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.
Some Things You Never Get Used To
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the same routine of getting up every morning
And putting on a smile
But underneath there's another person
Who can't find a reason to make living worthwhile
Ah, another day to get through
Sometimes I think my heartaches come to an end
And then something brings them all back again
Like wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to
I've gotten used to not listing
For familiar sounds you used to make
Now I'm trying to get out of the habit
Of calling your name first thing when I awake
Look here
It's like a child's first step
I have to learn to walk all, all over again
'Cause you were always there if I should fall
And now there's nobody else that I can call
It's like wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to
Lost in a cloud
I think I caught a glimpse of you
Blindly I rush to touch your hand, huh
To discover it's my mind
Playing tricks on me again
Tricks on me again
Some things you never get used to
Sometimes I think my heartaches come to an end
And then something brings them all back again
Like wanting you and like having you
I'll never get used to
It's wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to
Look here
Like wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to
The song "Some Things You Never Get Used To" by Diana Ross & The Supremes is a melancholic portrayal of heartbreak, pain, and longing. The song's lyrics describe the singer's daily routine of getting up every morning, forcing a smile, and going through the motions of life, despite feeling lost and unfulfilled inside. The singer describes the struggle of trying to move on from a past love but not being able to shake the ache and desire for that person. The song expresses the raw emotions that come with heartbreak and how it can feel like a never-ending cycle of pain and hope.
The lyrics also touch on the habit of calling out the ex-partner's name first thing in the morning, which acts as a reminder of the pain and longing they feel. The singer compares the struggle of moving on to a child's first steps, where they have to learn to walk again. The song's bridge describes a moment of false hope, where the singer catches a glimpse of their ex but realizes it's just a trick of the mind.
Overall, the song conveys the idea that some things, especially the pain of heartbreak, are difficult to get used to and can linger on for an extended period.
Line by Line Meaning
Some things you never get used to
There are certain experiences that will always be difficult to cope with
It's the same routine of getting up every morning
The singer's daily life is monotonous
And putting on a smile
The singer pretends to be happy even when they are not
But underneath there's another person
The artist is hiding their true emotions
Who can't find a reason to make living worthwhile
The artist feels empty and lacks motivation
Ah, another day to get through
The singer is resigned to enduring another day
Without the love that once was mine
The singer has lost a significant relationship
Sometimes I think my heartaches come to an end
The artist has moments where they feel better
And then something brings them all back again
The artist's pain resurfaces unexpectedly
Like wanting you and not having you
The artist misses someone they cannot be with
I'll never get used to
The singer will always feel the pain of this loss
I've gotten used to not listening
The artist has adjusted to not hearing certain familiar sounds
For familiar sounds you used to make
The singer misses the sounds their loved one used to make
Now I'm trying to get out of the habit
The singer is attempting to break a pattern of behavior
Of calling your name first thing when I awake
The singer instinctively calls out to their loved one upon waking up
It's like a child's first step
The artist feels like they are starting over
I have to learn to walk all, all over again
The artist acknowledges that they need to re-learn how to live without their loved one
'Cause you were always there if I should fall
The singer relied on their partner for support
And now there's nobody else that I can call
The singer has nobody else to turn to
Lost in a cloud
The artist feels confused and disoriented
I think I caught a glimpse of you
The artist thinks they see their loved one
Blindly I rush to touch your hand, huh
The artist tries to reach out to their loved one impulsively
To discover it's my mind
The singer realizes that they were mistaken
Playing tricks on me again
The artist feels like their mind is deceiving them
Like wanting you and like having you
The singer desires and misses their loved one
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind