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.
Play a Sad Song
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Play a sad song
For a girl with a broken heart
With a broken heart
Play a sad song
Let him know that I'm still crying
So play a sad, sad song
For a girl with a broken heart
With a broken heart
I don't know why he left
We were doing so fine
He was mine, all mine
He must have found another love
He must have found another love
And put me down
So play a sad, sad, sad, sad song
For a girl with a broken heart
I gave him all the love
All the loving I had
Now he's driving me mad
He knows I've never been a cheat
I tried to make my kisses sweet
He said I made his life complete
Now he's gone
So play a sad, sad, sad song
For a girl with a broken heart
So play a sad, sad song
For a girl with a broken heart
The song "Play a Sad Song" by Diana Ross and the Supremes is a heart-wrenching ballad about a girl with a broken heart. The lyrics of the song convey the emotions of a girl who has been left behind by her lover, who has found someone else. The girl is devastated and is slowly dying inside, and she wants her ex-lover to know that she is still crying for him. She reminisces about the love they shared and how it all fell apart when he found someone else. The girl requests the musician to play a sad song for her heartbreak and to let her ex-lover know that she is still suffering.
The song's lyrics communicate the universal feeling of heartbreak that many people can relate to, as it speaks to the pain of a lost love. Throughout the song, the girl expresses how she gave her lover all the love she had and how he must have found someone else to put her down. The line, "He said I made his life complete, now he's gone," encapsulates the irony of love and how quickly it can shift.
In conclusion, "Play a Sad Song" is a powerful song that speaks to the emotional impact of heartbreak. The lyrics correctly capture the raw, real feelings that come with losing someone you love, and the song is still timeless even today, more than five decades after its release.
Line by Line Meaning
Play a sad song
Request to the audience to play a sorrowful tune.
For a girl with a broken heart
The song is dedicated to a girl who is heartbroken.
With a broken heart
Reiteration that the girl is struggling with a broken heart.
Let him know that I'm still crying
Informing the former lover that she's still in a state of pain and sadness.
Let him know I'm slowly dying, slowly dying, slowly dying
The heartbreak is gradually killing her.
So play a sad, sad song
Repeating the request for a sad song to be played.
I don't know why he left
Confused as to why her partner left her.
We were doing so fine
Their relationship was going well.
He was mine, all mine
She exclusively had him.
He must have found another love
Assuming he left for someone else.
And put me down
Feeling betrayed and rejected.
I gave him all the love
She loved him with her everything.
All the loving I had
She gave him all the affection she had.
Now he's driving me mad
Losing her partner is causing her to go crazy.
He knows I've never been a cheat
Reassuring that she was always faithful.
I tried to make my kisses sweet
She made an effort to keep the relationship happy and sweet.
He said I made his life complete
He conveyed that she was everything he wanted in his life.
Now he's gone
Feeling the pain and loneliness of his absence.
So play a sad, sad, sad song
Repeating the request again for a sad song to be played.
For a girl with a broken heart
Reiteration that this song is meant for a girl with a broken heart.
So play a sad, sad song
Repeating the request again for a sad song to be played.
For a girl with a broken heart
Confirmation that this song is dedicated to a heartbroken girl.
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrStyle23
The best I've ever heard Diana but wow those background harmonies are killing it. Miss Mary and Miss Flo was holding it down!
BriNic317
MrStyle23 okaay...my jam
Garland English
Flo's voice is so sweet.
Garland English
I wasn't referring to this video.I meant that as an overall singing voice,her's is a very sweet voice.I know Diane can sing ,I've seen her and heard her with The Supremes.She can be talking and go right into a song and it sounds just like it did on the records.
kurtsupreme
I don't get how some of you don't get that this IS Diane singing lead on this song! She practically comes out of the recording and screams, "I'm Diane!" That was the sound of the Supremes and Diane that I fell in love with 46 years ago. To tell you the truth, it is the Diane of today that doesn't sound like Diana Ross..........her voice is shot!
Hammy Cats69
Diana on lead.
Flo and Mary on background vocals.
Barbara had left by the time this recording was done.
KalebLuvs
COME THROUGH FLO AND DIANA YESSSS. MARY HOLDING DOWN THE ALTO PARTSš
lf1234
There's something different about Diana's voice here. It sounds fuller.
kurtsupreme
kentmclau Yes, people ARE entitled to their opinions and tastes. Even if some of those opinions are not correct as in your case if you think that Diane can still sing! Enjoy all the Supremes sites and remember when Diane was a part of something bigger and greater than HERSELF!
BriNic317
One of my top favorites