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 Can't Help Myself
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know that I love you
I can't help myself
I love you and nobody else
In and out my life
You come and you go
Leaving just your picture behind
And I kissed it a thousand times
When you snap your fingers
Or wink your eye
I come a running to you
I'm tied to your, baby
And there's nothing I can do
Ooh, sugar
Sugarpie honeybunch
I'm weaker than a girl should be
I can't help myself
I'm a fool in love you see
want to tell you I don't love you
Tell you that we're through
And I've tried
But every time I see your face
I get up all choked up inside
When I call your name, boy
It starts the flame burning in my heart
Tearin' it all apart
No matter how I try
My love I cannot hide
Sugarpie honeybunch
You now that I'm weak for you
I can't help myself
I love you and nobody else
Sugarpie honeybunch
Do you anything you ask me to
I can't help myself
I want you and nobody else
Sugarpie honeybunch
You know that I love you
I can't help myself
The lyrics of "I Can't Help Myself" by Diana Ross and the Supremes describe a deep love and infatuation towards someone they call "Sugarpie Honeybunch". The singer admits that they cannot help themselves from loving this person and that they are weaker than they should be. They try to resist their feelings, but whenever they see this person, they get choked up inside and cannot hide their love. They are tied to this person and cannot resist them, no matter what they do.
The chorus of the song repeats the same phrase, "Sugarpie Honeybunch, you know that I love you, I can't help myself", emphasizing the singer's unconditional, undying love for this person. The second verse describes how the singer is willing to do anything for Sugarpie and cannot resist them when they snap their fingers or wink their eyes. This portrays the power that this person holds over the singer - they are unable to resist their charms and will do anything to please them.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Can't Help Myself" portrays the singer's complete surrender to their love for Sugarpie Honeybunch. They are unable to resist the person, no matter how hard they try, and are willing to do anything to make them happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugarpie honeybunch
Term of endearment used to address a loved one
You know that I love you
Expressing genuine affection towards the addressed person
I can't help myself
Admitting to being under the spell of the addressed person and unable to resist their charm
I love you and nobody else
Affirming that the addressed person is the only one the singer truly loves
In and out my life
Describing the recurrent pattern of the addressed person's presence in the singer's life
You come and you go
Highlighting the inconsistency of the addressed person's behavior towards the singer
Leaving just your picture behind
Implying that the addressed person is not fully committed to the relationship and often leaves without any explanation
And I kissed it a thousand times
Revealing the singer's longing for the addressed person even when they are not physically present
When you snap your fingers
Indicating that the addressed person has the power to make the singer do anything they want
Or wink your eye
Reinforcing the idea that the addressed person can manipulate the singer's emotions with little effort
I come a running to you
Conveying the singer's eagerness to please and be with the addressed person
I'm tied to your, baby
Showing that the singer is emotionally attached and dependent on the addressed person
And there's nothing I can do
Acknowledging the helplessness that the singer feels when it comes to their love for the addressed person
Ooh, sugar
Expressing further affection and attraction towards the addressed person
I'm weaker than a girl should be
Admitting to the vulnerability that the singer feels when it comes to their love for the addressed person
I'm a fool in love you see
Acknowledging that the singer's emotions are irrational and sometimes borderline foolish
want to tell you I don't love you
Revealing the inner conflict that the singer feels between their love for the addressed person and their desire to move on
Tell you that we're through
Suggesting that the singer wants to end the relationship despite their strong feelings
And I've tried
Implying that the singer has attempted to distance themselves from the addressed person
But every time I see your face
Revealing that the singer's efforts have been in vain, as even a glimpse of the addressed person brings back their feelings
I get up all choked up inside
Describing the intense emotion that the singer feels when confronted with the addressed person's presence
When I call your name, boy
Implying that the addressed person is male and that the singer has a specific person in mind
It starts the flame burning in my heart
Highlighting the intensity of the singer's love for the addressed person
Tearin' it all apart
Suggesting that the singer's love for the addressed person is causing emotional distress and turmoil
No matter how I try
Indicating that the singer has made multiple attempts to overcome their feelings for the addressed person
My love I cannot hide
Admitting that the singer's love for the addressed person is too strong to ignore or suppress
Do you anything you ask me to
Implying that the singer is willing to do anything for the addressed person
I want you and nobody else
Affirming the strength and exclusivity of the singer's love for the addressed person
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LaNel Muhammad
You can hear Mary’s vocals so well in this recording 😍 Heavenly voice that makes my heart melt!!!
Carol Runham
They had a GREAT VOICE 🎙️🎙️🎙️
Yvonne van Ommen-Klaassen
Beautyful song love it
DarthKato
I didn't know that the Supremes had made a cover of this song. It pretty damn good too! ^_^
Ray Sand
Didn't know either. I like.
Calvin Guile
It was on The Supremes A Go-Go 1966
frederic tassart
Their backing band, The Funk Brothers, was also the Four Tops' backing band at the time and was composed of most, if not all, of the same musicians as the original #1 single by the Four tops
Kelly Lawson
I am surprised as well. 😳
Tonga Hopoi
This was my first record growing up 🔥
foxynicey
Wonderful version of a wonderful song. Delighted to have discovered this forgotten Supremes track.