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.
Keep an Eye
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
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Keep an eye
Keep an eye
On your close friend
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
'Cause what you got that'll make you lose
And then turn around and step in your shoes
I say they'll turn around
And step in your shoes
Like the day I stood there numb
Watchin' my friend walk away
With my love on her arm
No, what she left me was
The memory of the moment when she said
"I'm sorry for what I have to do
But you see I love him just as much as you"
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
On your close friend
Keep an eye
Keep an eye
You better watch out
For your close friend
The devil's workshop is a busy place
On top of evil there's an innocent face
Oh, on top of evil he puts an innocent face
She was just like a spider
Only twice as smart
Kindness was the thread
She used to weave our world apart
It used to be three of us seen all over town
Now there's only two
Someone's missing guess who
Now I see how she schemed and finally
Worked her way in between
She planted seeds of mistrust here and there
Causin' us to fight unaware
Her comforting way when I would cry
Shadowed the look of triumph in her eye
Just like a snake on a limb of a tree
A friend is an enemy you can see
'Cause what you got that'll make you lose
And then turn around and step in your shoes
They'll turn around
And step in your shoes
So you better keep an eye on your close friend
You better watch out for your close friend
Don't trust nobody
Don't trust nobody
Keep an eye on your close friend
You better watch out for your close friend
The song "Keep an Eye" by Diana Ross and the Supremes is a warning to listeners to be careful of their close friends. The lyrics suggest that friends can be cunning and manipulative, even planting seeds of mistrust between others. The first verse cautions listeners to pay close attention to what they have, or they may lose it to a friend who wants it just as badly. The second verse explains that the devil's workshop is a busy place, and that even the most innocent-looking face can be hiding evil intentions. The bridge reveals the singer's own personal experience with a friend who took her love interest, leaving her only with the memory of the moment the friend said sorry for what she had to do. The chorus repeats the message to keep an eye on close friends and not to trust anyone, ending with a warning that a friend can easily become an enemy.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep an eye
Be aware
Keep an eye
Be aware
Keep an eye
Be aware
On your close friend
Of your close friend's actions
Keep an eye
Be aware
Keep an eye
Be aware
Keep an eye
Be aware
On your close friend
Of your close friend's actions
'Cause what you got that'll make you lose
Be wary of your possessions
And then turn around and step in your shoes
Used against you in the future
I say they'll turn around
They'll turn around
And step in your shoes
And copy your actions
Like the day I stood there numb
Reflecting on the day
Watchin' my friend walk away
Watching my friend leave my life
With my love on her arm
With the person I loved
No, what she left me was
All she left me with was
The memory of the moment when she said
A memory of the past
'I'm sorry for what I have to do
'I'm sorry for what I have to do
But you see I love him just as much as you'
I love him like you do
Keep an eye
Be aware
Keep an eye
Be aware
On your close friend
Of your close friend's actions
Keep an eye
Be aware
Keep an eye
Be aware
You better watch out
Be careful
For your close friend
Of your close friend's actions
The devil's workshop is a busy place
Where evil thoughts are born
On top of evil there's an innocent face
Someone with a good facade can hide an evil intention
Oh, on top of evil he puts an innocent face
Someone with a good facade can hide an evil intention
She was just like a spider
She was sly
Only twice as smart
But even smarter
Kindness was the thread
She used niceness
She used to weave our world apart
To turn us against each other
It used to be three of us seen all over town
We used to hang out together
Now there's only two
But now only two
Someone's missing guess who
Can you guess who?
Now I see how she schemed and finally
I understand her plan
Worked her way in between
Turned us against each other
She planted seeds of mistrust here and there
Made us suspicious of each other
Causin' us to fight unaware
Causing us to fight without realizing we're being manipulated
Her comforting way when I would cry
But she comforted me when I was sad
Shadowed the look of triumph in her eye
She was happy to see me sad
Just like a snake on a limb of a tree
She was like a snake in a tree
A friend is an enemy you can see
Sometimes your friend is your enemy
'Cause what you got that'll make you lose
Be wary of your possessions
And then turn around and step in your shoes
Used against you in the future
They'll turn around
They'll turn around
And step in your shoes
And copy your actions
So you better keep an eye on your close friend
You better be aware of your friend's actions
You better watch out for your close friend
Be careful of your friend
Don't trust nobody
Don't trust anyone
Don't trust nobody
Don't trust anyone
Keep an eye on your close friend
Be aware of your friend's actions
You better watch out for your close friend
Be careful of your friend
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind