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.
Chain Gang
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
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I hear someon sayin'
Ho ha ho ha
Ho ha ho ha
Well don't you know
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
Workin' on the chain gang
All day long they're saying
Ho ha ho ha
Ho ha ho ha
Well don't you know
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
All day long they work so hard
'till the sun is going down, down
Workin' on the highways and byways and wearing
Wearing a frown
You hear them moaning
Their lives away
Then you hear somebody say
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
They're saying
I'm going home one of these days
I'm going home
See my woman whom I love so dear
Mean while
I have to work right here
Well don't you know
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
All they long they're saying
My, my, my work is so hard
Give me water
I'm thirsty
My work is so hard
The Diana Ross and the Supremes song "Chain Gang" deals with the theme of prison labor, which is also known as chain gangs. The lyrics highlight the harsh conditions of the work and the despair of the prisoners who are forced to work. The use of the repetitive refrain "ho ha ho ha" in the song creates a sense of monotony and establishes a feeling of rhythm that reflects the work of the chain gang.
The song is an ode to the men who are working on the chain gang, and it recognizes the difficulty of their work. The lyrics reveal the physical and emotional exhaustion they suffer. The prisoners work all day long, building highways and byways, and they wear a frown on their faces. The lyrics highlight the moaning and groaning sounds of the men as they work, which could be interpreted as a call for empathy from the listener.
The song also showcases the prisoners' hope and longing for a better future. They sing about going home to see their loved ones, but they have to continue working on the chain gang. The lyrics depict the harsh realities of prison labor and call for more humane prison conditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Ho ha ho ha
Repetitive vocalizations that signify the grueling nature of the men's work
I hear someon sayin'
The listener discovers the source of the vocalizations
Well don't you know
That's the sound of the men
Workin' on the chain gang
The vocalizations are identified as the sounds emanating from the men who are working on the chain gang
All day long they're saying
Ho ha ho ha
Ho ha ho ha
The men vocalize their suffering throughout the day, as they perform their arduous tasks
All day long they work so hard
'till the sun is going down, down
Workin' on the highways and byways and wearing
Wearing a frown
You hear them moaning
Their lives away
Then you hear somebody say
The men work long hours building roads and suffering in silence, until one of them speaks out
They're saying
I'm going home one of these days
I'm going home
See my woman whom I love so dear
Mean while
I have to work right here
One of the men longs to be reunited with his lover and speaks of the hope of being freed from the chain gang
All they long they're saying
My, my, my work is so hard
Give me water
I'm thirsty
My work is so hard
The men complain about the difficulty of their work and the hardships they face, such as dehydration
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: SAM COOKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind