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.
Remove This Doubt
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
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It's hurting me, it's hurting me
This doubt is hurting me.
So remove this doubt
From my heart, little boy
And let me live my life
Knowing you care.
Remove this doubt
From my mind, little boy
And let me breathe again
Feeling my love you share.
Each time we meet
You make me feel so incomplete
There's no joy in the air
I just don't think you care.
Close the door of doubt forever more
And may it never more make me unsure
Turn the key and lock away this doubt in me
Keep it in the dark, not in my heart
Be more tender
Completely surrender your love to me
Be sweet and not discreet.
Remove this doubt
From my mind, little boy
And let me breathe again
Feeling my love you share.
Each time we meet
You make me feel so incomplete
There's no joy in the air
I just don't think you care.
Remove this doubt in our hearts
Remove this doubt from my heart.
In Diana Ross and the Supremes' song "Remove This Doubt", the singer is expressing her hurt and uncertainty about her relationship with the person addressed as "little boy". The doubt she feels is causing her pain and making her feel incomplete, as she doesn't feel confident that he truly cares for her. She pleads with him to remove this doubt from her heart and mind so that she can live her life without this burden, and feel the love that they share. She asks him to be more tender and to completely surrender his love to her, rather than being discreet.
The lyrics suggest a sense of desperation and anxiety about the relationship, as the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to remove the doubt and insecurity. The use of the phrase "little boy" throughout the song could imply a power dynamic in the relationship, where the woman is seeking reassurance and support from a man who may not be fully committed. The repetition of the line "remove this doubt" emphasizes the urgency and importance of this request, as the singer's happiness and well-being are at stake.
Overall, "Remove This Doubt" is a emotional and vulnerable song that speaks to the struggles of navigating relationships and dealing with self-doubt. It highlights the importance of clear communication and trust in building a strong, healthy bond with someone.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hurting me, it's hurting me
This doubt is causing me pain and distress.
Remove this doubt
From my heart, little boy
And let me live my life
Knowing you care.
Please dispel my doubts about your feelings, my dear, so I can live my life with the assurance that you care.
Remove this doubt
From my mind, little boy
And let me breathe again
Feeling my love you share.
Please help me banish my suspicions, darling, so I can feel free to love you without hesitation.
Each time we meet
You make me feel so incomplete
There's no joy in the air
I just don't think you care.
When we meet, I feel as though something is missing and there is no happiness. This leaves me with the thought that you do not care about me.
Close the door of doubt forever more
And may it never more make me unsure
Turn the key and lock away this doubt in me
Keep it in the dark, not in my heart
Be more tender
Completely surrender your love to me
Be sweet and not discreet.
Please get rid of my doubts completely and permanently, and ensure that the door does not open again. Please lock the doubts away forevermore and never allow them to enter my heart again. Please be more affectionate and show me that you love me deeply, instead of hiding it away discreetly.
Remove this doubt
From my mind, little boy
And let me breathe again
Feeling my love you share.
Please help me dismiss my doubts, dear, so that I can breathe easily and enjoy the feeling of our shared love.
Each time we meet
You make me feel so incomplete
There's no joy in the air
I just don't think you care.
Whenever we come together, I feel like something is missing, and it seems like you do not actually care about me.
Remove this doubt in our hearts
Remove this doubt from my heart.
Let us both say goodbye to these doubts in our hearts, and let me leave mine behind for good.
Lyrics © 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