In 1959, Ross was brought to the attention of Milton Jenkins, the manager of the local doo-wop group The Primes, by Mary Wilson. Primes member Paul Williams convinced Jenkins to enlist Ross in the sister group The Primettes, which included Wilson, Florence Ballard and Betty McGlown.
In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the female entertainer of the century. In 1993, The Guinness Book Of World Records listed her as the most successful female artist ever (the title is now attributed to Madonna), partly due to her combined total of eighteen number-one singles, six of them recorded solo and the remaining dozen from her work with the Supremes.
Ross was also one of the few pop singers to find modest success in the acting world winning an Academy Award nomination for her role as Billie Holiday in the 1972 film, "Lady Sings the Blues" as well as having hits with other film roles such as "Mahogany", "Out of Darkness" and "Double Platinum", not to mention her role in "The Wiz".
Ross has been awarded many lifetime achievement accolades from many organizations and media outlets: she has been featured on BET, Soul Train, and awarded multiple times at the NAACP Image Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007 and given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement in 2011.
Ross' professional vocal collaborators have included the following during her career: Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Julio Iglesias, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Smokey Robinson, among many others.
All Of Me
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why not take all of me
Can't you see
I'm no good without you
Take my lips
I want to loose them
Take my arms
[Chorus]
Your goodbye
Left me with eyes that cry
How can I go on, dear, without you
You took the part
That once was my heart
So why not take all of me
[Chorus]
You took the part
That once was my heart
So why not take all of me
The lyrics of Diana Ross's "All of Me" express a plea from the singer to her lover to take everything she has to offer. The song seems to be a cry for reconciliation, acknowledging that without her lover, she cannot function properly. Ross begs her lover to take all of her, including her lips and arms, as she is useless without him. The chorus is a poignant description of the pain that Ross is feeling, as his goodbye has left her with eyes that cry. She wonders how she can go on without him, as he has taken the very heart of her existence, leaving behind a hollow shell of a person.
The lyrics of "All of Me" are emotional and relatable. The song speaks to the pain, hopelessness, and desperation that many people feel when they lose someone they love. It is a universal sentiment, expressed through beautiful words and a melancholic melody. Ross's performance is powerful, her beautiful voice and emotive delivery bring the lyrics to life, pulling at the heartstrings of anyone who listens.
Line by Line Meaning
All of me
The singer is offering themselves entirely to the person they are addressing, physically and emotionally.
Why not take all of me
The singer is questioning why the person they are addressing doesn't want to accept everything they have to offer.
Can't you see
The singer is pleading with the person they are addressing, asking them to understand how much they need them.
I'm no good without you
The singer is admitting that they cannot function properly or be truly happy without the person they are addressing.
Take my lips
The singer is offering their ability to speak and express themselves to the person they are addressing.
I want to loose them
The singer is expressing their desire to give up their voice, as it is worthless without the person they are addressing.
Take my arms
The singer is offering their ability to hold and embrace others to the person they are addressing.
I'll never use them
The singer doesn't want to hold anybody else because they don't matter as much as the person they are addressing.
Your goodbye
The singer is referring to the person they care about leaving them.
Left me with eyes that cry
The singer is saying that they are heartbroken and crying because of the person they care about leaving them.
How can I go on, dear, without you
The singer is questioning how they can continue living without the person they care about and love dearly.
You took the part
That once was my heart
The person they care about has left and in doing so, has taken away the love the singer had for them.
So why not take all of me
The singer is asking the person they care about to take everything they have to offer, since they have already taken their heart and love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs, MARLONG MUSIC CORP., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Growrena Russell
All of me
Why not take all of me
Can't you see
I'm no good without you
Take my lips
I want to lose them
Take my arms
I never use them
Your goodbye
Left me with eyes that cry
How can I go on dear without you
You took the part
That once was my heart
So why not take all of me
All of me
Why not take all of me
Can't you see
I'm no good without you
Take my lips
I want to lose them
Take my arms I never use them
MrJeffw223
Wow...she is just awesome... And she is currently bringing the house down with her amazing rendition of 'Don't Explain'. Her voice is like fine wine...
Mirta isabel Ibiri
Magnífica, gloriosa orquesta!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍
Mec Chocolat
Her voice is perfect for this song. Just because someone is an original doesn't necessarily mean they own the song in all its forms. The Island is best sung by Sarah Vaughan not its original composer and singer. Diana Ross is superb here. Love it!
F.C. Laney
Subjective
whatigot2say
this was a spectacular video, I remember watching it over and over being blown away by the superb quality of the music and the vibe of the whole show was amazing. Should have gotten more press. it was a one of kind project.
zdzisław balcewicz
Taka muzyka już się nie wróci a szkoda.Wspaniały BB nie mówiąc już o damie jazzu D.Ross
steveknows62
@zdzisław balcewicz No argument here
Maritza de Olarte
BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND BEAUTIFUL SONG!
charlin paker
forget to Billy????????????????
Henry Gerfin
Hello, how are you doing today and the entire family and friends doing today I really miss oldies song