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.
Try It Baby
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're leaving me behind
Everybody seems to love you
Oh, you're doing just fine, fine, fine
But take away your good looks
And all your fancy clothes
Why don't you just
Try it baby
Try it baby
Try it baby
You'll see
Nobody loves you but me
Now you tell me that you're so busy, pretty baby
You ain't got much time
Oh, how will I remember
When all your time was mine, mine, mine
Well move on back cross the track, baby
Where you came from
Why don't you just
Try it baby
Try it baby
Try it baby
Try it baby
You'll see
That nobody loves you but me
Nobody loves you but me
I really want to hold you, pretty baby
In my arms again
But I can't get close to you
For all your loving friend, friend, friend
But take your name from the bright lights baby
And tell me that you are all through
Come on and
Try it honey
Try it baby
Try it sweetheart
Try it honey
You'll see, nobody loves you but me
In the song "Try It Baby," Diana Ross and the Supremes sing about a former lover who has moved on and seems to be doing well without them. The singer tells the ex-lover to try living without their good looks and fancy clothes to see that nobody loves them but the singer. This is a song about jealousy and bitterness after a break-up. The singer is still in love with the ex-lover, but feels replaced and hurt. They want the ex-lover to realize that they made a mistake by leaving and take them back. However, the singer also seems to be prideful, telling the ex-lover to go back to where they came from, implying that they are not good enough for them anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you're moving on up, pretty baby
You're improving life, leaving me behind.
You're leaving me behind
You're abandoning me.
Everybody seems to love you
You gain popularity among others.
Oh, you're doing just fine, fine, fine
You're doing well, flourishing.
But take away your good looks
If you're not charming anymore
And all your fancy clothes
And you're not in elegant attire
Why don't you just
Why don't you try?
Try it baby
Attempt to do it, sweetheart
Try it baby
Take a chance, pretty baby
Try it baby
Give it a go, sweetie
Try it baby
Try doing it, honey
You'll see
You will understand
Nobody loves you but me
Only I love you
Now you tell me that you're so busy, pretty baby
You claim that you're busy, beautiful
You ain't got much time
You don't have much availability.
Oh, how will I remember
How will I recollect?
When all your time was mine, mine, mine
When you allocated your time to me frequently.
Well move on back cross the track, baby
Please return from whence you came, dear
Where you came from
To your original place
Why don't you just
Won't you try?
Try it baby
Do it, pretty baby
Try it baby
Give it a try, sweetie
Try it baby
Attempt it, darling
Try it baby
Give it a shot, sugar pie
You'll see
You will comprehend
That nobody loves you but me
Just I have love for you
I really want to hold you, pretty baby
I'm craving to embrace you, gorgeous
In my arms again
Just like I had before
But I can't get close to you
I can't come close to you
For all your loving friend, friend, friend
Because of all your friendly lovers.
But take your name from the bright lights baby
Remove yourself from the spotlight, dear
And tell me that you are all through
Proclaim that you're done with others.
Come on and
Please, do this
Try it honey
Attempt it, darling
Try it baby
Try it, pretty baby
Try it sweetheart
Give it a go, love
Try it honey
Make an effort, darling
You'll see
You will comprehend
Nobody loves you but me
No one can love you the way I do
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERRY GORDY JR, BERRY JR GORDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Empress
Love this song! So smooth.
mike ritchie
Great musical arrangement.
Jay F Hines
This is almost as good as TCB9
Jay F Hines
typo nix the 9
scatman44
Is Jamerson on upright?
Donnie Moder
The opening vocal loses the melody.