I 'm Going Down ( Rose Royce song ) - wikipedia I 'm Going Down ( Rose Royce song ) `` I 'm Going Down '' A-side label of U.S. vinyl single Single by Rose Royce from the album Car Wash : Original Motion Picture Soundtrack B - side `` Yo Yo '' Released September 1976 Format 7 '' single Recorded 1976 Genre R&B, soul Length 3 : 37 Label Whitfield Songwriter ( s ) Norman Whitfield Producer ( s ) Norman Whitfield Rose Royce singles chronology `` I Wanna Get Next to You '' ( 1977 ) `` I 'm Going Down '' ( 1976 ) `` Do Your Dance '' ( 1977 ) `` I Wanna Get Next to You '' ( 1977 ) `` I 'm Going Down '' ( 1977 ) `` Do Your Dance '' ( 1977 ) `` I 'm Going Down '' is a song written and produced by Norman Whitfield, and performed by Rose Royce. The single is from the film Car Wash and is featured on the film 's soundtrack. Contents 1 Background 1.1 Charts 2 Mary J. Blige version 2.1 Music video 2.2 Chart 3 In popular culture 4 References 5 External links Background This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2013 ) The Rose Royce ( original ) version received moderate success. It peaked at number seventy on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number ten on the R&B singles chart. In the film Car Wash, the song serves as a double entendre, as it compliments the screen time of Maureen, a forlorn prostitute who desperately seeks a chance at true love with `` Joe, '' even as she turns tricks. Charts Charts ( 1977 ) Peak position Canadian RPM Singles Chart 58 US Billboard Hot 100 70 US Hot Black Singles 10 Mary J. Blige version `` I 'm Goin ' Down '' Standard artwork ( U.S. commercial cassette single pictured ) Single by Mary J. Blige from the album My Life Released January 18, 1995 ( 1995 - 01 - 18 ) Format CD single, maxi single, promo single Recorded Genre R&B soul Length 3 : 44 Label Uptown, MCA Songwriter ( s ) Norman Whitfield Producer ( s ) Sean `` Puffy '' Combs and Chucky Thompson for The Hitmen Mary J. Blige singles chronology `` Be Happy '' ( 1994 ) `` I 'm Goin ' Down '' ( 1995 ) `` Mary Jane ( All Night Long ) '' ( 1995 ) `` Be Happy '' ( 1994 ) `` I 'm Goin ' Down '' ( 1995 ) `` Mary Jane ( All Night Long ) '' ( 1995 ) In 1994, the song would gain more exposure and popularity when it was covered by R&B artist Mary J. Blige for her second album, My Life. Due to the heavy airplay that it received, Blige 's version peaked at number thirteen on the Hot R&B Songs chart and number twenty - two on the US Billboard Hot 100. It became her fifth consecutive Top 40 hit as a lead artist. This song is also frequently performed at many of her concerts and as well as live sets. Music video The music video for Blige 's `` I 'm Goin ' Down '' was directed from January 14 -- 15, 1995 by Matthew Rolston and was shot in black and white, with Blige singing in a club, and wearing an - all black suit with a matching hat, walking downstairs ( being duplicated over and over again ). Chart Chart ( 1995 ) Peak position UK Singles Chart 12 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 22 U.S. Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs 13 In popular culture `` Oh Boy '' off of Cam'ron 's third album Come Home with Me samples the original Rose Royce song. Mariah Carey also sampled the song in her 2002 album Charmbracelet for the song `` Boy ( I Need You ) ''. Both songs were composed by hip - hop producer Justin `` Just Blaze '' Smith and are almost identical. On the episode season 3 finale of Sister, Sister, Tamera ( Tamera Mowry ) covered the song for a talent show, winning a bet that her sister Tia ( Tia Mowry ) had with her enemy -- and Tamera 's opponent, Marva. Marcus Canty performed this song on season one of The X Factor ( U.S. ) during `` Movie Week '' and the elimination. Megan Hilty performs the song in the `` Tech '' episode of Smash Sera Hill performed the song in `` Episode 5 : The Blind Auditions, Part 5 '' episode of The Voice ( U.S. season 2 ) Paige Thomas performed this song as her audition for the second season of The X Factor ( U.S. ) Taylor Beckham performed this song on `` Episode 3 : The Blind Auditions, Part 3 '' of The Voice ( U.S. season 4 ) References Jump up ^ Billboard. Mary J. Blige Hot 100 Singles chart history Jump up ^ Billboard. Mary J. Blige R&B Singles chart history External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Rose Royce Gwen Dickey Kenny Copeland Kenji Brown Lequeint `` Duke '' Jobe Victor Nix Henry Garner Freddie Dunn Michael Moore Terry Santiel Michael Nash Studio albums Car Wash Rose Royce II : In Full Bloom Rose Royce III : Strikes Again ! Rose Royce IV : Rainbow Connection Compilation albums Greatest Hits Singles `` Car Wash '' `` I Wanna Get Next to You '' `` I 'm Going Down '' `` Wishing on a Star '' `` Ooh Boy '' `` Love Do n't Live Here Anymore '' `` Is It Love You 're After '' Related articles Discography Norman Whitfield Whitfield Records Mary J. Blige singles Discography What 's the 411 ? `` You Remind Me '' `` Real Love '' `` Reminisce '' `` Sweet Thing '' `` Love No Limit '' `` You Do n't Have to Worry '' `` My Love '' My Life `` Be Happy '' `` Mary Jane ( All Night Long ) '' `` I 'm Goin ' Down '' `` You Bring Me Joy '' `` I Love You '' Share My World `` Love Is All We Need '' `` I Can Love You '' `` Everything '' `` Missing You '' `` Seven Days '' Mary `` As '' `` All That I Can Say '' `` Deep Inside '' `` Your Child '' `` Give Me You '' No More Drama `` Family Affair '' `` Dance for Me '' `` No More Drama '' `` Rainy Dayz '' Love & Life `` Love @ 1st Sight '' `` Ooh ! '' `` Not Today '' `` Whenever I Say Your Name '' `` It 's a Wrap '' The Breakthrough `` MJB da MVP '' `` Be Without You '' `` One '' `` Enough Cryin '' `` Take Me As I Am '' Reflections ( A Retrospective ) `` We Ride ( I See the Future ) '' Growing Pains `` Just Fine '' `` Work That '' `` Stay Down '' Stronger with Each Tear `` The One '' `` I Am '' `` Each Tear '' `` We Got Hood Love '' My Life II... The Journey Continues ( Act 1 ) `` Ai n't Nobody '' `` 25 / 8 '' `` Do n't Mind '' `` Mr. Wrong '' `` Why '' `` Love a Woman '' `` Someone to Love Me ( Naked ) '' A Mary Christmas `` Do You Hear What I Hear ? '' `` This Christmas '' Think Like a Man Too `` Suitcase '' The London Sessions `` Doubt '' `` Right Now '' `` Therapy '' `` Whole Damn Year '' Strength of a Woman `` Thick of It '' `` U + Me ( Love Lesson ) '' `` Love Yourself '' Soundtracks `` ( You Make Me Feel Like ) A Natural Woman '' `` Not Gon ' Cry '' `` Stronger '' `` The Living Proof '' Guest appearances `` 911 '' `` Ai n't No Way '' `` America 's Song '' `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' `` Ca n't Knock the Hustle '' `` Disrespectful '' `` F for You '' `` Hands '' `` I 'll Be There for You / You 're All I Need to Get By '' `` I 'm a Hustla ( Remix ) '' `` IfULeave '' `` Just Stand Up ! '' `` Lean on Me '' `` Magic Touch ( NYC Remix ) '' `` Now or Never '' `` Remember Me '' `` Runaway Love '' `` Stay with Me ( Remix ) '' `` Touch It ( Remix ) '' `` Wake Up Call ( Mark Ronson Remix ) '' `` What Child Is This '' `` Where Is the Love ? '' Book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I%27m_Going_Down_(Rose_Royce_song)&oldid=788725724 '' Categories : 1976 songs 1977 singles 1995 singles Rose Royce songs Mary J. Blige songs Music videos directed by Matthew Rolston Songs written by Norman Whitfield Soul ballads Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield Whitfield Records singles MCA Records singles Uptown Records singles Black - and - white music videos Torch songs Songs about heartache Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Articles needing additional references from August 2013 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Português Edit links This page was last edited on 3 July 2017, at 03 : 07. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who wrote the song i'm going down
Answer: Norman Whitfield