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.

Some Things You Never Get Used To
The Supremes Lyrics

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Some things you never get used to

It's the same routine of getting up every morning
And putting on a smile
But underneath there's another person
Who can't find a reason to make living worthwhile

Ah, another day to get through

Without the love that once was mine
Sometimes I think my heartaches come to an end
And then something brings them all back again
Like wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to

I've gotten used to not listing
For familiar sounds you used to make
Now I'm trying to get out of the habit
Of calling your name first thing when I awake
Look here

It's like a child's first step
I have to learn to walk all, all over again
'Cause you were always there if I should fall
And now there's nobody else that I can call
It's like wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to

Lost in a cloud
I think I caught a glimpse of you
Blindly I rush to touch your hand, huh
To discover it's my mind
Playing tricks on me again
Tricks on me again

Some things you never get used to
Sometimes I think my heartaches come to an end
And then something brings them all back again
Like wanting you and like having you
I'll never get used to
It's wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to
Look here

Like wanting you and not having you
I'll never get used to

Overall Meaning

The Supremes's song "Some Things You Never Get Used To" is a heartbreaking ballad that conveys the difficulty of moving on from lost love. The opening lyrics set the scene for the rest of the song by stating that, on the surface, the singer puts on a brave face and faces each day with a smile. However, the listener is introduced to the inner turmoil that haunts the singer as they struggle to find a way to make life worth living without their former partner. The "routine of getting up every morning" implies that the singer has been stuck in this cycle for some time, and can't seem to escape it.

The lyrics of the song delve deeper into the emotions the singer experiences which all revolve around the same theme: wanting someone they can't have. The line "Like wanting you and not having you, I'll never get used to" is the refrain of the song and serves as a reminder of the point of the whole composition. Through the verses, we see the singer come to terms with not hearing the familiar sounds of their former partner or calling out their name every morning. The imagery of the child learning to walk after losing their crutch is powerful, and it underlines the message of the entire song: moving on from lost love is hard, and it requires an entirely new way of thinking.

Overall, Some Things You Never Get Used To is a somber composition that deals with the universal theme of love and loss. The lyrics expertly convey the difficulty of accepting a new reality, and through its emotive and relatable messaging, it is no wonder that it remains an all-time classic to this day.

Line by Line Meaning

Some things you never get used to
There are some things that are just too difficult to get used to.

It's the same routine of getting up every morning
Every day feels like Groundhog Day, with the same mundane routine repeated over and over again.

And putting on a smile
Even though I'm hurting on the inside, I have to put on a happy face for everyone else.

But underneath there's another person
Beneath the surface, there's a completely different person struggling with pain and heartache.

Who can't find a reason to make living worthwhile
It's hard to find meaning in life when the person you love is no longer there.

Ah, another day to get through
Each new day is a struggle that I have to somehow get through.

Without the love that once was mine
I had love in my life before, but now it's gone and I don't know how to replace it.

Sometimes I think my heartaches come to an end
I start to feel a little better and think that maybe the pain will go away, but then something happens to bring it all back again.

Some Things You Never Get Used ToThe Supremes Lyrics

Some Things You Never Get Used To
The Supremes Lyrics