The Supremes were a very successful Motown all-female singing group active … Read Full Bio ↴The Supremes were a very successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia, and disco. One of Motown's signature acts, The Supremes were the most successful African-American musical act of the 1960s, recording twelve #1 hits between 1964 and 1969, many of them written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland. The crossover success of the Supremes during the mid-1960s paved the way for future black soul and R&B acts to gain mainstream audiences both in the United States and overseas.

Founded in Detroit, Michigan, United States 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 the mid-1960s with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1967, and replaced Ballard with Cindy Birdsong. Ross left the group for a 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.

Come On Boy
The Supremes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come on boy
My eyes are calling you
Come on boy
Can't you feel that my love is true
Don't make me lose my pride
Don't you know I want to be dignified
Come on boy, and take your heart
And bring it on to me

Come on boy
You mean the world to me
Come on boy
I love you secretly
I dream each night
That you are gonna hold me tight

Come on boy, come on boy
And take your heart
And bring it on to me

Come on boy
The first move is up to you
Come on boy
This is something a girl can't do
Make the first move you see
Then baby leave it up to me

Come on boy, come on boy
And take your heart
And bring it on to me

Come on boy, come on boy
And bring it on to me
Boy, boy

And bring it on to me
Boy, hey boy

Overall Meaning

In the opening lines of The Supremes' song "Come On Boy," we see the confident and assertive nature of the female narrator. She calls out to her love, urging him to come to her, and assures him that she loves him truly. She then goes on to express her desire to maintain her dignity and pride, emphasizing the importance of respect in any romantic relationship. The next stanza delves deeper into her perceptions of this love interest, revealing that she has been secretly in love with him for some time and dreams of being held in his arms each night.

As the song continues, she pleads with her love to make the first move as a girl can't or shouldn't have to. She reiterates her desire for him to give his heart to her and stresses the importance of his role in their relationship. Throughout the song, we see a confident and empowered female figure, unafraid to express her feelings and assert her desires, while also recognizing the importance of mutual respect and partnership in any relationship.

Come On BoyThe Supremes Lyrics

Come On Boy
The Supremes Lyrics