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.
Shake Me Wake Me
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
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I hear my neighbors talking (She don't love him)
Saying that out of my life
Into another's arms you'll soon be walking
Somebody shake me, wake me when it's over
Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin'
And wake me when its over
They say our love ain't what it used to be
And everyone knows but me
I close my ears not wanting to hear
But the words are loud and clear
Through these walls so thin
I hear my neighbors when
They say "She don't love him, she don't love him"
They say my heart's in danger
'Cause you're leaving me
For the love of a stranger
Somebody shake me, wake me somebody when it's over
Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin'
And wake me when its over
Girl you're what my heart desires
My whole world you inspire
I can't bear to be losing you
Cause I've loved you my whole life through
Restlessly I pace the floor
Listening to my neighbor's criticize
What a fool I am not to realize
You don't want me by your side
As the tears stream down my face
I can't believe I've been replaced
If I've ever ever dreamed before
Somebody tell me I'm dreaming now
I said shake me, wake me somebody when its over
Somebody tell me that I'm dreaming
And wake me when its over
C'mon wake me, shake me somebody
The lyrics in Diana Ross and the Supremes's Shake Me Wake Me convey the pain and despair of someone who overheard her neighbors talking about her and her relationship. She learns that her partner is planning to leave her for another person, and she struggles to come to terms with the betrayal. The singer of the song is in denial, refusing to accept the bitter truth, but the words of her neighbors cut through the walls, making it impossible to ignore. The chorus repeats the plea for someone to wake her up from her nightmare, to let her know that what she's hearing isn't true. The lyrics reveal the emotional turmoil and heartbreak she's experiencing, making it a moving and relatable breakup song.
Line by Line Meaning
All through this long and sleepless night
I've been up all night, unable to sleep
I hear my neighbors talking (She don't love him)
I can hear my neighbors gossiping about my relationship, saying that I don't love you anymore
Saying that out of my life
They're saying that you're leaving me
Into another's arms you'll soon be walking
You're going to be with someone else
Somebody shake me, wake me when it's over
I need someone to snap me out of this nightmare
Somebody tell me that I'm dreamin'
I need someone to confirm that this isn't real
And wake me when its over
I need to be awoken from this terrible dream
They say our love ain't what it used to be
Everyone knows that our love is fading
And everyone knows but me
I'm the only one who is unaware of this
I close my ears not wanting to hear
I'm avoiding listening to the truth
But the words are loud and clear
It's impossible to ignore what everyone is saying
Through these walls so thin
I can hear everything through these thin walls
I hear my neighbors when
I can hear the gossiping clearly
They say "She don't love him, she don't love him"
They're saying I don't love you anymore
They say my heart's in danger
They're saying that my heart is at risk of being broken
'Cause you're leaving me
Because you're going to leave me
For the love of a stranger
You're going to be with someone new
Girl you're what my heart desires
You're the one my heart loves
My whole world you inspire
You're my entire world
I can't bear to be losing you
I can't handle losing you
'Cause I've loved you my whole life through
I've loved you for my entire life
Restlessly I pace the floor
I can't sit still and am walking back and forth
Listening to my neighbor's criticize
I'm hearing my neighbors judge me
What a fool I am not to realize
I'm realizing that I've been foolish
You don't want me by your side
You don't want to be with me anymore
As the tears stream down my face
I'm crying uncontrollably
I can't believe I've been replaced
I can't accept that someone else has taken my place
If I've ever ever dreamed before
If I've ever had a dream
Somebody tell me I'm dreaming now
I need someone to confirm that this situation is a dream
C'mon wake me, shake me somebody
Please wake me up from this terrible dream
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JR., BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind