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.
Put Yourself in My Place
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If only for a day
See if you can stand
The awful hurt I feel inside
Put yourself in my place
For just a little while
Live through the loneliness
I go through
And when you lose a little sleep at night
Cause you ain't been treated right
Then you know heartaches are sad
Sitting by the telephone
Being left all alone
Then you know why I'm feeling bad
Put yourself in my place
And when you're just about to go insane
Cause it hurts to love in vain
Ask a girl who's been in love
I believed your evil line
Now I'm left alone and crying
Alone to count the stars above
Put yourself in my place
If only for a day
See if you can stand
The awful emptiness
I feel inside
Put yourself in my place
Put yourself in my place
For just a little while
Why don't you try it
Why don't you try it
Why don't you try it baby
Put yourself in my place
If only for a day
Why don't you, why don't you
Why don't you try it
Why don't you try it
Why don't you try it baby
Put yourself in my place
The lyrics of Diana Ross and the Supremes's song "Put Yourself in My Place" depict a heartbroken individual who urges their significant other to experience the pain they are going through. The lyrics are a plea for empathy and understanding, as the singer feels like their partner does not comprehend the level of hurt they are experiencing. The lyrics emphasize the importance of communication and empathy in relationships, as it is important for partners to understand and support each other through difficult times.
The imagery in the song is particularly effective in conveying the emotions of the singer. The lyrics paint a picture of a lonely and empty existence, where the only comfort is found in the stars above. The repetition of the phrase "put yourself in my place" highlights the singer's desperation for understanding, and the chorus serves as a call to action for the partner to try and understand their pain. Overall, the song highlights the importance of communication and empathy in relationships and emphasizes the need for partners to support each other through difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Put yourself in my place
Experience what I'm going through
If only for a day
Even just a brief period of time can give you insight into my pain
See if you can stand
Test your emotional strength against the hurt I'm experiencing
The awful hurt I feel inside
The intense and unbearable pain I'm going through
For just a little while
A short amount of time can help you understand my loneliness
Live through the loneliness
Endure the unbearable feeling of being alone
The endless emptiness
I go through
The ongoing lack of fulfillment in my life
And when you lose a little sleep at night
Cause you ain't been treated right
Then you know heartaches are sad
When you experience pain and sleepless nights from heartbreak, you understand the sadness of it
Sitting by the telephone
Being left all alone
Then you know why I'm feeling bad
When you're constantly waiting for someone who never calls, you understand why I'm hurting
And when you're just about to go insane
Cause it hurts to love in vain
Ask a girl who's been in love
When you're on the brink of madness because your love is unrequited, talk to someone who has experienced it before
I believed your evil line
Now I'm left alone and crying
Alone to count the stars above
I fell for your deceiving words, and now I'm left sobbing and stargazing by myself
Put yourself in my place
Again, experience what I'm going through
Why don't you try it
I'm urging you to empathize with me
Why don't you try it baby
Please try to understand my emotions
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER, BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, THORNTON JOHN, JR., JOHN THORNTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joey Chan
Florence and Mary do a fantasic job harmonizing
lorenza coleman
No one harmonize like Flo and Mary ♥️
Lillian Munster
Yessss I Agree ⭐❤️⭐❤️
Lance
Their harmonies make the song, in my opinion.
Carla Butler
Since I was a child I always loved this song!!
robert minkler
Always loved The Supremes version of this great song.
Carol Runham
I love this song so much more than ever
bobbymoya
One of my favorite B-sides ever. You know how as a little kid you play the B-side a lot (tired of what everyone else is listening to)? This was it for me!
bangzoom77
I remember playing this flipside of "you can't hurry love" many times. Great song.. great singing. Thanks for posting.
Dawayne Evans
I have that record