Smokey Robinson & the Miracles had their first charting hit in 1967 with ‘I Second That Emotion’ and it was later recorded by Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations, who were also on the Motown label. Smokey Robinson went with Motown producer Al Cleveland on a Christmas shopping trip at Hudson’s, a Detroit department store. Smokey’s wife, Claudette, had recently given birth to twins that didn’t survive the premature birth, and he was looking to get her a gift. While at the jewelry counter, Smokey picked out some pearls and asked the salesperson what they thought about them. Robinson turned to Al Cleveland and said, “I sure hope she likes them.” Cleveland then added “I second that emotion.” Both songwriters laughed at Cleveland’s malapropism, as he meant to say, “I second that motion.” The two were immediately inspired to write a song using the incorrect phrase.
American singer Claudette Annette Rogers Robinson was a member of the vocal group The Miracles from 1957 to 1972. Her brother Emerson “Sonny” Rogers was a founding member of the group, which before 1957 was named The Matadors. Claudette replaced her brother in the group after he was drafted into the U.S. Army and she married Smokey Robinson in 1959. In 1955, Smokey formed the Five Chimes doo-wop group which became the Matadors two years later. In August 1957, Robinson and the Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy after a failed audition for another record company. Robinson had brought along with him a notebook that contained 100 songs he wrote while in high school which did not impress Berry Gordy. Gordy saw some raw talent but found the songs immature and uneven and he gave Smokey the following advice saying, “Every song should have an idea, tell a story, mean something.” Two years later, Gordy started Motown and he signed the newly christened Miracles.
Maybe you’d like to give me kisses sweet
Only for one night with no repeat
Maybe you’d go away and never call
And a taste of honey is worse than none at all
Oh little girl
Chorus
In that case I don’t want no part
Well that that would only break my heart
Well if you feel like loving me
And you got the notion
I second that emotion
Well if you feel like loving me
And you got the notion
I second that emotion
Maybe you think that love will tie you down
And you ain’t got the time to hang around
Maybe you think that love will make us fools
And so it makes you wise to break the rules
Oh little girl
[chorus]
In that case I don’t want no part
Well that that would only break my heart
Well if you feel like loving me
And you got the notion
I second that emotion
So if you feel like giving me
A lifetime of devotion
I second that emotion
Written for Thursday Inspiration #210 The Chain where the prompt is break.