Released: February 17, 1981

Songwriter: Forest Hairston

Producer: Mike Piccirillo George Tobin

I hear the children singing
But amidst the melody
I hear a tiny voice cry
I hear the children singing
But amidst the melody
I hear a tiny voice cry

Why did we grow up
What were we thinking of
Why didn't we stay young
And so in love
I hear the children singing
But I hear a tiny voice cry

Why can't I find love
Like we knew
When we were young at play
Will I ever hear the music
Will my sadness stay
I'm only a child
A tiny voice cries

I long to hear the melody
The one we danced to yesterday
When we used to laugh sadness away

I hear the children singing
But amidst the melody
I hear a tiny voice cry

My love remains young
And memories linger on
So a grown-up like me
Is forever a child

I hear the children singing
But amidst the melody
I hear a tiny voice cry

Smokey Robinson

Arguably the greatest songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century, Robinson’s timeless creations for Motown, both for his own group and for other artists, provided the ultimate example of what a pop song can be. From The Beatles to Bob Dylan, the rest of the 60s followed in his wake

As if that wasn’t enough, he created a whole new genre in the mid-70s with “quiet storm”, a radio format named after one of his songs. He continues writing and performing today.