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.
You're Gone
The Supremes Lyrics
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And, oh my darling, now you're gone
Love is here
And, oh my darling, now you're gone
You persuaded me to love you
And I did
But instead of tenderness I found heartache instead
Into your arms I fell
You closed the door of your heart and turned the key
Locked your love away from me
Love is here
And, oh my darling, now you're gone
You made me love you
And oh my darling, now you're gone
You said loving you would make life beautiful
With each passing day
But as soon as love came into my heart
You turned and you walked just one way
You stripped me of my dreams
You gave me faith, then took my hope, look at me now
Look at me
See what loving you has done to me
Look at my face
See how crying has left its trace
After you made me all your own
And you left me all alone
You made your words sound so sweet
Knowing that your love I couldn't keep
My heart cries out for your touch
But you're not there
And the lonely cry fades in the air
Love is here
And, oh my darling, now you're gone
Love is here
And, oh my darling, now you're gone
You made me love you
Oh my darling, now you're gone
You made me love you
Oh my darling, now you're gone
The Supremes' song "You're Gone" is a heartbreaking ballad that speaks to the pain of loving someone who is no longer present. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and unfulfilled desire as the singer dreams each night of being loved by the one who is gone. She admits that the only time she is truly happy is in her dreams, where she can imagine being held tight by the one she loves.
The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is deeply hurt by the absence of their lover, and who is unable to find happiness in the world around them. The line "Each time you're near, something happens to my heart" suggests that even the slightest reminder of their lost love is enough to cause them pain. The singer longs for the sweet caress of their lover, which would bring them true happiness if only it were possible.
Despite the heartbreak and longing expressed in the lyrics, there is a sense of hopefulness as well. The singer would rather be happy loving this person, even if it means only dreaming of their love each night. This speaks to the power of love to sustain us even in the face of loss and grief.
Line by Line Meaning
I just wanna be happy
All I desire is to feel content and fulfilled
To love and be loved by you
I want to experience mutual affection with you
But the only time I'm happy
Unfortunately, my happiness is limited to
Is when I dream of you each night
when I am asleep and in the realm of my dreams,
'Cause that's the only time
because during these times,
You hold me tight in my dreams
you show me affection and hold me close,
Is the only time your love is mine
and I experience your love fully.
Each time you're near
Whenever you are in my presence,
Something happens to my heart
I experience a change in my emotions and feelings,
You make you feel so unwanted, dear
as I feel unappreciated by you,
And it pains my poor heart
causing me emotional distress
If I could feel your sweet caress
If only I could experience your tender touch,
Then I'd know true happiness
I am convinced that this would bring me genuine joy.
To me you'll never have
I perceive that you will never show me
Nothing kind or sweet to say
any words that are caring or loving.
Than my whole day
This worsens my entire day,
To seem too sadly waste away
and leaves me feeling deeply unhappy.
But when the day ends
However, when the day is over,
All my happiness begins
I get relief from my distress
Life pasts each day
As time progresses each day,
Leaving loneliness in my heart
I am left feeling alone and unhappy,
You make you feel so unneeded
as I seem not to hold any value to you,
And it hurts my poor heart
resulting in emotional pain.
But there's nothing I'd rather do
Nevertheless, despite everything,
Than to be happy loving you
I still desire to feel content while loving you.
But the only time I'm happy
Still, the only time I am truly content
Is when I dream of you each night
is in my dreams when I envision being with you.
'Cause that's the only time
For me, this remains the singular moment,
You hold me tightly in my dreams
when you hold me in your affections,
Is the only time your love is mine
and I experience your true love for me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland, Lamont Herbert Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind