The Story of a Song ~ I’ll Try Something New | Smokey Robinson, 1962
Smokey Robinson photographed by Baron Wolman at Bimbo’s in San Francisco, May 1968
I will build you a castle with a tower so high
It reaches the moon
I’ll gather melodies from birdies that fly
And compose you a tune
Give you lovin’ warm as mama’s oven
And if that don’t do
Then I’ll try something new
I will take you away with me as far as I can
To Venus or Mars
There we will love with your hand in my hand
You’ll be queen of the stars
And every day we can play on the milky way
And if that don’t do
Then I’ll try something new
I will bring you a flower from the floor of the sea
To wear in your hair
I’ll do anything and everything to keep you happy
Girl, to show you that I care
I’ll pretend I’m jealous of all the fellas
And if that don’t do
Then I’ll try something new
I’ll take the stars and count ’em and move a mountain
And if that don’t do, I’ll try something new
I’ll tell the moon above it’s you that I love
And baby, if it don’t do I’m gonna try something new
Oh, well if there’s something to see, try, here’s what I’ll do
Always trying something new, always trying something that’s new
The Miracles: I’ll Try Something New / You Never Miss a Good Thing, 1962
August 5, 1961 – On that date, Smokey Robinson and his father were among the 23,000 souls inside Detroit’s Tiger Stadium, watching their hometown Tigers battle the Cleveland Indians on a hot, humid Saturday.
Years later, the Motown poet recalled that the Tigers were 7-0 by the sixth inning, much to the chagrin of his father. But Robinson’s team couldn’t maintain the strength of their lead, and by the end of the match, theirs was a slender 7-6 margin of victory. Still, it was the Tigers’ third consecutive win of the summer, and an exciting game.
“He and his dad were staunch competitors when it came to baseball,” says Claudette Robinson .
“His dad loved the Indians and Smokey loved the Tigers. So whenever the teams played in Detroit, off the two of them would go to the Tiger Stadium.”
For most of us, that 7-6 outcome is but a footnote to the story of “I’ll Try Something New.” According to Robinson’s autobiography, he felt “a little melody fluttering in my heart” at one point during the game, and then more. “Words came to mind. Quickly I grabbed a pencil and, on the popcorn box, scribbled lyrics that seemed to fall from heaven.”
Also:
The Story of a Song ~ I Wanna Hold Your Hand | Beatles, 1963 / David Levithan, 2006
