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.
Can I Go On
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't even know the first thing
About what they're feeling
What am I afraid of?
Don't know what I'm made of
Can I go on not knowing?
That it's more than I can deal with
Though I never knew the song
Some words still catch on
Like caring and sharing
Being together no matter
Can I go on not knowing?
Don't know what I'm made of
Why am I afraid of feeling? Feeling
If I dare to take a chance
Would someone lead me?
The lyrics to Diana Ross's Can I Go On are about grappling with the fear of the unknown and the uncertainty that comes with trying to understand another person's emotions. The first few lines, "Lose it, lose it/I don't even know the first thing/About what they're feeling," suggest a sense of confusion on the part of the singer. They acknowledge that they are not equipped to understand the emotions of others and are at a loss about how to proceed.
The chorus poses a question: "What am I afraid of?/Don't know what I'm made of/Can I go on not knowing?" Here, the singer is questioning their own motives and their ability to handle the emotional complexity of others. They wonder if they are strong enough to confront their fear of the unknown and whether they can continue without understanding.
The final verse culminates in a plea for guidance: "If I dare to take a chance/Would someone lead me?" The singer is not resigned to their uncertainty but is instead pleading for help from another person. The song ends unresolved, as the singer remains uncertain about their ability to navigate the emotional landscape of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Lose it, lose it
I'm losing my composure and don't know how to handle the situation.
I don't even know the first thing
About what they're feeling
I'm not familiar with the emotions they're experiencing.
What am I afraid of?
I'm not sure why I'm so scared.
Don't know what I'm made of
Can I go on not knowing?
I'm uncertain of my capabilities and wonder if I can continue without knowing them.
Feeling, feeling, something tells me
That it's more than I can deal with
I sense that the situation is overwhelming for me.
Though I never knew the song
Some words still catch on
Like caring and sharing
Being together no matter
Even though I don't fully understand the situation, I know that some ideas like kindness and unity are still valuable.
Can I go on not knowing?
Don't know what I'm made of
Why am I afraid of feeling? Feeling
I'm anxious about not knowing my full potential and I wonder why I'm scared of emotions.
If I dare to take a chance
Would someone lead me?
I wonder if I should take a risk and if someone could guide me through it.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICK ASHFORD, NICKOLAS ASHFORD, QUINCY JONES, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind