Diane Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944), better known as Diana Ros… Read Full Bio ↴Diane Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944), better known as Diana Ross, is an American soul, R&B and pop singer and actress born in Detroit, Michigan. Ross is one of the most successful female artists of her era, both due to her solo work and her role as lead singer of The Supremes during the 1960s.

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.

The Lady Is A Tramp
Diana Ross Lyrics

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I get too hungry for dinner at eight
I like the theater but never come late
I never bother with people i hate
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like the crap games with barons and earls
Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls

That's why the lady is a tramp

I like that cool fresh wind in my hair
Life without care
I'm broke, it's oke!
Hate California
It's cold and it's damp
That's why the lady is a tramp

I get too hungry for dinner at eight
I like the theater but never come late
I never bother with people i hate
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like the crap games with barons and earls
Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like that cool fresh wind in my hair
Life without care
I'm broke, it's oke!
Hate California

It's cold and it's damp
That's why the lady is a tramp

Overall Meaning

In "The Lady Is A Tramp," Diana Ross sings about a woman who defies societal expectations and lives life on her own terms. The singer is too free-spirited to conform to the rigid times and traditions. The first verse shows her choosiness in her people and activities as she declares that she never goes out with people she hates and always arrives early for the theatre. Similarly, the second verse presents her preference for irregular activities and her disdain for pretentious behaviours, contrasting herself from those who attend ritzy events, and those who indulge in gossip. However, the chorus declares that despite everything, she enjoys the simplicity of life and shuns materialism.

The song celebrates individuality and challenges conformity. The lady in the song is defiant and determined to live as she sees fit, despite the conventions of her society. The lyrics indicate her fearlessness and determination to break free from the expectations placed upon her by society, as well as her refusal to compromise her integrity or authenticity. The song suggests that the lady's unconventional characteristics, like her driving spirit and her dislike for frivolous activities, set her apart from the other women.

Line by Line Meaning

I get too hungry for dinner at eight
I'm a free spirit who doesn't conform to societal norms like eating dinner at a specific time

I like the theater but never come late
I love the arts, but I always prioritize punctuality and being on time

I never bother with people I hate
I don't waste my time or energy on people who are negative or bring me down

That's why the lady is a tramp
This is why some people would consider me to be unconventional or even rebellious

I like the crap games with barons and earls
I enjoy taking risks and participating in activities that others might deem as inappropriate or beneath them

Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
I don't believe in putting on airs or pretending to be someone I'm not, I won't dress fancy to go to a certain area

Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
I don't participate in gossip or badmouthing others like some other women might do

I like that cool fresh wind in my hair
I love feeling the freedom and joy that comes with being in nature and feeling the wind blowing through my hair

Life without care
I live my life without worrying too much about the little things, and I try to enjoy the moment

I'm broke, it's oke!
I don't place too much emphasis on material possessions or wealth, and I don't let it control me

Hate California
I have a personal dislike for California for a variety of reasons

It's cold and it's damp
These are some of the factors that contribute to my dislike of California

That's why the lady is a tramp
This is why I might appear to be an outsider or eccentric to some people

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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