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.

Little Girl Blue
The Supremes Lyrics

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Sit there and count your fingers
What can you do, little girl you're through
Sit there, count your little fingers
Unhappy little girl blue

Sit there and count the raindrops
Falling on you, it's time you knew
All you can ever count on are the raindrops

That fall on little girl blue

Won't you just sit there
Count the little raindrops falling on you
It's time you knew all you can ever count on
Are the, the raindrops that fall on little girl blue

Ain't no use old girl, ain't no use old girl
You might as well surrender
'Cause your hopes are getting slender
'Cause your hopes are getting slender
Why won't somebody send a tender blue, blue boy

Won't somebody send a little tender blue boy to cheer
To cheer a little girl blue

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Supremes’ song “Little Girl Blue” express a deep level of sadness and despair experienced by a little girl who seems to have lost hope in life. The girl is advised to sit still and count her fingers, but this only highlights her desperation and the fact that she feels her options are limited. The lyrics also note that all she can ever really depend on in life are the raindrops that fall on her, drawing attention to the fact that she feels alone and unsupported. The tone of the song is melancholic and reminds listeners of the harsh realities of life for those who feel alone and abandoned.

The image of a girl counting her fingers represents a sense of disappointment and an inability to move forward in life. She has exhausted all of her options and is left with nothing but her own thoughts and feelings. The raindrops represent the only thing that she can rely on in life, as they show up without fail and have been a constant presence throughout her life.

Overall, “Little Girl Blue” is an emotional ballad that highlights the feelings of hopelessness and despair of a young girl who feels lost and alone in the world. It is a powerful reminder of the fact that there are people out there who feel neglected and unsupported, and that we should do everything we can to help them.

Line by Line Meaning

Sit there and count your fingers
Stay idle, do nothing productive with your life.

What can you do, little girl you're through
You have no options left, your time is over.

Sit there, count your little fingers
Stay still and hopeless, keep track of your own failures.

Unhappy little girl blue
Your life is full of sadness, you can't find joy in anything.

Sit there and count the raindrops
Spend your time watching things out of your control.

Falling on you, it's time you knew
Realize that your life is full of disappointments, and there's nothing you can do about it.

All you can ever count on are the raindrops
The only thing you can rely on is your misery.

That fall on little girl blue
Your despair will always be with you.

Won't you just sit there
Stay idle, don't bother trying.

Count the little raindrops falling on you
Find pleasure in watching your own misery.

It's time you knew all you can ever count on
You need to accept that your life is full of disappointments.

Are the, the raindrops that fall on little girl blue
The only constant in your life is your sadness.

Ain't no use old girl, ain't no use old girl
You may as well give up, there's no point in continuing.

You might as well surrender
You should accept your defeat and stop hoping for a better life.

'Cause your hopes are getting slender
You keep getting disappointed, and your expectations keep getting lower.

Why won't somebody send a tender blue, blue boy
I wish someone would show me kindness and love.

Won't somebody send a little tender blue boy to cheer
I need someone to bring me joy and happiness.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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