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.
Summertime
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanna put my light things on
I wanna put my winter life away
Summertime I need a sunny day
I want those peaches on the table
I want the watermelon red
And the warm sun creeping through the window
I want the sand out there to lie on
And the sea out there to swim
So my heart can take a holiday
From breakin' over him
Summertime when will you come
I wanna put my light things on
I wanna put my winter life away
Summertime I need a sunny day
And I want to drive forever
Wanna roll the windows down
Get the breeze back on my body
Get my feet back on the ground
I want the sand out there to lie on
And the sea out there to swim
So my heart can take a holiday
From breakin' over him
Summertime when will you come
I wanna put my light things on
I wanna put my winter life away
Summertime I need a sunny day
The lyrics to Diana Ross's song Summertime highlight the yearning for warmer, brighter days after a long and dreary winter. The singer longs to put away their heavy winter clothes and embrace the lightness and freedom that comes with summer. The mentioning of the peaches and watermelon, two seasonal fruits of summer, further emphasize this desire for summer to arrive. The warm sun creeping through the window provides a comforting and soothing feeling, easing the singer out of bed and into their day.
The singer also desires the relaxation and enjoyment that comes with summer activities such as lying on the sand, swimming in the sea, and driving with the windows rolled down. All of these activities offer a release from the singer's heartbreak, which they hope to heal during their summer vacation. The singer's heart is breaking over someone, and they are looking for a holiday for their heart.
Overall, the lyrics of Summertime convey a sense of longing for the joys of summer and a break from the burdens of winter and heartbreak. The song highlights the seasonal and emotional shifts that occur in our lives, and the hope that comes with the arrival of a new season.
Line by Line Meaning
Summertime when will you come
The artist yearns for summertime and wishes to know when it will arrive.
I wanna put my light things on
The artist wants to wear lighter clothing appropriate for warm weather conditions.
I wanna put my winter life away
The artist wants to put away anything associated with wintertime and embrace summertime instead.
Summertime I need a sunny day
The artist requires a bright, sunny day to experience all the things she desires in the summer.
I want those peaches on the table
The artist desires a fresh, juicy peach as a symbol of summertime.
I want the watermelon red
The artist desires a ripe, juicy watermelon, which is a common summer fruit and a symbol of warm weather.
And the warm sun creeping through the window
The artist wants sunlight to come through her window and bring warmth into her life.
To ease me out of bed
The artist wishes to arise more peacefully and comfortably due to the warmth of the sun and summertime energy.
I want the sand out there to lie on
The artist desires to relax and lie on the beach sand, which is reminiscent of summertime relaxation and leisure.
And the sea out there to swim
The artist wants to swim in the ocean to experience the refreshing and calming benefits of the sea.
So my heart can take a holiday
The artist wants to take a break from the sorrow caused by a past break-up or other emotional pain and turn her focus to enjoying the pleasures of summer.
From breakin' over him
The artist wants to escape the emotional turmoil caused by memories of a past lover.
And I want to drive forever
The artist wishes to drive endlessly and travel freely with the windows down, embodying the carefree essence of summertime.
Wanna roll the windows down
The artist wants to open the car's windows to let the breeze in while she drives and immerse herself in the summer experience.
Get the breeze back on my body
The artist wants the fresh, cool breeze to blow across her skin and revive her senses.
Get my feet back on the ground
The artist wants to gain a renewed sense of grounding, stability, and connection with the earth by walking barefoot in the sand or grass, as is often done in the summer season.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEONARD COHEN, SHARON ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rola rola
Just love this masterpiece. Her voice is so soft yet so powerful
Raul Cabral
My favorite song from that album... love u Miss Ross!
Helen Wright
Such a light, breathy voice can convey such sharp sadness. The happiness of summer is the perfect contrast.
mawoj93
Blows my mind that Diana Ross has a song co-written by Leonard Cohen. It's wonderful! Also shout out to Sharon Robinson!
Dau Calmon
Linda canção !! R.I.P Leornad Cohen.
goody2shoes772
This Album should have been a #1 Album. Every song on it was really good. I especially LOVE the lyric that says, "Watermelon Rain" from the record Summertime. I thought I was the only one who spoke of watermelon rain. It was the fragrance after a summer rain shower that came up from the slate sidewalks when folks used to spit watermelon seeds on the ground in Harlem. The rain used to soak into the sidewalks then stop. The heat from the ground combined with the melon seeds caused a mist that used to stay in the air for a while, then disappear leaving it's memory until next time.
SweptAway529
According to Google, the lyric is actually "I want the watermelon red." This seems to fit as it rhymes with "To ease me out of bed" which completes the verse.
kirk
Thanks for explaining. Always wondered what it meant.
Winston Thomas
This song came out in 1987, the same year a good friend died tragically. Always remembered, R.I.P. Cornel Cohen.
Andrew Flood
I LUV THIS SONG !!!!