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.

He Holds His Own
The Supremes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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Say what you will about him
You'll never make me doubt him
He means the world to me
His love is all I need

Wealth he doesn't have
But he holds his own
(He holds his own)

Say what you will about him
But I can't live without him
It makes my life worthwhile
Watching his tender smile

Handsome he may not be
But he holds his own
(He holds his own)
He holds his own

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Say what you will about him
You'll never make me doubt him
Though he's a soft-spoken guy
A little quiet, a little shy

He has other qualities
'Cause he holds his own
(He holds his own)
He holds his own

His love I can rely on
He's my shoulder to cry on

Handsome he may not be
But he holds his own
(He holds his own)
He holds his own
(He holds his own)

Say what you will about him (he holds his own)
He holds his own (he holds his own)

You'll never make me doubt him (he holds his own)
He holds his own (he holds his own)

Overall Meaning

In The Supremes's song "He Holds His Own," the singer is defending her love for a man whom others may criticize and undervalue. She affirms that despite his lack of wealth and imperfections, he means everything to her and provides her with all the love she needs. The song celebrates the man’s virtues and strengths that perhaps others don't see, and that she cherishes. The singer is resolute in her conviction that he is the one for her, and nothing others say can change that. The song's distinctive Motown sound and catchy rhythm complement the singer's lyrics perfectly, accenting the message of the song.

The lyrics of "He Holds His Own" speak to the importance of genuine connection and the ability to appreciate one’s partner for who they are rather than how they are perceived. Furthermore, it highlights the fact that love and affection cannot always be bought or measured by one’s material possessions. Instead, the focus is on a deep-seated emotional connection, and mutual understanding between loving partners. The Supremes's song "He Holds His Own" echoes the idea that true and pure love is not subject to the judgments of others and that the strength of a relationship lies in the ability to accept each other, despite flaws.

Line by Line Meaning

Say what you will about him
No matter what you say about him, I will stand by him

You'll never make me doubt him
I have complete trust in him and nothing can change that

He means the world to me
He is extremely important and valuable to me

His love is all I need
His love is enough for me to be happy and content

Wealth he doesn't have
He may not have a lot of money or possessions

But he holds his own
He is able to take care of himself and stand on his own two feet

But I can't live without him
My life would be incomplete without him in it

It makes my life worthwhile
Having him in my life gives it meaning and purpose

Watching his tender smile
Seeing him smile softly brings me joy

Handsome he may not be
He may not be conventionally attractive

He has qualities
He possesses admirable traits and characteristics