Womack went on to a long solo career as one of soul’s most durable writers and guitarists.

Who recorded it

Songs written by Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack

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