Released: June 19, 1973
Songwriter: Marv Tarplin Smokey Robinson
Producer: Willie Hutch Smokey Robinson
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
A few years ago on my birthday
I had just become twenty one
(I remember)
I had a lot to live, said I had a lot to give
Til a man comes to give me a gun
And though that war he sent me to
Didn't claim me
If I'm bitter don't blame me
It's just my soul responding
Don't you try to tell me I'm un-patriotic
I deserve an explanation
I can't help but wonder if you really got it
It's just my soul responding
Soul responding, soul responding
This land once belonged to my father
And to his father before him too
Let me tell you now, I'm on a reservation
Living in a state of degradation
What's a soul suppose to do?
'Cause I'm out, pushin', right?
I'm not in doubt
When it's just my soul responding
To seeing little hungry children
In the land of plenty
Just my soul responding
To doing lots of deeds
But never having any
It's just my soul responding
Soul responding, soul responding
I was born and raised in the ghetto
On the run down side of the track
And there are forces who do everything they can do
To hold me back because my skin is black
Oh but more and more I mind
Hell, it's about time
It's just my soul responding
To being second-class in a land I helped to form
Just my soul responding
To too many roaches and not enough heat
To keep my babies warm
In this land I helped to form
I've got too many roaches and not enough heat
To keep my babies warm
It's just my soul responding
Soul responding, soul responding
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
A few years ago on my birthday
I had just become twenty one
(I remember)
I had a lot to live, said I had a lot to give
Til a man comes to give me a gun
And though that war he sent me to
Didn't claim me
If I'm bitter don't blame me
It's just my soul responding
Don't you try to tell me I'm un-patriotic
I deserve an explanation
I can't help but wonder if you really got it
It's just my soul responding
Soul responding, soul responding
This land once belonged to my father
And to his father before him too
Let me tell you now, I'm on a reservation
Living in a state of degradation
What's a soul suppose to do?
'Cause I'm out, pushin', right?
I'm not in doubt
When it's just my soul responding
To seeing little hungry children
In the land of plenty
Just my soul responding
To doing lots of deeds
But never having any
It's just my soul responding
Soul responding, soul responding
I was born and raised in the ghetto
On the run down side of the track
And there are forces who do everything they can do
To hold me back because my skin is black
Oh but more and more I mind
Hell, it's about time
It's just my soul responding
To being second-class in a land I helped to form
Just my soul responding
To too many roaches and not enough heat
To keep my babies warm
In this land I helped to form
I've got too many roaches and not enough heat
To keep my babies warm
It's just my soul responding
Soul responding, soul responding
more tracks from the album
From the album
- Smokey (1973)
Smokey Robinson popular songs
- Cruisin’
- Really Gonna Miss You
- Being with You
- Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
- The Agony and the Ecstasy
- Quiet Storm
- One Time
- That Place
- Blame It On Love
- I Can’t Find
- Time After Time
- What’s Too Much
- Night And Day
- More Than You Know
- In My Corner
- Happy (Love Theme from ”Lady Sings the Blues”)
- One Heartbeat
- My Girl
- You Are Forever
- Food for Thought
- I Love Your Face
- Our Love Is Here To Stay
- Sweet Harmony
- I’m Glad There Is You