Going Down for the Third Time

"Going Down For the Third Time" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland,^[1] and recorded by Motown singing group The Supremes in 1967. The song was issued as the b-side to the popular "Reflections".^[2]

"Going Down for the Third Time"
Song by The Supremes
Released	July 24, 1967
Recorded	1967
Label	Motown M 1111
Songwriter(s)	Holland–Dozier–Holland
Producer(s)	Brian Holland Lamont Dozier

Background

The song was one of the last tracks to feature Ballard as a member of the Supremes. Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong a few months after the song was recorded.^[2]

Critical reception

Dan Austin, writing for the Detroit Free Press in 2015, considered as good, if not better, then the song "Reflections". He called it "epic" song about "heartbreak that once again manages to make you want to break out your arm-flailing dance moves—like only Motown could seem to do".^[2]

Joey DiGuglielmo, writing for the Washington Blade in 2018, called "Going Down for the Third Time", one of the Supremes' "best deep album cuts".^[3]

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Diana Ross
• Backing vocals by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
• Additional backing vocals by The Andantes (album version only)
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Cover versions

• Phoebe Snow covered this song on her album "Second Childhood", released in January, 1976.^[4]