Motown Soul Music

In 1967, Smokey Robison and Al Cleveland were at Hudson’s, a department store in Detroit, Michigan. Robinson found some nice pearls for his wife Claudette and, as he was buying them said, “I sure hope she likes them.” Cleveland then said, “I second that emotion.” They found Cleveland’s remark a funny play on the phrase “I second that motion” and decided to use it in a song.

“I Second That Emotion” has the singer want his girlfriend to commit to him and not keep playing the field. It went to #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the R&B Chart, and #27 in the U.K. On the track were Smokey Robinson on lead vocals with background vocals by Claudette Rogers Robison (the lady with the new string of pearls), Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Bobby Rogers. Marv Tarplin is on guitar. Instrumentation is by the fabulous Motown session musicians The Funk Brothers. The song also had charting success for Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations.

Here are the lyrics to “I Second that Emotion” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles:

“Maybe you want to give me kisses sweet
But only for one night with no repeat
And maybe you’ll go away and never call
And a taste of honey is worse than none at all

Oh little girl, in that case I don’t want no part
I do believe that would only break my heart
Oh, but if you feel like loving me
If you got the notion
I second that emotion
Said, if you feel like giving me
A lifetime of devotion
I second that emotion

Maybe you think that love would tie you down
And you don’t have the time to hang around
Or maybe you think that love was made for fools
So it makes you wise to break the rules

Oh little girl, in that case I don’t want no part
I do believe that that would only break my heart
Oh, but if you feel like loving me If you got the notion
I second that emotion Said, if you feel like giving me
A lifetime of devotion I second that emotion

Oh little girl, in that case I don’t want no part
I do believe that that would only break my heart
Oh, but if you feel like loving me
If you got the notion
I second that emotion
Said, if you feel like giving me
A lifetime of devotion
I second that emotion

Oh, I, girl, I second that emotion
Oh, I, girl, I second that emotion…”

For more songs by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles: “Tracks of My Tears.” “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Shop Around” (these are on Pass the Paisley’s sister site The Daily Doo Wop).

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “I Second That Emotion” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles