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.
Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody's hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
(Just try)
Take a little time out your busy day
To give encouragement
To someone who's lost the way
(Just try)
Or would I be talking to a stone
If I asked you
To share a problem that's not your own
(Oh no)
We can change things if we start giving
Why don't you
Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
(Just try)
If you see an old friend on the street
And he's down
Remember his shoes could fit your feet
(Just try)
Try a little kindness and you'll see
It's something that comes
Very naturally
(Oh yeah)
We can change things if we start giving
Why don't you
(Why don't you)
Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand
Reach out and touch (reach out)
Somebody's hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand (touch somebody's hand)
Make this world a better place
If you can (why don't you)
Reach out and touch
Somebody's hand (somebody's hand)
Make this world a better place
If you can
Diana Ross's "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" is an uplifting song that encourages listeners to connect with others and make the world a better place. The lyrics emphasize the importance of taking time out of our busy lives to give encouragement to someone who may be struggling. Ross's powerful vocals convey the message that each one of us has the power to make a positive impact on the world by simply connecting with others.
The song is a call to action for people to reach out and help others, even if it means taking a little time out of one's day. The lyrics suggest that no problem is too big for us to handle if we come together and work towards a common goal. Ross encourages listeners to try a little kindness and compassion, as these qualities come naturally to humans. She asks us to put ourselves in other people's shoes, so that we may better understand their struggles and offer them the help they need.
Overall, "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" is a powerful and moving song that reminds us of the importance of human connection and compassion. It encourages us to look beyond ourselves and reach out to help others, with the understanding that together we can make the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Reach out and touch
Make a connection with someone
Somebody's hand
Extend your hand to someone in need of help
Make this world a better place
Contribute to the betterment of society
If you can
If you have the ability to do so
(Just try)
Attempt to do something even if it may be difficult
Take a little time out of your busy day
Use some of your time to assist others
To give encouragement
Provide motivation to someone who needs it
To someone who's lost the way
To someone who is struggling to find their path
(Just try)
Attempt to do something even if it may be difficult
Or would I be talking to a stone
Are you incapable of showing empathy?
If I asked you
If I requested of you
To share a problem that's not your own
To listen and offer help with someone else's issues
We can change things if we start giving
We can make a positive difference by contributing
Why don't you
What is preventing you from doing so?
If you see an old friend on the street
Upon encountering a past acquaintance
And he's down
If he is not doing well
Remember his shoes could fit your feet
Consider the possibility that you could be in his position
(Just try)
Attempt to do something even if it may be difficult
Try a little kindness you'll see
Behave in a compassionate way and you will notice its impact
It's something that comes very naturally
Doing good for others is a natural human instinct
We can change things if we start giving
We can make a positive difference by contributing
Why don't you
What is preventing you from doing so?
Reach out and touch
Make a connection with someone
Why don't you (Why don't you)
What is preventing you from doing so?
Reach out and touch somebody's hand
Extend your hand to someone in need of help
Reach out and touch
Make a connection with someone
Somebody's hand
Extend your hand to someone in need of help
Make this world a better place
Contribute to the betterment of society
If you can
If you have the ability to do so
Reach out and touch
Make a connection with someone
Somebody's hand
Extend your hand to someone in need of help
Make this world a better place
Contribute to the betterment of society
If you can
If you have the ability to do so
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind