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.
Surrender
Diana Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I need so desperately
The tenderness that you posses
You've deprived me
You must pray for the lonely night
That I walked the floor for you
And don't know you must erase
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Don't you know that I'm taking my case
To the highest court of love
And these are some of the charges
You'll be found guilty of
You've used me and abused me
'Till I felt like I wanted to die
You created a need in me
That only you can satisfy
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Come along peacefully
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Give it to me, ah right now
Give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me all, give it to me
Ah, right now, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
The lyrics of Diana Ross's song Surrender describe a desperate plea for love from a partner who has been withholding affection. The singer reveals that she needs the tenderness that her partner possesses, but has been deprived of it. She also expresses her loneliness and heartbreak and the fact that the tears she has shed over it have taken their toll on her. The chorus "surrender your love baby" is a direct plea to her partner to give in and offer her the love she needs. The second verse is more pointed and speaks to the ways in which the partner has hurt and mistreated her, but also notes that despite this mistreatment, the singer is still drawn to the partner and only they can satisfy her need for love.
Overall, the song is about the deep plea for affection and the desperation that can come when it is withheld. The language is both strong and vulnerable, describing the pain of the singer's experiences while also showing her willingness to beg for what she needs.
Line by Line Meaning
I want the love that you deny me
I need your love desperately, it's the one thing you won't give me
That I need so desperately
My need for your love is strong and urgent
The tenderness that you posses
Your gentle and loving nature is something I desire
You've deprived me
You have kept me from experiencing the love and tenderness I crave from you
You must pray for the lonely night
Think about how lonely I felt on many nights when you were not there for me
That I walked the floor for you
I spent countless hours waiting for you to return or show me affection
And don't know you must erase
You must acknowledge and apologize for the pain you caused me
All the tearstairs on my face
My tears that were shed because of your neglect
Don't you know that I'm taking my case
I am making a plea to the highest court of love to get justice in this situation
To the highest court of love
I am seeking a fair ruling from the powers that be in the realm of love
And these are some of the charges
These are the accusations I have against you
You'll be found guilty of
You will be held responsible for what you have done
You've used me and abused me
You took advantage of my love and mistreated me
'Till I felt like I wanted to die
Your actions caused me so much pain and despair that I felt I could not go on living
You created a need in me
You made me reliant on your love and attention
That only you can satisfy
Only you have the power to fulfill my needs and give me the love I desire
Come along peacefully
Please surrender your love willingly and without resistance
Give it to me, ah right now
I want your love immediately
Give it to me, give it to me
I need your love and attention
Give it to me all, give it to me
Give me all of your love
Come along peacefully
Please surrender your love willingly and without resistance
Surrender your love baby
Give me your love, I need it from you
Surrender your love
Give in to my desires and love me back
Surrender your love baby
Give me your love, I desire it from you
Surrender your love
Please love me back and fulfill my desires
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind