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 Together
The Supremes Lyrics

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Here come old flat top, groovin' up slowly
Ju-ju eyeballs, uh, holy roller
He got hair down to his knees
Got to be a joker, he just do what he please

Oh, ah yeah
Mmhmm, mmhmm

He wear no shoeshine, he got toe jam football
Monkey finger, he shoot Coca-Cola
He say, "I know you, you know me
One thing I can tell you, you just got to be free"

Come together, right now, ah yeah
Over me

He bags production, oh yeah, walrus gumbo
He's got Ono sideboard, he's one spinal cracker
He's got feet down below his knees
Hold you in his arms 'til you can feel his disease

Come together, oh yeah-yeah, right now
Over me

Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Come on, come on, come on

I know, I know you, you know me
Got to, got to, got to be free

Come together, right now
Over me
Oh yeah
Ooh, yeah-yeah
Ooh, baby, yeah

(Come together, ooh)
Here come old flat top
Ooh, yeah-yeah
(Come together, ooh)
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, yeah
(Come together, ooh)

Spinal cracker, ah yeah, ooh-ooh
(Come together, ooh)

Overall Meaning

The Supremes cover of "Come Together" is a groovy and upbeat rendition of The Beatles' 1969 classic. The opening lines refer to a character named "flat top" who is described as a free-spirited joker with long hair and a playful attitude. He wears no shoes and instead has "toe jam football" and has a unique talent for shooting Coca-Cola with his "monkey finger." Despite his unorthodox appearance and behavior, he preaches the importance of being free and true to oneself.

The chorus urges everyone to "come together right now" and unite over the singer's own identity or cause. The song also mentions "Ono sideboard," referring to Yoko Ono, John Lennon's wife and artistic collaborator. The line "hold you in his arms 'til you can feel his disease" has been interpreted in various ways, with some believing it refers to HIV/AIDS or drug addiction.

Overall, The Supremes bring their signature Motown sound to "Come Together" with tight harmonies and a soulful groove. The lyrics embody the counterculture era's spirit of nonconformity and inclusion, urging people to find common ground despite their differences.

Line by Line Meaning

Here come old flat top, groovin' up slowly
Here comes a guy with long hair, moving slowly

Ju-ju eyeballs, uh, holy roller
He's got unusual eyes, and he's religious

He got hair down to his knees
He has very long hair

Got to be a joker, he just do what he please
He likes to joke around and do what he wants

He wear no shoeshine, he got toe jam football
He doesn't wear shiny shoes, he has gross feet

Monkey finger, he shoot Coca-Cola
He has nimble fingers and drinks Coca-Cola

He say, "I know you, you know me
He says he knows the other person

One thing I can tell you, you just got to be free"
He advises the other person to be free

Come together, right now, ah yeah
Let's come together now

Over me
The song is about him

He bags production, oh yeah, walrus gumbo
He's productive and likes walrus gumbo