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.
Mickey's Monkey
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was spreading a new dance all around
In just a matter of a few days, yea!
His dance became the new teenage craze.
When the people see him dancing,
They begin to see,
To see this cat do that monkey thing.
This cat named Mickey
Doing the monkey.
Come on, let's do Mickey's monkey, children,
Yea, let's do Mickey's monkey, children
Lum di lum di lie
Lum di lum di lie
Lum di lum di lie
Lum di lum di lie
Lum di lum di lie
Lum di lum di lie
Lum di lum di lie
Oh,
Monkey see, monkey do,
Come on, you can do the monkey, children
Yea, you're doing Mickey's monkey, children,
Do the monkey, Mickey's monkey
Oh, do the monkey, Mickey's monkey
Mickey's monkey
The lyrics of Diana Ross and the Supremes' song "Mickey's Monkey" describe the arrival of a new dance craze started by a guy named Mickey. He comes into town and introduces everyone to this new dance called the "Monkey," which quickly becomes the new teenage sensation. As people see Mickey dancing, they become captivated by the moves and join him in doing the Monkey. The chorus encourages everyone to join in and do Mickey's Monkey, repeating the line "Lum di lum di lie" multiple times.
Line by Line Meaning
This cat named Mickey came from out of town, yea!
Mickey, a guy from another town came around and brought a new dance with him.
He was spreading a new dance all around
He introduced this new dance to people and made it popular among them.
In just a matter of a few days, yea!
In a very short amount of time, his dance became famous and had great influence on young people.
His dance became the new teenage craze.
Mickey's dance became the latest fad among teenagers.
When the people see him dancing,
When people watched Mickey dance,
They begin to see,
They started to understand and appreciate,
To see this cat do that monkey thing.
the way Mickey did his monkey dance.
It's really something to see,
It was an exciting experience to watch Mickey dance.
This cat named Mickey
The guy who brought the new dance, Mickey,
Doing the monkey.
was performing his monkey dance.
Come on, let's do Mickey's monkey, children,
Hey, kids, let's try doing Mickey's monkey dance,
Yea, let's do Mickey's monkey, children
Yeah, kids, let's dance like Mickey did.
Lum di lum di lie
N/A
Oh, Monkey see, monkey do,
Hey, you can learn from observing and copying others,
Come on, you can do the monkey, children
Hey, kids, you can do this monkey dance.
Yea, you're doing Mickey's monkey, children,
Yeah, you're dancing like Mickey, kids,
Do the monkey, Mickey's monkey
Let's do this monkey dance - the one Mickey popularized.
Oh, do the monkey, Mickey's monkey
Come on, let's dance like Mickey did.
Mickey's monkey
The dance style that Mickey brought to town.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JR., BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeff the Gent
This Miracles cover is an example of Mary Wilson making a big impression and making her vocals sound more co-lead than backing. Her “lumdi, lumdi lie”s and “Do Mickey’s Monkey, children”s, sung in a smooth and sultry alto really help make this track from “The Supremes A’ Go-Go” come alive.
Actually, Mary has a rare post-1963, Diana-era Supremes lead on “Come and Get These Memories,” from the same album.
Flo’s soprano was often prominent in the background on Supremes songs (“Come See About Me,” “I Hear a Symphony,” “You Keep Me Hanging On,” “Reflections”), but Mary was able to make her presence felt too. Even while Diana was the group’s main lead singer, Mary gave her parts a certain distinction, harmonizing with Flo on such tracks as “Where Did Our Love,” “Baby Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “My World Is Empty Without You” and “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone.”
This fun remake is another example, though I think it would be better if we didn’t have to wait until the 39-second mark for Mary and Flo to come in. Still, the great mix of pop and soul in Diana’s vocals — I can’t stand when people think they have to bash her to compliment other Supremes, by the way — along with Mary’s aforementioned awesomeness and Flo blending in make them sound like a GROUP.
I love songs where that’s the case. And it’s nice that we occasionally got that even after Berry Gordy assigned a designated lead singer and before Mary got to step up more often after Diana went solo.
Mary once told the publication Goldmine, “It has always bothered me when people refer to me as ‘just a background singer.’ The Supremes was a group, and every position was important. So I never saw myself as just a background singer. When people ask about that, I tell them that I was the star in the background.” And she truly shines on “Mickey’s Monkey.”
D EdNupe
Yes, God, that was Florence at the end; never heard this version by the Supremes but have heard Smokey Robinson and the Miracles version though. This was nicely done too!
Micaï. Claude.
The Supremes=The Best.
Carlos Leon
Yup! FLO! She would have TORN this one up too as lead
cottagechskitty
I presume that's Flo at the end. :)
Jeff the Gent
Yep, that's Flo talking at the end.