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.
Love
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, how I need you
But all you do is treat me bad
Break my heart and leave me sad
Tell me what did I do wrong
To make you stay away so long
'Cause baby love, my baby love
Instead of breaking up
Let's start some kissing and making up
Don't throw our love away
In my arms why don't you stay?
Need ya, need ya
Baby love, (ooh) baby love
Baby love, my baby love
Why must we separate my love?
All of my whole life through
I never love no one but you
Why you do me like you do, I guess it's me
Ooh, ooh, need to hold you once again my love
Feel your warm embrace my love
Don't throw our love away
Please don't do me this way
Not happy like I used to be
Loneliness has got the best of me my love
My baby love, I need ya
Oh, how I need ya
Why you do me like you do
After I've been true to you
So deep in love with you
Baby, baby (baby), ooh
'Til it hurt me, 'til it hurt me
Ooh, baby love
Don't throw our love away
Don't throw our love away
The lyrics of Baby Love by Diana Ross and the Supremes are about a woman who is pleading with her lover to come back to her after they have broken up. The woman is deeply in love with her partner and feels hurt and sad that they have left her. She questions why they are treating her so badly and wonders what she did wrong for them to stay away for so long.
Despite the heartbreak and sorrow the woman feels, she still loves her partner and is hopeful that they can rekindle their romance. Instead of breaking up, she asks for them to start "kissing and making up" and to not throw their love away. She wants her partner to stay in her arms and to feel their warm embrace again.
The song portrays a mix of emotions, including love, hurt, and hopefulness. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the desire to mend a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby love, my baby love, I need you
Addressing the listener as her baby love and confessing her need for them
Oh, how I need you
Reinforcing her deep feelings and longing for her listener
But all you do is treat me bad
Acknowledging her partner's mistreatment towards her
Break my heart and leave me sad
Expressing the negative emotional impact of the treatment she receives
Tell me what did I do wrong
Pleading for an explanation of why she is being mistreated
To make you stay away so long
Wondering why her partner has been absent for some time
'Cause baby love, my baby love
Reiterating her affectionate address for her listener
Been missing ya (ooh), miss kissing ya
Admitting to missing her partner's physical presence and intimacy
Instead of breaking up
Proposing a way to resolve their issues
Let's start some kissing and making up
Advocating for reconciliation through affection and intimacy
Don't throw our love away
Urging her partner not to give up on their relationship
In my arms why don't you stay?
Inviting her partner to embrace her and stay close
Need ya, need ya
Reaffirming her need for her partner's love and companionship
Baby love, (ooh) baby love
Once again addressing her partner with affection
Why must we separate my love?
Expressing her frustration with the idea of their relationship ending
All of my whole life through
Declaring that she has only ever loved her partner
I never love no one but you
Affirming her exclusivity in love for her partner
Why you do me like you do, I guess it's me
Expressing confusion and self-doubt regarding her partner's behavior towards her
Ooh, ooh, need to hold you once again my love
Craving her partner's embrace once again
Feel your warm embrace my love
Describing the comfort and satisfaction she derives from being held by her partner
Please don't do me this way
Pleading with her partner not to continue mistreating her
Not happy like I used to be
Acknowledging that her partner's mistreatment has negatively affected her happiness
Loneliness has got the best of me my love
Blaming her partner's absence for the loneliness she feels
My baby love, I need ya
Repeating her declaration of need for her partner
Why you do me like you do
Reiterating her confusion and frustration with her partner's behavior
After I've been true to you
Asserting that she has been faithful and deserving of her partner's love and respect
So deep in love with you
Describing her profound love for her partner
Baby, baby (baby), ooh
Addressing her partner affectionately yet again
'Til it hurt me, 'til it hurt me
Describing the emotional pain caused by her partner's mistreatment
Ooh, baby love
Reiterating her love for her partner
Don't throw our love away
Once again imploring her partner not to give up on their relationship
Don't throw our love away
Repeating her plea so that her partner fully understands her message
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Lamont Dozier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@levanmoore9588
This masterpiece knocked the Beatles all you need is love from the number 1 position
@TheShabazzProduction
They NEVER put out bad material, just soulful hit after hit!!!!!!!!
@marriedmistressgoddesstv
I remember watching my parents dancing to these songs. Didn't know back then just how priceless those memories would become. What I wouldn't give...enjoy your parents while they're here.
@Justaskkjames
None of their music was soulful. Stop with the lies!
@Justaskkjames
@Chris Bonilla Hernandez Foolish and delusional. Seek help babes.
@osimeon00
@Chris Bonilla Hernandez don't be mad because he told the truth. The Supremes were definitely not what black people would call soulful. They sung pop music and ballads mostly curated for white audiences. They had a few R&B soul hits like this one and "Someday" but they were few and far between. That doesn't take away from it's significance.
@chrisbonilla9950
@osimeon00 I donโt agree with you at all .I am black so I know what I am talking about you .
@explorepikespeak
A message that didn't get heard. What a tragedy.
@TruOmilade
The lyrics are still relevant. Speaks to fear, doubt, and insecurity many of us face, especially regarding poverty.
@renarga6886
She was not the only one. How sad.