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.
River Deep
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you want a rag doll
The only doll you've ever owned
Now I'll love you just the way you loved that rag doll
Only now my love has grown
It gets stronger as the river flows
Deeper baby, heaven knows
Do I love you, my oh my
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
Do I love you, would I cry
Oh I love you baby, how I love you baby
When you were a young girl
Did you have a puppy
That always followed you around
Well I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy
No I'll never never let you down
'cause it gets stronger as the river flows
It gets deeper baby, heaven knows
It gets higher, so much higher, as it goes
Do I love you, my oh my
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
Do I love you, would I cry
Oh I love you baby, how I love you baby
I love you baby like a flower loves a spring
I love you baby like a wrong man likes to sin
I love you baby like a schoolboy likes his pie
And oh I love you baby, river deep, mountain high
Do I love you, my oh my
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
Do I love you, would I cry
Oh I love you baby, how I love you baby
The lyrics of Diana Ross's "River Deep" portray a love so strong that it is compared to the force of nature. The first verse begins with a reference to a rag doll, which is a simple and often cherished toy for young children. The comparison that follows is that the singer's love, just like the girl's love for her doll, has grown stronger over time. The next verse uses a similar comparison, but with a puppy instead. The singer promises to be just as faithful as the pet that always followed the girl around.
The chorus is where the intensity of the love is truly expressed. It starts with a question, "Do I love you, my oh my?" which is then answered with comparisons to the power of nature. "River deep, mountain high" is a reference to the obstacles that the love can overcome, as well as the way it continues to grow stronger and deeper. The repetition of "yeah, yeah, yeah" emphasizes the strength of the singer's feelings. The chorus ends with a promise, "Oh I love you baby, how I love you baby."
Overall, the lyrics of "River Deep" create a vivid picture of a love so strong that it can overcome any obstacle. The comparisons to childhood toys and the forces of nature remind the listener of the simplicity and power of love. It is an emotional and uplifting song that celebrates the strength of a deep and abiding love.
Line by Line Meaning
When you were a young girl
As you were growing up
Did you want a rag doll
Did you desire a rag doll
The only doll you've ever owned
The only doll you possessed
Now I'll love you just the way you loved that rag doll
I will love you with the same intensity you loved that doll
Only now my love has grown
But now, my love is much stronger
It gets stronger as the river flows
My love for you grows stronger, like a river flowing
Deeper baby, heaven knows
And my love for you becomes deeper, like the depths of a river
Higher, as it goes
And it increases, like the height of a river
Do I love you, my oh my
Do I really love you, oh my god
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
My love for you runs deep, like a river, and mighty, like a mountain
Do I love you, would I cry
Do I truly love you, would I ever cry
Oh I love you baby, how I love you baby
Oh, how much I love you, my baby
Did you have a puppy
Did you own a puppy
That always followed you around
Which always trailed you closely
Well I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy
Well, I will be as committed and loyal to you as that dog
No, I'll never never let you down
I will never disappoint you
'Cause it gets stronger as the river flows
Because my love becomes stronger, like a river flowing
It gets deeper baby, heaven knows
And it grows deeper, as if reaching the heavens
It gets higher, so much higher, as it goes
And it gets higher and higher as time passes
I love you baby like a flower loves a spring
I love you like a flower blossoms in spring
I love you baby like a wrong man likes to sin
I love you like a sinful man loves to do wrong
I love you baby like a schoolboy likes his pie
I love you like a young boy savors his favorite treat
And oh I love you baby, river deep, mountain high
And oh, I love you so much, as deep as the river and as high as the mountain
Do I love you, my oh my
Can't you see how much I love you
River deep, mountain high, yeah, yeah, yeah
My love for you is boundless, like a river running deep and a mountain standing high
Do I love you, would I cry
Am I truly in love with you, would I ever weep
Oh I love you baby, how I love you baby
Oh, how incredibly and immensely I love you, my baby
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlfowler1996
The fantastic voice of Levi Stubbs can't be questioned.
@b.millsj2401
Everything can be questioned
@johnperry4572
After nearly 50 years.....this version still gets the juices flowing....and the hips and feet going.....
@donnawanna3680
This is Tina song and only Tina's song everybody else spoiled it
@mysticalmargaret6105
To me this is by far the best version of this song. Love it.
@barbaradownie3265
Margaret Tudor BY FAR 💖
@hux2000
My fave is the non-Spector version TIna Turner recorded in the early 70s. It really captures the energy of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJr3v8P5GMQ
@karenwilkerson582
My favorite version of this fabulous song!!!!! 2020
@debbienorris8820
Margaret yes 💗💗so many others are great also but this one is my fav also 😻
@mustafakace7106
A trick : you can watch series at flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies these days.