Song Information
Title: Bad Weather
Artist: The Supremes
Lead Vocal: Jean Terrell
Writers: Stevie Wonder & Ira Tucker Jr.
Producer: Stevie Wonder
Release Date: April 1973
Label: Motown
Genre: Funk / Soul / R&B
Album: Non-album single (later included in compilations)
Chart Performance: Peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 (US); Top 40 hit in the UK
“Bad Weather” is one of the most adventurous and sonically experimental tracks ever recorded by The Supremes. It marked a bold shift in sound under the guidance of Stevie Wonder, who brought his signature mix of funk, clavinet-driven rhythms, and atmospheric textures to the production. This track also marked the final charted single for the Jean Terrell-led lineup of The Supremes.
Song Meaning and Lyrics Summary
“Bad Weather” uses the metaphor of a storm to depict a relationship unraveling. The singer senses emotional distance growing between her and her partner, as if an unseen storm cloud has settled over their love. There are no raised voices, no dramatic fights—but a creeping coldness that signals something has changed.
Jean Terrell’s vocal performance is subtle and haunting, perfectly matching Stevie Wonder’s moody instrumentation. She sings with a quiet urgency, trying to make sense of this emotional shift:
“I can sense that you’ve been hurt before / But I don’t know what to say anymore.”
The use of “bad weather” in the title is more than poetic—it captures the feeling of something larger, something unspoken and uncontrollable. Just like real storms, emotional storms brew slowly, and often, by the time we notice, the damage has begun.
The song stands out in The Supremes’ catalog for its progressive sound—melding soul, funk, and early hints of electronic music. It wasn’t a commercial hit in the U.S., but over time, it has become a cult favorite and is now recognized as one of their most daring recordings.
Explaining the Emotional Tension
One of the most striking elements of “Bad Weather” is its ability to create emotional suspense without explanation. The lyrics never explicitly say what happened between the couple—there is no betrayal, no goodbye, no defined conflict. Instead, it focuses on the unspoken shift, the atmospheric change in a relationship when something is just not right anymore.
This emotional ambiguity is precisely what gives the song its power. It taps into a common human experience—those moments when love starts to fade, not with a bang but with silence. It’s the kind of sadness that doesn’t come from a breakup, but from not knowing if one is coming.
The production enhances this feeling: Stevie Wonder’s layered synths, moody bassline, and use of reverb evoke a cloudy, suffocating air. Jean Terrell doesn’t plead or cry—she observes, almost helplessly, as the emotional weather deteriorates.
In many ways, “Bad Weather” is about powerlessness—how we sometimes can’t stop what’s coming, even if we feel it brewing. That theme made it a song ahead of its time, both lyrically and musically.
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Lyrics
Oohhhhh, ooh, ooh, oohhhhhhh
Ooh, ooh, oohhhhhhhh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, whoa-oa-oa-oa-oa-whoa
Why is it we can’t be
The way we used to be?
Problems, we would work it out
Whenever there was any doubt
You used to trust in me
But now you’re leaving me to suffer
Oh, oh, oh yeah, a-yeah
If you give love a chance
I’ll do the best I can
We can work it out in time
And mend the pieces of our lives
Please believe in me
Every day is looking darker
[Chorus]
Think I’m gonna run into bad weather
Skies are gray, ’cause our love just ain’t together
Think I’m gonna run into bad weather
‘Cause our love just ain’t together
Ooh
All the things we used to do
Together, me and you
Think of the fun we had
And how our love’s supposed to last
Mistakes were not all you
I know I made some too, sugar, ooh, baby, baby
Open up your eyes and see
That you’re the one for me
Let’s fix it, there’s still time
Where we can love, love, sunshine
Baby won’t you please
Stop it, don’t make me suffer
[Chorus]
Think I’m gonna run into bad weather
Ooh, look at the rain
‘Cause our love just ain’t together, no-o
Think I’m gonna run into bad weather
‘Cause our stuff just ain’t together
Now, now, now, now, now, now, now, now
Ooh
Yeah, yeah
Ah!
[Chorus]
Think I’m gonna run into bad weather
‘Cause our love just ain’t together, oh no (Ah, ah, ah, ah!)
Think I’m gonna run into bad weather
Look at the rain
‘Cause our stuff just ain’t together
Hey, baby, baby, baby, yeah
Bad weather, bad weather, bad weather
Our love just ain’t together
(It ain’t together, no)
(Run into bad weather)
Gonna run, gonna run, I’m gonna run, I’m gonna run
You got me running, you got me running, hey, yeah