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.
He Means the World to Me
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
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Or maybe touch my hand
I'd bow down and tell him
His every wish is my command
My nights are so lonely
I'm thinking of him only
Oh how can I make him see
My friends all tell me that I'm silly
That my love for him he'll never see
But I, I can't help it
He means the world to me
He means the world to me
World to me
My friends say I'm silly, silly, silly
But I really care
I'm here to tell you
That he means the world
I really care
The lyrics of Diana Ross and the Supremes's song "He Means the World to Me" is an expression of the intense love and devotion that the singer has towards her love interest. She longs for his attention, yearns for his touch, and is willing to do whatever it takes to be with him. The singer expresses her feelings of loneliness, as she thinks about him constantly and cannot stop herself from loving him, despite what her friends may say.
The lyrics showcase the singer's vulnerability and her willingness to submit to him, should he choose to reciprocate her feelings. She is willing to bow down and make his every wish her command, emphasizing the depth of her love for him. The singer's friends may think she is silly for her love, but the singer cannot help how she feels. The song captures the all-consuming nature of love and how it can make someone feel small and insignificant in the presence of the beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
If he'd just take one look at me
I am willing to throw myself at him if only he'd notice me
Or maybe touch my hand
His touch would make me feel special and wanted
I'd bow down and tell him
I would show my devotion to him by being subservient to his every desire
His every wish is my command
I am willing to do whatever it takes to make him happy and fulfill his every wish
My nights are so lonely
I spend my nights alone, yearning for his affection
I'm thinking of him only
He is the only thing on my mind
Oh how can I make him see
I am desperate for him to notice and understand my deep love for him
He means the world to me
He is the most important person in my life, and I adore him completely
My friends all tell me that I'm silly
Even though my friends don't understand my love, I can't help how I feel
That my love for him he'll never see
My friends believe that he doesn't reciprocate my love
But I, I can't help it
Despite what others say, I can't control my feelings for him
He means the world to me
His importance in my life cannot be understated
My friends say I'm silly, silly, silly
Despite my friends' ridicule, I stand by my love for him
But I really care
I care deeply about him and our connection
I'm here to tell you
I want everyone to know how strongly I feel
That he means the world
He is a vital part of my existence, and my love for him will never waver
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind