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 The Befores
Diana Ross Lyrics
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Without you
Thought I could walk away
And never look back
Thought I had the secret
To stop these eyes from crying
Told myself he were no good
But as you see, here I am
Loving you stronger than ever
Promising to be better
Getting into my head
I don't know how
To be nothing but yours
I guess I should have learned
From all the befores
I wrote a nice long letter
Explaining my reasons for leaving
Hoping it would tear you apart
And leave you grieving
I bet you didn't even read it
You're so familiar with the lines
You just glanced up at the clock
Cause you knew the exact time I'd knock
Without pride
Here I stand
Waiting for your forgiveness
This is where I belong
Come what may
This time I'll stay
You might as well lock all the doors
I guess I should have learned
From all the befores
Promising to be better
And getting into my head
I don't know how to be nothing but yours
I guess I should have learned
From all the befores
In Diana Ross's song "All The Befores," the singer expresses her realization that she can't live without the person she loves. She had thought that she could make it without him and walk away, but she was wrong. She convinced herself that he was no good, and therefore, there was no need to try. However, as time passed, she found that she loved him more than ever and promised to be better. She couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to be with him, and the fact that she tried to leave without success shows that she has learned from "all the befores" and knows that she can't make the same mistake twice.
The lyrics are reflective and relay how love can be a powerful force in one's life. Despite the singer's attempt to move on, she found herself back where she started because of her strong feelings for the person she loves. The chorus "I guess I should have learned from all the befores" suggests that the singer is aware of her tendencies and has tried to overcome them, but ultimately, she knows what her heart desires. The song is a reminder that love is complex, and sometimes we have to make difficult decisions, but we must also learn from our mistakes and strive to do better.
Overall, "All The Befores" is a beautiful tale of how love can be both painful and rewarding. It exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit and the human capacity for forgiveness and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Thought I could make it
I thought I could move on or continue without you
Without you
Without your love or presence in my life
Thought I could walk away
I thought I could leave you behind and not look back
And never look back
Without any regret or longing for you
Thought I had the secret
I believed that I knew how to cope or handle my emotions
To stop these eyes from crying
To prevent myself from shedding tears due to missing you
Told myself he were no good
I convinced myself that you were not good for me
So what's the need in trying
I thought it was pointless to pursue our relationship further
But as you see, here I am
Despite my initial thoughts and attempts, I am currently here with you
Loving you stronger than ever
My love for you has grown and is more intense than before
Promising to be better
I vow to improve myself and the relationship with you
Getting into my head
My thoughts and feelings about you are consuming me
I don't know how
I am unsure of how to not love you
To be nothing but yours
To only be devoted and committed to you
I guess I should have learned
I realize that I should have gained insight from my past experiences
From all the befores
From all my past relationships or situations
I wrote a nice long letter
I composed a detailed explanation of my reasons for leaving
Explaining my reasons for leaving
Clarifying the motivations behind my decision to end the relationship
Hoping it would tear you apart
Anticipating that my letter would cause you emotional pain
And leave you grieving
Expecting you to suffer due to my absence
I bet you didn't even read it
I assume that you did not even bother to read my letter
You're so familiar with the lines
You are already acquainted with my excuses or justifications
You just glanced up at the clock
You merely looked at the time, instead of paying attention to my words
Cause you knew the exact time I'd knock
Expecting me to arrive at a particular time, as in the past
Without pride
Feeling humble and remorseful
Here I stand
I am currently present or visible
Waiting for your forgiveness
Hoping that you will pardon my mistakes and accept me back
This is where I belong
Feeling like I am meant to be with you, regardless of the challenges
Come what may
Regardless of what may happen or occur
This time I'll stay
I am determined to remain committed and loyal to you
You might as well lock all the doors
You should accept or prepare for my return
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind