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.
Good Morning Heartache
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You old gloomy sight
Good morning heartache
Thought we said goodbye last night
I tossed and turned
Until it seemed you had gone
But here you are with the dawn
But you're here to stay
It seems I met you
When my love went away
Now every day I start by
Saying to you
Good morning heartache, what's new?
Stop haunting me now
Can't shake you no how
Just leave me alone
I've got those Monday blues
Straight through Sunday blues
Good morning heartache
Here we go again
Good morning heartache
You're the one who knew me well
Might as well get used to you
Hangin' around
Good morning heartache
Sit down
and have a cup of tea
The song "Good Morning Heartache" by Diana Ross tells the story of a woman awake and staring at her old companion, heartache, in the start of a new day. She had hoped to have bid it farewell the night before, but it returns with a vengeance. The singer had tried her level best to think of other things, to wish heartache away, but it remains, and every day starts with its unwelcomed presence. The chorus describes how heartache is still there, and there seem to be no signs of its departure. By the end of the song, the singer seemed to have resigned herself to heartache's presence, accepting its permanence and even inviting it for a cup of tea.
Diana Ross offers a soulful take on this timeless standard, feeling every lyric, groaning and mumbling with each word. Her voice exudes pain and pathos, infusing every syllable with emotion and meaning. The song, first recorded by Billie Holiday, has since been covered by some of the biggest names in music, including Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and Diana Ross.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning heartache
Addressing the feeling of sadness and despair that always seem to linger, being referred to as 'heartache'
You old gloomy sight
Acknowledging that it's a familiar feeling, and that it's always present like an old acquaintance. It's a manifestation of sadness that's a constant reminder of past pain
Thought we said goodbye last night
Expressing a hope that it will go away but also acknowledging that the feeling is persistent, appearing no matter how much effort is put into avoiding it
I tossed and turned
Describing the uneasy sleep resulting from the feeling, which is difficult to shake
Until it seemed you had gone
Describing the feeling of hope that accompanied the thought that the pain was finally gone with no sign of its return
But here you are with the dawn
The realization that the pain has returned, creating a sense of disillusionment that the feeling might always resurface
Wish I'd forget you
Describing the desire to forget the pain completely and move on, leaving the feeling behind forever
But you're here to stay
Accepting the reality that the feeling will always be present, never completely vanishing
It seems I met you
Acknowledging that the feeling is not new and that it is present when life is not going so well
When my love went away
Connecting the feeling to heartbreak and the loss of love, leading to loneliness and despair
Now every day I start by
Accepting that the feeling will accompany her every morning, creating a sense of dread and resignation
Saying to you
Directly addressing the feeling, as if it has a presence and an independent identity
Good morning heartache, what's new?
Asking what new pain and despair the coming day will bring, with a touch of irony implied
Stop haunting me now
Asking for a reprieve from the constant presence of the feeling
Can't shake you no how
Describing the feeling of being stuck with the pain, as if it defines every aspect of life
Just leave me alone
A plea for the feeling to dissipate and for some normalcy to return, freeing the mind from being consumed by sadness
I've got those Monday blues
Describing the feeling of being weighed down by the pain, as if it's a burden that is only increasing with time
Straight through Sunday blues
The feeling is so consuming that the singer is unable to escape it even on the weekend when some reprieve is usually possible. It affects every moment of life
Good morning heartache
Reiterating the presence of the feeling and acknowledging that it's a constant reality
Here we go again
A sense of resignation and acceptance that the day will be filled with despair and the feeling of heartache
You're the one who knew me well
The feeling of heartache is personified, as if it is an individual or a presence, describing its intimate knowledge of the artist's deepest pains and fears
Might as well get used to you
Accepting the feeling as a regular part of life, understanding that it's part of the story she's living and recognizing that the only way to deal with it is to embrace it
Hangin' around
Describing the feeling as a presence that never goes away, hanging around like an old friend who never leaves
Good morning heartache
Restating the endless cycle of despair, heartache, and resignation
Sit down
A final act of resignation, accepting the feeling and the fact that the best course of action is simply to sit with it and wait for it to subside
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ervin Drake, Dan Fisher, Irene Higginbotham Padellan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anjilena Grace
Good morning heartache
You old gloomy sight
Good morning heartache
Thought we said goodbye last night
I turned and tossed until
It seems you had gone
But here you are with the dawn
Wish I forget you
But you're here to stay
It seems I met you
When my love went away
Now everyday I stop I'm saying to you
Good morning heartache what's new
Stop haunting me now
Can't shake you nohow
Just leave me alone
I've got those Monday blues
Straight to Sunday blues
Good morning heartache
Here we go again
Good morning heartache
You're the one
Who knows me well
Might as well get uses to you
Hanging around
Good morning heartache
Sit down
Stop haunting me now
Can't shake you nohow
Just leave me alone
I've got those Monday blues
Straight to Sunday blues
Good morning heartache
Here we go again
Good morning heartache
You're the one
Who knew me when
Might as well get use to you
Hanging around
Good morning heartache
Sit down
Good morning heartache what's new ?
miya Wright
Good morning heartache
You old gloomy sight
Good morning heartache
Thought we said goodbye last night
I tossed and turned
Until it seemed you had gone
But here you are with the dawn
Wish I'd forget you
But you're here to stay
It seems I met you
When my love went away
Now every day I start by
Saying to you
Good morning heartache, what's new?
Stop haunting me now
Can't shake you no how
Just leave me alone
I've got those Monday blues
Straight through Sunday blues
Good morning heartache
Here we go again
Good morning heartache
You're the one who knew me well
Might as well get used to you
Hangin' around
Good morning heartache
Sit down
marknorthwest93
Diana Ross suffered negative reaction when it was first announced she would be portraying Billie Holiday in a film biography. Her interpretation of "Lady Day" was not only respectful, I maintain that Ross helped bring Holiday's music back to prominence. Billie died in 1959, and by 1971 was largely unknown to a younger generation. Only a handful of various "Greatest Hits" compilations were available in record shops, and often only by special order. After the film release, there was a massive "Lady Day" revival, and over the years just about every song Billie ever performed has been released. Sad to say Billie never got to enjoy the mass critical acclaim and wealth her body of work has generated since her untimely death, but her timeless legend is certainly assured. Diana Ross has had an extraordinary musical career, but her sensitive approach to the music of Billie Holiday may be her greatest achievement.
Sylvia Rivera
I agree Well said
James T
So sad. So true
ranchump
I happen to prefer her version. And the arrangement is first class.
Dianne Buschelman
Spot on. I saw the movie at twelve and had to find out everything about her. Record shops to find old vinyl. And bought this album. Diana Ross did a fabulous job in the movie.
Mcat
Agreed.....absolutely!
K RIDGEWAY
My fav version of this song. Just splendid. The Soundtrack should have won a Grammy, too.
DEBI COOK
Billie Holiday did a fabulous job singing this song and Diana Ross did her proud.
John M
Diana Ross owns this song.....best version ever!
D NEIL
I respectfully disagree because Lady Day has way more soul…. In my opinion…