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.
The Happening
The Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause when you shook me, took me outta my world, I woke up
Suddenly I just woke up to the happening
When you find that you left the future behind
'Cause when you got a tender love you don't take care of
Then you better beware of
The happening
You find your world is tumbling down
It happened to me and it can happen to you
I was sure, I felt secure until love took a detour
Yeah! Riding high on top of the world, it happened
Suddenly it just happened
I saw my dreams torn apart
When love walked away from my heart
And when you lose a precious love you need to guide you
Something happens inside you
The happening
Now I see life for what it is
It's not of dreams, it's not of bliss
It happened to me and it can happen to you
And then it happened
Ooh, and then it happened
Ooh, and then it happened
Ooh, and then it happened
Is it real? Is it fake?
Is this game of life a mistake?
'Cause when I lost the love I thought was mine for certain
Suddenly it starts hurtin'
I saw the light too late when that fickle finger of fate
Yeah! It came and broke my pretty balloon
I woke up, suddenly I just woke up, so sure
I felt secure until love took a detour
'Cause when you got a tender love you don't take care of
Then you better beware of
The happening
The Supremes’ song “The Happening” tells the story of someone who was so sure of their life, dreams, and love until everything came crashing down. The opening line, “Hey! Life, look at me, I can see the reality,” establishes the theme of the song that life can be unpredictable and full of surprises. The singer is awakened from their dreamlike state by a personal upheaval that catches them off guard. This shock could have been due to the crumbling of a love relationship that they didn't properly take care of. The line says, “When you got tender love you don't take care of, then you better beware of the happening.” At that point, the person realizes that they had left their future behind and is confronted with the reality that they need to move on.
The chorus of the song continues to explore the changes in the singer's life. “One day you're up, when you turn around, you find your world is tumbling down. It happened to me, and it can happen to you,” they sing, acknowledging the unpredictability of life. The second verse further explores the devastation caused by losing love, and the singer recognizes that they are not alone. The concluding verse asks the age-old question: Is life real, or is it just a game of fate? The singer laments on the loss of love and how perplexing it is.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey! Life, look at me, I can see the reality
I have gained a new perspective on life and can now see it for what it truly is.
'Cause when you shook me, took me outta my world, I woke up
After experiencing a significant event, I was jolted out of my existing worldview.
Suddenly I just woke up to the happening
I suddenly became aware of a major event or change in my life.
When you find that you left the future behind
If you neglect to take control of your future and make choices that align with your dreams, they may become out of reach.
'Cause when you got a tender love you don't take care of
When you take love for granted, it can lead to disastrous consequences.
Then you better beware of
The happening
Neglecting love can result in a dramatic, painful change in your life.
One day you're up, when you turn around
You find your world is tumbling down
Life can change in an instant, and everything you know and love can be gone in a flash.
I was sure, I felt secure until love took a detour
I thought my future was secure until love unexpectedly changed course.
Yeah! Riding high on top of the world, it happened
Suddenly it just happened
I was on top of the world until a sudden, unexpected event changed everything.
I saw my dreams torn apart
When love walked away from my heart
The loss of love can destroy your dreams and leave you feeling brokenhearted.
And when you lose a precious love you need to guide you
Something happens inside you
The loss of love can profoundly impact your sense of self and your outlook on life.
Now I see life for what it is
It's not of dreams, it's not of bliss
After losing love, I gained a new perspective on life and came to understand that it is not always easy or joyful.
Is it real? Is it fake?
Is this game of life a mistake?
The loss of love can cause one to question the nature of existence and reality itself.
'Cause when I lost the love I thought was mine for certain
Suddenly it starts hurtin'
The loss of a once-certain love can be emotionally devastating.
I saw the light too late when that fickle finger of fate
Yeah! It came and broke my pretty balloon
I realized too late that fate can be unpredictable and cruel, and it can destroy the dreams and hopes that I once held dear.
I woke up, suddenly I just woke up, so sure
I felt secure until love took a detour
I was jolted out of my sense of security and comfort when love did not go as expected.
'Cause when you got a tender love you don't take care of
Then you better beware of
The happening
Neglecting love can result in a dramatic, painful change in your life.
And then it happened
Ooh, and then it happened
Ooh, and then it happened
Ooh, and then it happened
The sudden, unexpected event happened multiple times and continued to impact my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Herbert Dozier, Frank De Vol
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris McDonagh
I don't know if anyone else has mentioned the production on this song. Absolutely amazing!
Adrian Nicholl
The greatest female group ever.Those 3 ladies were multi-talented.
godfrey flavell
Brilliant music....shame they don't make music like that these days instead of all the crap our poor ears have to take.
Bob Pierce
That's true Godfrey, but this has been the case for decades now, not any kind of recent development.
Nora Gutierrez
JUST LOVE THE HECK OUT OF THIS SONG!!!
Angela Lewis
For sure!
Ila Hilda Sissac
This song has A lot of sad truths in it. Don't neglect someone who loves you.
power play 4 real
@Ila Hilda Sissac
Did you see thos Movie with Anthony Quinn 😳
mario murillo
If you haven't seen their live performance on Ed Sullivan already, it elevates this song to another level. Happy listening.
J W
In 1967 my wife and i lived in Singapore and we had a ginger cat (called spitfire) and each time this record came on the radio the cat would jump onto the sideboard and sit in front of the speakers! He was obviously a cat of good taste!