Diane Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944), better known as Diana Ros… Read Full Bio ↴Diane Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944), better known as Diana Ross, is an American soul, R&B and pop singer and actress born in Detroit, Michigan. Ross is one of the most successful female artists of her era, both due to her solo work and her role as lead singer of The Supremes during the 1960s.

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.

For Better Or Worse
Diana Ross Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pamela Sawyer-Joe Hinton
For better or worse
I'll say yes in that little church
Will you marry me boy?
For better or worse.

We can't find a home
Just a room without any view

We'll walk our favorite march
But least I'll have you.

[Chorus]
I see the priest standing before you and me
In my mind's eye I can see how it will be.

When he says to you:
For better or worse
Do you take this girl for your wife?
I'll say yes, yes I do for all of my life.

For better or worse
I'll make you love every new day
Bringing breakfast to your bed
I'll spoil you that way.

I can't hardly wait for a boy
Baby, can you?
I know he'll be cute
Cause he'll be like you.

[Chorus: x2]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Diana Ross & The Supremes's song For Better Or Worse depict the commitment and devotion two people have towards each other, despite going through tough times. The song revolves around a couple who cannot find a place to live together, but they are still determined to tie the knot in a small church. The lines, "For better or worse, I'll say yes in that little church. Will you marry me boy? For better or worse," illustrate their willingness to vow their lives to one another, regardless of any hardships they may face.

The second verse, "We can't find a home. Just a room without any view. We'll walk our favorite march. But least I'll have you," showcases the obstacles they encounter in finding a place to stay, indicating they are struggling financially. However, they prefer to focus on the comfort they provide each other and not the material things they lack. The song's chorus reflects the confident thought that the singer has, projecting the future that they will share together.

Overall, For Better Or Worse by Diana Ross & The Supremes portrays the enduring love and unwavering support that a couple can offer each other, regardless of their situations.

Line by Line Meaning

For better or worse
No matter what happens, good or bad

I'll say yes in that little church
I will agree to marry you in a simple ceremony

Will you marry me boy?
Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?

We can't find a home
We are having trouble finding a place to live

Just a room without any view
The place we can afford is not very nice

We'll walk our favorite march
We will continue on together despite our struggles

But least I'll have you
At least we have each other to lean on

I see the priest standing before you and me
I imagine our wedding ceremony in my mind

In my mind's eye I can see how it will be
I can vividly picture our wedding day

When he says to you:
During the wedding ceremony, when the priest asks you:

Do you take this girl for your wife?
Will you commit to being this woman's partner for life?

I'll say yes, yes I do for all of my life
I will gladly and whole-heartedly commit to being with you forever

I'll make you love every new day
I will do everything I can to ensure you enjoy each and every day

Bringing breakfast to your bed
I will make you breakfast in bed as a little treat

I'll spoil you that way
I will pamper and treat you well

I can't hardly wait for a boy
I'm excited to have a son

Baby, can you?
Do you feel the same way?

I know he'll be cute
I'm sure our son will be adorable

Cause he'll be like you
Because he will be like his father

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HINTON JOE, JOE HINTON, PAMELA JOAN SAWYER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Timothy Peters

1y↑4

The goddess of Pop will never ever lose her throne! 💗

Rose speaks truth!! like it is!!!

1y↑5

🎉 Yasss,her voice is Queen, We love you lady, keep doing your Awesome 🎆💖🤗🙏🌷🌷

Shelby Thomas

1y↑2

WOW…standing the test of time….I think I must have been 7 or 8 when I first heard and saw Diana Ross along with Mary and Flo…she is incredible…has it been a thousand years since she’s been out here showing us how it’s done….🤓