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.
My Man
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But there's one thing that I got
It's my man
Cold and wet
Tied you bet
All of that I'll soon forget
With my man
He's not much for looks
And no hero out of books
But I love him
Two or three girls has he
That he likes as well as me
But I love him
I don't no why I should
He isn't true
He beats me to
What can I do?
Oh my man, I love him so
He'll never know
All my life is just despair
I don't care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is right, all right
What's the difference if I say
I'll go away
When I know
I'll come back on my knees some day
Whatever my man is
I am his for ever more
What's the difference if I say
I'll go away
When I know
I'll come back on my knees some day
Whatever my man is
I am his for ever more
The song 'My Man' by Diana Ross uses powerful lyrics to describe someone who is hopelessly in love with an imperfect man. The repeated phrase "It's my man" signifies that no matter how much pain and heartache he causes her, she cannot help but stay with him. The line "two or three girls has he, that he likes as well as me, but I love him" gives insight into the man's infidelity, yet the singer remains devoted to him nonetheless.
The song also explores themes of dependence and the inability to break free of a toxic relationship. The line "Whatever my man is, I am his forever more" shows that despite knowing deep down that the relationship is not healthy, the singer feels trapped and powerless to leave. The chorus, "Oh my man, I love him so, he'll never know, all my life is just despair, I don't care" illustrates the singer's willingness to put up with the pain and misery that loving this man causes her just to be with him.
Overall, 'My Man' is a poignant representation of the complicated and often painful nature of love, and the challenges that come with being hopelessly devoted to someone who may not feel the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
It's caused me a lot
My life has been full of problems and difficulties
But there's one thing that I got
Despite all my struggles, I have something that makes me happy
It's my man
That thing that makes me happy is my man
Cold and wet
I'm feeling miserable
Tied you bet
I'm stuck in this situation
All of that I'll soon forget
But when I'm with my man, I forget all my troubles
With my man
Being with my man is a refuge for me
He's not much for looks
Physically, he's not the most attractive person
And no hero out of books
He's not like the romantic heroes you read about in novels
But I love him
Despite his shortcomings, I love him deeply
Two or three girls has he
He has other women in his life
That he likes as well as me
He enjoys the company of these other women as much as he enjoys mine
But I love him
Still, I choose to love him despite this infidelity
I don't no why I should
I don't know why I continue to love him, even though he hurts me
He isn't true
He is not faithful to me
He beats me to
He physically abuses me
What can I do?
I feel helpless in this situation
Oh my man, I love him so
Despite everything, I love my man deeply
He'll never know
He is unaware of the depth of my love for him
All my life is just despair
My life is filled with sadness and hopelessness
I don't care
Despite this despair, I still love my man
When he takes me in his arms
When he embraces me
The world is right, all right
Everything feels perfect and complete
What's the difference if I say
It doesn't matter if I say
I'll go away
I'll leave him
When I know
Because I know
I'll come back on my knees some day
I will return to him one day, begging for his love
Whatever my man is
No matter what kind of man he is
I am his for ever more
I will always belong to him, no matter what happens
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Maurice Yvain, Jacques Mardochee Charles, Albert Lucien Willemetz, Channing Pollock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anthony Yusef
This is Diana at her peak vocally. This is not the same voice that gave you "Baby Love" She has never been given credit for the evolution of her voice. This Diana can sing anything with the best of em
Mane
This wasn't her peak, but I agree with the rest of what you said\
But lowkey when she performed baby love live, it sounded fucking amazing
Upontheventura
YES! To me it appears that 73-1980 was her PEAK. Amazing vocals. Amazing phrasing,
Joao Aurelio
This was an unexplainable moment, i don't like say this things but she touched me, i felt her vulnerability so much that i became vunerable for a moment. And it's not because she cried, though as i am human i must say it added some fuel to the emotion i felt. Ross with her lovely voice, her blues, and even belting. She's got her style and she stays in the right place, not too much nor less. It's so amazing how a person could have achieved that place. She's an extraordinary person, a living legend.
Miss Ross
Such Beautiful words
Stoned Mermaid
Diana is so beautiful when she cries. So much credit to the camera crew for capturing her at her just beautifullest moment in life.
e whilton
Listen to that vocal technique at 3:40 on the word "more."Β She sings "moooaaaaaoooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" Perfection!Β Others come and go, but I always find myself appreciating Ross the most.Β Shame that more people don't recognize her immense talent.Β Those in the industry know.
Upontheventura
@Miss Ross No, I have basically just discovered this woman, and totally noticed her impeccable vocal phrasing live. She is awesome. She knew how to sing live.
Miss Ross
I thought I was the only one who noticed that.
monica bella
Berry Gordy, called The Ear, knew!