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.

I'll be doggone
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I'll Be Doggone if I would work all day
And I'll Be Doggone if I would bring you my pay
But if I ever caught you running around,
blowing my money all over this town
Then I wouldn't be doggone
Hey, Hey! I'd be long gone.
Then I wouldn't be doggone (Baby!)
I'd be long gone. mm mm

Now, hey, hey, hey!

I'll be Doggone if you ain't a pretty thing
And I'll be Doggone if you ain't warm as a breath of spring
And if we live to be a hundred year old,
if you ever let that spring turn cold
Then I wouldn't be doggone
Hey, Hey, Hey! I'd be long gone.
Oh, I wouldn't be doggone (Baby)
I'd be long gone. mm mm
Now, did you hear me?
Well, now, what I say oh, believe me.

Well, ev'ry woman should try to be whatever her man wants her to be.
And I don't want much, all I want from you is for you to be true to me.

I'll be Doggone if love ain't a man's best friend
Oh, baby, And I'll Be Doggone if you ain't the loving end
Though I know you make me feel like nobody could,
if I ever found out that you're no good
Then I wouldn't be doggone
Well, I wouldn't be doggone (Baby!)
I'd be long gone.
I wouldn't be doggone
(gonna catch me a train)
Naw, baby, I wouldn't be doggone

I wouldn't be doggone
(gonna catch me a plane)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Diana Ross and The Supremes' song "I'll be Doggone" delve into the topic of trust and loyalty in a relationship. The song narrates the feelings of someone who is in love with a person who they consider to be pretty and warm, and who they believe makes them feel like nobody else can. However, the singer also explains that they would not tolerate being taken advantage of financially or emotionally in the relationship. The song conveys the message that although love can be a strong bond between two individuals, trust and loyalty are equally important factors in making a relationship last.

The song's lyrics also suggest that women should try to be whatever their partner wants them to be to maintain a healthy relationship. This particular line could be interpreted in different ways, whether as a critical commentary on gender roles or as a simple acknowledgment of the expectations that society and men have for women in relationships. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy beat are typical of Motown music, much of which focused on love, relationships, and catchy dance beats.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I'll Be Doggone if I would work all day
I refuse to work all day.

And I'll Be Doggone if I would bring you my pay
I refuse to give you my money.

But if I ever caught you running around,
If I ever caught you cheating on me,

blowing my money all over this town
Spending my money recklessly

Then I wouldn't be doggone
I would leave you.

Hey, Hey! I'd be long gone.
I would leave you immediately without thinking twice.

Now, hey, hey, hey!
Listen up!

I'll be Doggone if you ain't a pretty thing
You are stunningly beautiful.

And I'll be Doggone if you ain't warm as a breath of spring
You have a loving and caring personality.

And if we live to be a hundred year old,
Even if we grow old together,

if you ever let that spring turn cold
If you ever become cold or distant.

Then I wouldn't be doggone
I would leave you.

Hey, Hey, Hey! I'd be long gone.
I would leave you immediately without thinking twice.

Oh, I wouldn't be doggone (Baby)
I would not remain with you no matter what.

I'd be long gone. mm mm
I would leave you immediately.

Now, did you hear me?
Do you understand what I am saying?

Well, now, what I say oh, believe me.
What I am saying is true.

Well, ev'ry woman should try to be whatever her man wants her to be.
Every woman should try to be what her man wants her to be.

And I don't want much, all I want from you is for you to be true to me.
All I ask of you is to be honest and loyal to me.

I'll be Doggone if love ain't a man's best friend
Love is a man's greatest companion.

Oh, baby, And I'll Be Doggone if you ain't the loving end
You are the epitome of love.

Though I know you make me feel like nobody could,
You make me feel really special.

if I ever found out that you're no good
However, if I ever found out that you are unfaithful or dishonest,

Then I wouldn't be doggone
I would leave you.

Well, I wouldn't be doggone (Baby!)
I would not remain with you no matter what.

I'd be long gone.
I would leave you immediately.

I wouldn't be doggone (going to catch me a train)
I would leave you and never come back.

Naw, baby, I wouldn't be doggone (going to catch me a plane)
I am serious about leaving you.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN TARPLIN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WARREN MOORE, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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