Leuzinger High School Class of 1981

You Can't Hurry Love" is a 1966 song originally recorded by The Supremes on the Motown label. The song is about the memory of a mother's words of encouragement ("My mama said 'you can't hurry love/No you just have to wait' "), telling her daughter that with patience she would meet the right man at the right time.

Diana Ross is singing as someone who wants to be in a relationship and who finds herself getting more and more impatient. But the part of the song that everyone remembers is the bit that her mom told her. So it’s really the mom’s song, and the song works less as a lonely woman’s lament and more as a piece of romantic advice.

It’s good advice, too. We all know people who forced themselves into relationships because they felt like they needed to be in relationships right then, and that always looks like absolute hell. So listen to Diana Ross’ character’s mother, everyone. And listen to that bassline, too.