"Ooo Baby Baby" is a song written by Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore. It is a classic 1965 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label. It achieved its greatest commercial success when Linda Ronstadt covered it in 1978. The song has been covered many times over the years.
Written by Robinson and fellow Miracle Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, "Ooo Baby Baby" was a number 4 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A slow, remorseful number, "Ooo Baby Baby" features Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson lamenting the fact that he cheated on his woman, and begging for her to overlook his mistakes and please forgive him. The song's highly emotional feel is supported by the Miracles' tight background vocal harmonies, arranged by Miracles member and song co-author Pete Moore, and a lush orchestral string arrangement that accents The Funk Brothers band's instrumental track.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Miracles' original version of this song as #266 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is one of the Miracles' most-covered tunes.
William "Smokey" Robinson & Warren Moore
Ooo la, la, la, la.
I did you wrong, my heart went out to play
and in the game I lost you; what a price to pay.
I'm cryin'.
Oooh, baby, baby. Oooh, baby, baby.
Mistakes, I know I've made a few,
but I'm only human. You've made mistakes too.
I'm cryin'.
Oooh, baby, baby. Oooh, baby, baby.
(Chorus:)
Ooh, baby, baby. Ooh, baby.
I'm just about at the end of my rope.
But, I can't stop tryin'.
I can't give up hope.
'cause I feel someday I'll hold you near,
whisper I still love you.
Until that day is here, I'm cryin'
Oooh, baby, baby. Oooh, baby, baby.
Oooh, baby, baby. Oooh, baby, baby.
Oooh, baby, baby. Oooh, baby, baby.