Ah, Diana Ross and the Supremes, a name synonymous with the golden age of Motown. These effervescent ladies, with their powerhouse vocals and captivating stage presence, dominated the charts in the mid-1960s, churning out one infectious hit after another.
But Nothing But Heartaches, released in 1965, stands as a fascinating anomaly in their catalog.
Background
The Supremes had just achieved an unprecedented feat: five consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Tracks like “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love” epitomized the “Motown Sound” – a blend of pop, soul, and R&B characterized by its upbeat melodies, driving rhythms, and the unmistakable vocals of the trio (Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard).
These songs were anthems of young love, heartbreak, and teenage rebellion, perfectly capturing the zeitgeist of the era.
Nothing But Heartaches signaled a slight departure from this formula. While still undeniably a Motown production, the song veers towards a more mature and sophisticated sound.
The signature upbeat tempo is replaced with a heavier, almost brooding groove. The instrumentation, featuring a prominent guitar riff and a more forceful drumbeat, hints at the influence of Norman Whitfield’s productions for The Vandellas and The Marvelettes, known for their grittier, “garage band” sound.
This shift in sound is mirrored in the lyrics. Gone are the youthful proclamations of love and longing. Nothing But Heartaches delves into the darker side of relationships, painting a picture of a woman repeatedly disappointed by a fickle lover.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Nothing but heartaches, Oo, Nothing but heartaches,he brings nothing but heartaches.Oo, I can’t break away from his arms.I can’t break away from his charms.I can’t break away from his kiss, ’cause his kiss I surely miss.All my life I needed someone to needme, so I do my very best to please him.But the more and more I care, the more of him other girls share.When I need a hand to hold, that’s the time he leaves me all alone,Just keeps me, keeps me cryin’ myself to sleep.Nothing but heartaches (Oo-) Oo, nothing but heartaches,But I can’t break away, Oh, no, Keep a loving him more each day.Oo, I can’t break away from his arms.I can’t break away from his charms.I can’t break away from his kiss, ’cause his kiss I’ll surely miss.To him I’m loyal, to him I’m true.Why can’t he be the same way too?But the more my love has grown, the less love he has shown.He makes promises he doesn’t keep.Sometimes I don’t see him all week.Just keeps me, keeps me cryin’ myself to sleep.Nothing but heartaches (Oo-) Oo, nothing but heartaches,But I can’t break away, Oh, no, Keep a loving him more each day.Oo, I can’t break away from his arms.I can’t break away from his charms.I can’t break away from his kiss, ’cause his kiss I’ll surely miss.Nothing but heartaches. Oo, oo, oo, nothin’ but heartaches.No, I can’t break away.Oh, no. I keep a lovin’ him more each day.Nothing but heartaches. Oo, oo, oo, nothin’ but heartaches.No, I can’t break away.Oh, no. I keep a lovin’ him more each day.Nothing but heartaches. Oo, oo, oo, nothin’ but heartaches.No, I can’t break away.