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.
You've Really Got a Hold on Me
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems that I'm always thinking of you.
Oh, oh, oh, you treat me badly,
I love you madly, you really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me, baby,
I don't want you, but I need you,
Don't want to kiss you, but I need you.
Oh, oh, oh, you do me wrong now,
You really got a hold on me, baby,
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
I want to leave you, don't want to stay here
Don't want to spend another day here.
Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now, I can't Baby,
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
The lyrics of "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" by Diana Ross and the Supremes reveal the complicated nature of love, where a person may feel anger, frustration, and even desire to leave their partner, but still cannot resist the strong emotional hold they have on them. The opening lines "I don't like you, but I love you, Seems that I'm always thinking of you" reflect the struggle of someone who is in a love-hate relationship. They may not like their partner's behavior or personality, yet they are unable to stop thinking about them.
The chorus "Hold me, hold me, hold me" reflects the need for physical love and affection, despite the flaws in the relationship. The lyrics "Don't want to kiss you, but I need you" highlight the paradoxical nature of love, where a person may not feel the desire to kiss or be intimate with their partner, but still, need them emotionally.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics "I want to leave you, don't want to stay here, Don't want to spend another day here" illustrate the internal conflict between the desire to end the relationship and the deep love that is still present. The repeated phrase "You really got a hold on me" reinforces the idea that love can be a powerful force that can be difficult to break away from.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't like you, but I love you,
As much as I dislike how you treat me, I cannot deny that I am deeply in love with you.
Seems that I'm always thinking of you.
You occupy my thoughts continuously, to the point where it almost feels like an obsession.
Oh, oh, oh, you treat me badly,
Your treatment of me is often hurtful and unfair, causing me emotional pain and distress.
I love you madly, you really got a hold on me.
Despite the negative treatment, my love for you is incredibly strong and I feel as though I am unable to break free from your hold on me.
You really got a hold on me, baby,
You have an immense control over me emotionally and mentally, causing me to feel powerless at times.
I don't want you, but I need you,
Although I may not desire you, I feel as though I require your presence and love in my life to feel complete.
Don't want to kiss you, but I need you.
Even physical affection does not have a huge significance to me, but I feel like I cannot live without you emotionally.
Oh, oh, oh, you do me wrong now,
Your actions towards me are unjustifiable and cause me significant pain and suffering.
My love is strong now you really got a hold on me.
Despite the wrongdoings, my love for you continues to grow stronger, further contributing to your hold on me.
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
All I truly desire is to feel your warmth and presence, even without words or actions - just hold me.
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
I need your strength and comfort to get me through these tough emotional times.
I want to leave you, don't want to stay here
As much as I desire to escape this emotional hold you have on me, I do not want to confront the reality of leaving you.
Don't want to spend another day here.
Being in this emotional state is causing me significant distress and I no longer wish to prolong it, but I still do not want to leave you entirely.
Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now, I can't Baby,
Despite my strong desire to break free from your hold, I feel as though it is an impossible feat due to the immense love I have for you.
You really got a hold on me.
Your emotional hold on me is truly significant, causing me to feel powerless and at your mercy.
You really got a hold on me.
The depth of your emotional hold on me is such that I cannot help but repeat it over and over again.
You really got a hold on me.
My inability to break free from your hold is a reflection of how deeply in love with you I am.
You really got a hold on me.
No matter how hard I try to resist, your emotional grasp on me remains relentless and ever-present.
You really got a hold on me.
Even though I may not like it, my love for you is simply too strong to shake off, and you continue to hold a significant place in my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Robinson Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind