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.

Who Can I Turn To
The Supremes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who can I turn to
When nobody needs me
My heart wants to know
So I must go
Where destiny leads me

With no star to guide me
And no one beside me

I'll go on my way
And after the day
The darkness will hide me

But maybe tomorrow
I'll find what I'm after
I'll throw off my sorrow
Beg, steal or borrow
My share of laughter

'Cause with you I could learn to
With you on a new day
But who can I turn to
If you turn away

With you I could learn to
With you on a new day

But who can I turn to
If you turn away

Overall Meaning

The Supremes' song "Who Can I Turn To" is a beautiful ballad about feeling lost and alone. The singer of the song is searching for someone to turn to when they feel like nobody needs them. Right now, they feel like they have no direction and no one to turn to. They understand that they must follow their destiny, even though they don't know where it will lead them. The singer of the song is in a dark place emotionally, with no star to guide them and no one beside them. The darkness envelops them, but they hope that tomorrow will bring what they are searching for. The singer wants to be able to shed their sorrow and find some happiness. They feel like they could do this with the person they are singing to, but they are afraid that this person might turn away from them, leaving them with no one to turn to.

"Who Can I Turn To" is a poignant and beautiful song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt lost and alone. It was written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1964 musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd." The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, and Dionne Warwick. The Supremes' version of the song was released in 1966 and appeared on their album "The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland."

Line by Line Meaning

Who can I turn to
The singer is wondering who they can go to for help or support.

When nobody needs me
The singer feels alone and unimportant, as they believe no one needs them.

My heart wants to know
The singer's emotions are curious and inquisitive about who they can rely on.

So I must go
The artist acknowledges that they have to venture out on their own to find answers.

Where destiny leads me
The artist implies that they will let fate take its course and guide them forward.

With no star to guide me
The singer doesn't have any particular direction or path to follow.

And no one beside me
The singer feels alone in their journey, without anyone to accompany them.

I'll go on my way
The artist will continue their journey, accepting their fate and moving forward.

And after the day
After a long and tiring journey, the artist anticipates some reprieve.

The darkness will hide me
The artist seeks refuge from the world in the darkness.

But maybe tomorrow
The singer is hopeful that things will improve and look up in the future.

I'll find what I'm after
The artist is optimistic that they'll find what they're searching for.

I'll throw off my sorrow
The singer makes a conscious decision to discard their sadness and embrace happiness.

Beg, steal or borrow
The singer will employ any means necessary to obtain whatever they're seeking.

My share of laughter
The singer desires their fair amount of joy and pleasure in life.

'Cause with you I could learn to
The artist is suggesting that their woes could be eased with someone's guidance and support.

With you on a new day
The artist envisions a brighter and more hopeful future if they are accompanied by someone.

But who can I turn to
The singer is still uncertain about who they can rely on.

If you turn away
The singer's fears are rooted in the possibility of the person they rely on leaving them, leaving them alone once again.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Kick Rocks

The Bluebelles did a banging recording.

BriNic317

I don't care for Diana Ross....Florence Ballard is my girl and im all about her, but Diana has a handful of songs where she kills it and this is one of them. one of my favorites.