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.
Selfish One
Diana Ross Lyrics
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It's like a souvenir that just sits on a shelf
It seems like you built a fence around your heart
Afraid that sharing might tear it apart
You pass up every chance at the start of romance
Selfish one, why keep your love in store
You think it's still that keeps forever more
You feel as I do when I ache
My heart could break down in a lonely stage
You better let your heart find a man before it's too late
You let so much time pass by
I find myself still giving you the eye
You must have realized much to my surprise
You're making eyes at me
Is it really you
Now selfish one, you're walking me to my door
Selfish one, you never did this before
Without a chance to resist, your lips get mine
You're beginning to let your love light shine
I can see that you're really on the ball
You're not selfish at all
No, not at all
The way you hold me, the way you squeeze me
No you're not selfish
No, no, no
You're not selfish at all, not at all
The way you hold me, the way you squeeze me
You're not selfish at all
No not at all
The way you hold me
You're not selfish at all
The song "Selfish One" by Diana Ross is a plea for a man to let go of his fear of love, and to come out of his shell in order to experience all that a romantic relationship has to offer. The song is directed at a man who is guarded with his emotions, and who refuses to take the risk of falling in love. Diana Ross pleads with him to open up his heart and to let her in, to stop being selfish and to experience the true joy of being in love.
The lyrics of "Selfish One" are very poignant and powerful, as they speak to the heart of anyone who has ever been afraid of love or has been hesitant to take the leap into a committed relationship. The song is a reminder that, while love can be scary and uncertain, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences that a person can have in life. By being open and vulnerable, we allow ourselves to experience the full range of emotions that come with loving another person.
Line by Line Meaning
Selfish one, why keep your love to yourself
The singer questions why the subject hides their love and does not share it with others.
It's like a souvenir that just sits on a shelf
The love that the subject keeps to themselves is like a useless object that is never used or appreciated.
It seems like you built a fence around your heart
The subject has put up emotional walls to protect themselves from being hurt.
Afraid that sharing might tear it apart
The subject is afraid that being vulnerable and sharing their love will lead to heartbreak.
You pass up every chance at the start of romance
The subject misses opportunities to start relationships because they are too afraid to share their love.
Selfish one, why keep your love in store
The singer repeats their earlier question and urges the subject to stop holding back their love.
You think it's still that keeps forever more
The subject believes that keeping their love hidden will make it last longer and remain unchanged.
You feel as I do when I ache
The singer empathizes with the subject's emotional pain and longing for love.
My heart could break down in a lonely stage
The singer is warning that being alone for too long can lead to emotional distress and heartbreak.
You better let your heart find a man before it's too late
The singer urges the subject to take a chance on love before it becomes too late to find happiness.
You let so much time pass by
The subject has missed out on opportunities for love due to their reluctance to share their feelings.
I find myself still giving you the eye
The singer is still attracted to the subject, despite their initial reluctance to share their love.
You must have realized much to my surprise
The subject has finally realized that they can no longer keep their love hidden and must begin to open up.
You're making eyes at me
The subject is expressing their attraction to the singer and indicating a desire to start a relationship.
Is it really you
The singer is surprised and questioning whether the subject has truly changed their selfish ways.
Now selfish one, you're walking me to my door
The subject is now showing affection and kindness by walking the singer to their door.
Selfish one, you never did this before
The subject's change in behavior is unexpected and surprising to the singer.
Without a chance to resist, your lips get mine
The attraction between the subject and singer is too strong to resist and they share a kiss.
You're beginning to let your love light shine
The subject is finally opening up and sharing their love with the singer.
I can see that you're really on the ball
The singer is impressed with the subject's newfound confidence and willingness to share their love.
You're not selfish at all
The subject has shed their selfish ways and is now open to love and sharing their emotions.
The way you hold me, the way you squeeze me
The physical affection that the subject shows towards the singer confirms their true feelings for them.
No you're not selfish
The subject's reluctance to share their love was not due to selfishness, but rather a fear of being hurt.
You're not selfish at all, not at all
The singer repeats their earlier statement, expressing their happiness that the subject has changed.
The way you hold me, the way you squeeze me
The physical affection that the subject shows towards the singer confirms their true feelings for them.
You're not selfish at all
The subject has become open and honest about their feelings, and is no longer selfish in love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARL SMITH, WILFRED MCKINLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind