This 1965 ditty was the fifth Supremes song in a row to hit #1 on the Billboard chart. I don’t know it as well as the others (which included ‘Baby Love,’ ‘Where Did Our Love Go?’ and ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’) but it’s a good one.
The lyrics name-drop Diana Ross’ fellow Supremes Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, a cute touch.
Wilson, now 65, sang with The Supremes through all of the group’s incarnations and continues performing as a solo artist to this day. She is also one of the initiators of a bill that bans groups from performing under the names of famous bands.
Apparently that bill has passed in more than half of the United States, though I don’t know if Florida is among them. It seems like I’m always seeing billboards advertising bands whose members have long since passed on in one way or another.
Ballard’s story is far less sunny. She was kicked off the Motown label after breaking down over Ross’ overshadowing of the rest of The Supremes and wound up living in poverty until she died at 32.
On that cheery note…
Friends calling giving their advice
From the boy I love
I should break away
‘Cause heartaches he’ll bring one day
I lost him once through my friends’ advice
But it’s not gonna happen twice
‘Cause all advice has ever gotten me
Was many long and sleepless nights
Ooh! But now
He’s back in my arms again
Right by my side
I got him back in my arms again
So satisfied
It’s easy for friends to say
Let him go
But I’m the one
Who needs him so
It’s his love that makes me strong
Without him I can’t go on
This time I’ll live my life at ease
Being happy lovin’ whom I please
And each time we make romance
I’ll be thankful for a second chance
Ooh! Cause
He’s back in my arms again
Right by my side
I got him back in my arms again
So satisfied
How can Mary tell me what to do
When she lost her love so true?
And Flo, she don’t know
‘Cause the boy she loves is a Romeo
I listened once to my friends advice
But it’s not gonna happen twice
‘Cause all advice has ever gotten me
Was many long and sleepless nights
Ooh! I got him
Back in my arms again
Right by my side
I got him back in my arms again
So satisfied
Ooh! I’m satisfied yeah
So satisfied
Meet Me In Montauk 
Yes, yes…very nice…now bring back the 80’s countdown!
I should put it off for a week just to mess with you!
Hmmm… just thinking about Dreamgirls, and which of those characters was based on Ballard. Doesn’t seem right that Motown allowed her to come to such a tragic end. Or Diana Ross, for that matter.
It is sad Amy, but Florence Ballard has what we call today “issues.” She drank heavily and probably could have used some counseling after she was raped before the Supremes were household names. Back then people did not treat rape victims the way they are treated today.
Whatever her demons were, Ballard was endangering the money-machine that was the Supremes.
I enjoy the Motown weekends and especially these great Supremes songs. I agree with Amy that it’s a sad thing that the label allowed such personal tragedy to come of the greatness they created for some of their artists.
I also agree with Dana that I’m ready for the last week of the 80s countdown. And should you decide to delay it just to mess with us, your loyal readers, I will simply have to boycott the blog altogether. Just sayin’.
By the way, just watched “I Love You, Man” this weekend and I FINALLY get the “slappin’ the bass” comments you kept making on Facebook. Hilarious!