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.
I Ain
Diana Ross Lyrics
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So they'll see that it's me
I know they'll wonder about my recovery
Yes, I lost a love that promised happiness
What my heart wouldn't accept
Put me to the test
They keep a holding me down
They keep a holding me down
But I rise, they can't make me run
Keep a holding me down
But I rise, got my second wind
Keep a holding me down
But I rise, tell 'em I'm back again
Just say, I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me, I ain't been licked
Like outta nowhere
My whole world fell apart
Till this day no one knows
What I felt in my heart
All those precious things
Inside me tried to still
Hands I thought would help
Pushed me over the hill
Keep a holding me down
But I rise, yes, it can be done
Keep a holding me down
But I rise, they can't make me run
Keep a holding me down
But I rise, got my second wind
Keep a holding me down
But I rise, tell 'em I'm back again
Just say, I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me, I ain't been licked
Keep a holding me down
But I rise just to start again
Rise, show 'em that I can
Rise, found a brand new dream
Rise just to prove one thing
Just say, I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
Tell 'em for me, I ain't been licked
I want the world to see
I ain't been licked
Although my love is gone
I ain't been licked
Somehow I carry one
I ain't been licked
I'll find the strength somehow
I ain't been licked
I think I'm ready now
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
I ain't been licked
In "I Ain't Been Licked," Diana Ross sings about her experience with heartbreak and how she has persevered through it all. The lyrics describe her struggle to overcome her loss and the judgment from others who doubted her ability to recover. Ross sings a defiant message of hope and determination, asserting that even when pushed down, she will always rise and return stronger.
The lyrics urge the listener to believe in themselves and never give up, no matter what obstacles they may face. Ross’s emotional delivery, as well as the upbeat melody and rhythm of the song, emphasize the empowering message of the lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "I ain't been licked" towards the end of the song also reinforces the message of perseverance and strength in the face of adversity.
In summary, "I Ain't Been Licked" is a song about overcoming heartbreak, rising above negative influences, and never giving up on oneself. It serves as a powerful anthem that encourages listeners to stay strong and keep fighting for their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll down the gangway
Make my entrance and let everyone see me
So they'll see that it's me
So I can show them that I am still here
I know they'll wonder about my recovery
They will be curious to know how I have moved on
Yes, I lost a love that promised happiness
I experienced a failed relationship that did not live up to my expectations
What my heart wouldn't accept
I could not come to terms with the heartache I experienced
Put me to the test
It was a true challenge for me to overcome this heartbreak
Keep a holding me down
Difficult times and obstacles keep coming my way
But I rise, yes, it can be done
Despite the challenges, I am determined to overcome them
Keep a holding me down
There are still barriers in my way
But I rise, they can't make me run
No matter how hard they try to defeat me and weaken me, I will not give up
Keep a holding me down
I still face adversity
But I rise, got my second wind
I found renewed strength and energy to face my challenges
Keep a holding me down
Despite all the setbacks, I am determined to keep going
But I rise, tell 'em I'm back again
I am back and more resilient than ever before
Just say, I ain't been licked
I am here to tell everyone that I have not been defeated
Like outta nowhere
All of a sudden
My whole world fell apart
I experienced a significant loss that turned my life upside down
Till this day no one knows
To this day, I still keep my true feelings hidden
What I felt in my heart
What I truly felt when everything fell apart
All those precious things
All the good things in my life
Inside me tried to still
There was a struggle to keep those good things inside me alive
Hands I thought would help
People I thought I could depend on
Pushed me over the hill
Ended up being the ones who let me down
Keep a holding me down
I am still struggling to overcome the obstacles in my life
But I rise, yes, it can be done
I am determined to not let these obstacles defeat me
Keep a holding me down
Despite these obstacles, I am not giving up
But I rise, they can't make me run
I am not going to give in to these challenges and take the easy way out
Keep a holding me down
I am in a constant battle with myself and the world around me
But I rise, got my second wind
I found a renewed sense of purpose and determination
Keep a holding me down
I am still facing challenges and adversity
But I rise, tell 'em I'm back again
I am ready to face the world and show them what I am capable of
Just say, I ain't been licked
Let everyone know that I have not been defeated and I am ready for more challenges
I want the world to see
I want the world to acknowledge my strength and resilience
Although my love is gone
Despite the loss that brought me pain
I ain't been licked
I have not given up on life
Somehow I carry on
I have found a way to keep going despite the adversity
I'll find the strength somehow
I will continue to find the strength to face my challenges
I think I'm ready now
I feel ready to face whatever comes my way
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind