The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes
Diana Ross & The Supremes’ 1968 hit “Love Child” tells the story of a mother giving birth to a child out of wedlock. “Love Child” was the Supremes’ 11th #1 single in the United States—it was their first #1 not written by legendary Motown songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier Holland.
A...
[Intro]
(Tenement slum
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ah)
[Pre-Chorus]
You think that I don't feel love (I'll always love you)
But what I feel for you is real love
In those eyes, I see reflected (I'll always love you)
A hurt, scorned, rejected (Love you)
[Hook]
Love child, never meant to be
Love child, born in poverty
Love child, never meant to be
Love child, take a look at me
[Verse 1]
Started my life in an old, cold, rundown tenement slum (Tenement slum)
My father left, he never even married Mom
I shared the guilt my mama knew
So afraid that others knew I had no name
[Pre-Chorus]
Ah, this love we're contemplating (I'll always love you)
Is worth the pain of waiting
We'll only end up hating (I'll always love you)
The child we may be creating (Love you)
[Hook]
Love child, never meant to be (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
Love child, (Scorned by) Society
Love child, always second best (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
Love child, (Different from) Different from the rest
[Post-Chorus]
(Hold on, hold on, just a little bit longer) Mmm, baby
(Hold on, hold on, just a little bit longer) Mmm, baby
[Verse 2]
I started school in a worn, torn dress that somebody threw out (Somebody threw out)
I knew the way it felt to always live in doubt
To be without the simple things
So afraid my friends would see the guilt in me
[Pre-Chorus]
Ah, don't think that I don't need you (I'll always love you)
Don't think I don't wanna please you
But no child of mine will be bearing (I'll always love you)
The name of shame I've been wearing (Love you)
[Hook]
Love child, love child, never quite as good (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
Afraid, ashamed, misunderstood (Just a little bit longer, love child)
But I'll always love you (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
I'll always love you (Just a little bit longer, love child)
I'll always love you (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
I'll always love you (Just a little bit longer, love child)
I'll always love you (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
I'll always love you (Just a little bit longer, love child)
You, you (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
I'll always love you (Just a little bit longer, love child)
Always love you (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
You (Just a little bit longer, love child)
You (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
I'll always love you (Just a little bit longer, love child)
Take a look, take a look at me (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
Love child, love child (Just a little bit longer, love child)
I'll always love you (Wait, wait, won't you wait now, hold on)
Love Child was written by Deke Richards & Pam Sawyer & Frank Wilson & R. Dean Taylor.
Love Child was produced by Henry Cosby & Deke Richards & Pam Sawyer & Frank Wilson & R. Dean Taylor.
The Supremes released Love Child on Mon Sep 30 1968.
In the book Motown: The Golden Years, producer Frank Wilson recalled Gordy asking him for advice:
I told him, ‘We do the same way they do. We get the best writers, the best producers, take ’em down to a hotel, lock ’em up. See what they come up with.’
In Motown: The Golden Years, Wilson recalled their experience in Detroit’s Pontchartrain Hotel:
We checked in on Friday, and Monday morning we were ready to go into the studio and record. Every idea was thrown out until we came up with that one. We probably came up with that one sometime Saturday,...