I’m bypassing a few of The Supremes’ other #1 hits — specifically, ‘Love is Here and Now You’re Gone,’ ‘Come See About Me’ and ‘The Happening’ — and finishing off the Motown series with today’s song, their final #1 single.
This is my 28th Motown song — 3 1/2 months’ worth. I hope you’ve enjoyed the exploration of some of the finest music America has ever produced. I know I have. I do like the idea of keeping a theme on the weekends, and I think I know what I’ll try next. Stay tuned.
My final Motown selection, ‘Someday We’ll Be Together,’ is one of those classic tunes that usually plays at some point in movies about civil rights or race relations. If it didn’t appear in Boyz N the Hood it should have.
It’s labeled a Supremes song but is essentially a Diana Ross solo tune, as she is the only band member to actually appear on the track. Berry Gordy, that famous meddler, decided Diana Ross’ first solo single should be ‘Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)’ and branded this recording as a Supremes track. ‘Reach Out’ wound up peaking at #20 while ‘Someday We’ll Be Together’ topped the charts.
Regardless of all that, it’s a great song and a nice way to bid adieu to Motown.
Say it, say it, say it, say it again (you tell ’em)
Someday we’ll be together
Oh, yeah, oh yeah
You’re far away
From me my love (say it, baby)
And just as sure my, my baby
As there are stars above
I wanna say it, wanna say it, wanna say it
Someday we’ll be together
Oh, yes, we will, yes, we will
(Say it) Someday (some sweet day) we’ll be together
I know, I know, I know, I know
My love is yours, baby
Oh, right from the start (baby, honey)
You, you, you posses my soul now, honey
And I know, I know you own my heart
And I wanna say it (tell ’em)
Some day (some sweet day) we’ll be together
Yes we will, yes we will
Someday (tell everybody, now) we’ll be together
Oh, yes, we will, yes, we will
Long time ago
Now, now sweet thing
I made a big mistake, honey (oh, baby)
I (say it) said, I said goodbye
Oh, oh baby
Ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever since that day
Now, now all I, all I wanna do is cry, cry, cry
Hey, hey, hey (oh, dear honey)
I long for you every, every night
Just to kiss your sweet, sweet lips, baby
Hold you ever, ever so tight
And I wanna say (say it)
Someday we’ll be together
Oh, yes, we will, yes, we will
Someday we’ll be together
Oh, yes, we will, yes, we will (my love)
Someday we’ll be together
Oh, honey, honey, honey, honey, honey
Someday we’ll be together
Yes, we will, yes, we will
Meet Me In Montauk 
Your Motown tidbits leave me intrigued. Why did he prefer the one song over the other I wonder? Was he losing his touch and thinking “Reach Out” was a more likely #1? Or did he have some other ulterior motive? Hmmm….
Regardless, I agree that this song has been (or should have been) featured prominently in television show and films accompanying montages of hope and reconciliation.
I look forward to discovering your next theme (and not only because it will mean another weekend has arrived 🙂
No idea if anyone’s still reading this old post (great post, by the way, thank you!), but in answer to Amy’s question: it wasn’t so much a question of Gordy preferring one song over the other, but he didn’t want to launch Diana’s solo career by having her be seen to leave the Supremes because the hits had dried up – he wanted her to leave the group with them on top, which meant a huge hit. Unfortunately, none of the other 1969 Supremes singles written for the purpose (I’m Livin’ In Shame, The Composer, No Matter What Sign You Are) had got the job done, hence the rebranding of Someday We’ll Be Together from a Diana Ross solo cut to a Supremes track.
In fact, Berry Gordy purportedly hated Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand) – his choice for Diana’s first solo single was a cover of the Velvelettes’ These Things Will Keep Me Loving You – but in a rare turn of events, he was convinced to go against his better judgement by the enthusiastic reaction of the rest of the Motown QC staff.
Well, as you can see from my last post, I’m ready to move past Motown weekends:) But certainly a nice song to go out on.