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.
These Boots Are Made For Walking
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
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Something you call love but confess
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
And now someone else is getting all your best
Well, these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
What's right is right but you ain't been right yet
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt,hah
Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches, yeah
And what he knows you ain't have time to learn
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
Are you ready, boots?
Start walkin'
The lyrics of Diana Ross and the Supremes's song "These Boots Are Made for Walking" are about a woman taking control of a situation where her partner keeps stepping out of line. The song describes the woman's frustration with her partner's lies, infidelity and lack of responsibility, and how she's ready to take action.
The opening lines, "You keep saying you got something for me, something you call love but confess" portrays the woman's feeling of being taken for granted by her partner. This sentiment is reinforced in the following lines, "You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin', and now someone else is getting all your best". Here, the woman discovers her partner's infidelity and how someone else is getting all his love and attention.
The chorus "These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do, one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you" is the woman's declaration of independence and her willingness to leave her partner. Then, the following verses reiterate the woman's reasons for leaving and how her partner was given numerous chances but chose to continue living in the same way. Overall, "These Boots Are Made for Walking" is a powerful song about a woman taking control of a relationship and demanding respect.
Line by Line Meaning
You keep saying you got something for me
You constantly claim that you have love for me
Something you call love but confess
You refer to your feelings as love but secretly admit the truth
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
You've been involving yourself in affairs that you shouldn't have gotten involved in
And now someone else is getting all your best
You're giving your best to someone else now
Well, these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
These boots are meant to be worn while walking and that's exactly what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
Eventually, I will use these boots to gain power over you
You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep telling lies when you should be telling the truth
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep losing wagers that you shouldn't have made in the first place
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'
You keep making excuses when you should be making changes
What's right is right but you ain't been right yet
You know what is right but you have yet to act accordingly
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
Once again, these boots are meant to be used for walking
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
At some point, I will use these boots to dominate you
You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
You keep engaging in activities that you shouldn't be a part of
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt,hah
You believe that you'll never suffer the consequences of your actions, but that's not true
Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches, yeah
I've just discovered a new way to take revenge on you
And what he knows you ain't have time to learn
I have information about you that you never had the opportunity to discover
Are you ready, boots?
Are you prepared to face the consequences of your actions?
Start walkin'
Let's begin the process of me using these boots to assert my dominance over you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lee Hazlewood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@speedyjefferson1289
From the album Supreme A Go Go 1966 I have this album and love it till this day..
@Rebecca31165
I prefer this version over any!!!
@annettewilliams4831
I just Love this Version
@Lev1ns0n
"What he knows now, you ain't got time to learn." An interesting change.
@tennyc
this is the serious hotness. I love this version real peppered up from Nancy's wonderful original reminds me of Batgirl kicking villains in the face .
@skopa1223
Yup! ZAP!⚡️ WHAM!💥 BOOM!💥 POW!💥
@user-pn7sw3yk7t
such a cute version
@MrPistolMason
I read somewhere that Flo was originally selected to sing this track . . . but that her antics had begun around this time and Diana ended up recording it. Would have been interesting to hear Flo singing this . . . I do like this though.
@Geodxn
pure gossip (in my opinion)
@21strength007
Pure truth.