Diana Ross and The Supremes was the new name used by The Supremes from 1967… Read Full Bio ↴Diana Ross and The Supremes was the new name used by The Supremes from 1967 to 1970. It was Motown boss Berry Gordy's idea to explicitly make Diana Ross the group's front woman.

The Supremes were a hugely successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia and disco. Second only to The Beatles in terms of records sales and chart success, The Supremes were the most successful American musical act of the 1960s, delivering twelve #1 hits between 1964 and 1969, many of them written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.

Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes.

Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in 1964 with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967. Ballard left the group that same year because of personal differences and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong.

Diana Ross left the group for a history-making solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of The Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.

A Place In The Sun
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Like a long lonely stream I keep runnin' towards a dream,
movin' on, movin' on.
Like a branch on a tree I keep reachin' to be free,
movin' on, movin' on.

'Cause there's a place in the sun where there's hope for ev'ry one,
where my poor restless heart's gotta run.
Theres' a place in the sun and before my life is done,

Got to find me a place in the sun.

Like an old dusty road
I get weary from the load,
movin' on, movin' on.
Like this tired troubled earth
I've been rollin' since my birth,
movin' on, movin' on.

'Cause there's a place in the sun where there's hope for ev'ry one,
where my poor restless heart's gotta run.

Theres' a place in the sun and before my life is done,
Got to find me a place in the sun.

Overall Meaning

In "A Place in the Sun," Diana Ross and the Supremes with the Temptations convey the idea of searching for a better place, both physically and emotionally, through a series of analogies. The lyrics describe the singers as running like a long lonely stream towards a dream, moving on like a branch on a tree that keeps reaching to be free. The song highlights the universal desire to find a place where everyone, including those with a restless heart and a weary soul, can find hope.

The lyrics also tap into the idea of being on a journey, much like an old dusty road, and tired troubled earth, rolling since birth. All of the described imagery implies that the singers are determined to find a place where they belong, a sanctuary, a place in the sun, where they can find respite and peace.

Overall, the song epitomizes the struggles of life and the quest to find meaning, purpose, and acceptance, and connect with people and the world at large.

Line by Line Meaning

Like a long lonely stream I keep runnin' towards a dream, movin' on, movin' on.
I am pursuing my dreams with strong resilience and an unrelenting drive, just like a stream that flows continuously towards its destination.

Like a branch on a tree I keep reachin' to be free, movin' on, movin' on.
I strive for my freedom like a branch growing towards the sunlight, constantly reaching beyond my current limits.

'Cause there's a place in the sun where there's hope for ev'ry one, where my poor restless heart's gotta run.
There's a place of endless possibilities and hope where people can thrive, and I know I will find my way there, because my heart seeks it out with a restless longing.

Theres' a place in the sun and before my life is done, Got to find me a place in the sun.
I am driven to find my place in the sun before my life comes to an end, but I know that through perseverance, I will get there eventually.

Like an old dusty road I get weary from the load, movin' on, movin' on.
I may grow tired and weary like an old and dusty road, but I never give up, and continue to push forward, moving on and moving forward with each step.

Like this tired troubled earth I've been rollin' since my birth, movin' on, movin' on.
Just like the earth, constantly rolling and turning, I've been moving along my journey since the day I was born, never giving up on my dreams, and always pushing forward towards my goals.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bryan Wells, Ronald N. Miller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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