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.
Don't Explain
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just say you'll remain
I'm glad you're back
Don't explain
Quiet don't explain
What is there to gain?
Skip that lipstick
You know that I love you
And what love endures
All my thoughts are of you
For I'm so completely yours
Cry to hear folks chatter
And I know you cheat
Right or wrong don't matter
When you're with me, sweet
Hush now, don't explain
You're my joy and pain
My life's yours love
Don't explain
In Diana Ross's song "Don't Explain," the singer is pleading with their lover to not explain why they were gone, but instead to simply say that they will remain. The singer is happy to see their lover again, and doesn't want to dwell on the reason for their absence. The singer also asks their lover to not explain why they are wearing lipstick, which suggests that their lover may have been with someone else while they were away. Despite this, the singer still loves their partner and wants to be with them, regardless of any mistakes they may have made.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes their love for their partner and the strength of their relationship. They acknowledge that there may be gossip about their partner's infidelity, but they are willing to overlook it and be with them regardless. By the end of the song, the singer has made it clear that their love for their partner is all-encompassing, even including both joy and pain.
Overall, "Don't Explain" is a song about the complexities of love and forgiveness. It acknowledges that relationships are not perfect, but that love can endure despite any mistakes or missteps.
Line by Line Meaning
Hush now, don't explain
Quiet don't reveal the reason for your absence or actions
Just say you'll remain
Just affirm that you will stay with me
I'm glad you're back
I'm happy that you have returned
Don't explain
Don't feel obligated to divulge the reasons behind your behavior
What is there to gain?
What benefit will it bring to talk about it?
Skip that lipstick
Forgo the excuses or apologies
You know that I love you
You are aware of the depth of my affection for you
And what love endures
Enduring love can overcome any difficulty
All my thoughts are of you
You are my constant preoccupation
For I'm so completely yours
I belong entirely to you
Cry to hear folks chatter
It's painful to hear gossip and rumors
And I know you cheat
I'm aware that you've been unfaithful
Right or wrong don't matter
It's irrelevant whether your actions were justifiable or not
When you're with me, sweet
As long as you're here, it doesn't matter
You're my joy and pain
You're the source of my happiness and my anguish
My life's yours love
My life belongs to you, my love
Don't explain
You don't need to justify or clarify anything
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ARTHUR JR. HERZOG, BILLIE HOLIDAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Hush now, don't explain
Just say you'll remain
I'm glad you're back
Don't explain
Quiet, don't explain
What is there to gain?
Skip that lipstick
Don't explain
You know that I love you
And what love endures
All my thoughts are of you
For I'm so completely yours
Cry to hear folks chatter
And I know you cheat
Right or wrong, don't matter
When you're with me, sweet
Hush now, don't explain
You're my joy and pain
I'm glad you're back
Don't explain
You know that I love you
What love endures
All my thoughts of you
For I'm so completely yours
Cry to hear folks chatter
And I know you cheat
Right or wrong, don't matter
When you're with me, sweet
Hush now, don't explain
You're my joy and pain
My life's yours, love
Don't explain
mergirl2000 Szucs
Diana Ross should have received an Oscar for her performance portraying Billie Holiday.
Ricky69
Absolutely amazing....the soundtrack, her performance in the movie was stellar... everybody was Billy D, Richard Pryor, it's a shame how racist Hollywood is that this movie did not see receive any awards ...She should have won an Oscar as well as Billy D as well as Richard Pryor..all 3 should have won... Stellar performance and the sound track should have won awards too.. Diana Ross was pure perfection in this movie!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
John Netherly
The ending is on point too, her reactions are right on cue to the music, drums and that side stare is classic..............
anita thomas
I've always loved this song...didn't understand it long ago but I do now..its beautifully sung by diana in the movie. I sent this song to my ex boyfriend and he really didn't understand the song.. I wish he really knew just how much I loved him but I don't think he ever will. It's hard loving someone who doesn't love you and until you feel the pain of it only then will you know. I don't wish it no one. But when I knew he wasn't honest I sent him the song. My nadi will never know how deep the love I have for him yet he left me no choice to let him go. For the same reason of the song. I guess when you love someone let them go and if meant to be it will. Only I wont tolerate one sided relationship at all. ❤
John M.
Keep your heart open. The right guy will fill it if you give him a chance.
O C
Most impactful movie of my childhood and I still love it today. Diana Ross was genius in this film. 💓
Kenneth Costa
Wonderful performance by Miss Ross
John M.
Like Billie, Diana had her own rough times. She sings this with equal authority.
Romani Gypsy
love this song
Johnnie chatman jr
Love this song