Album: Mahogany Soundtrack (1975)

Charted: 5 1

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• Do you know where you're going to?
  Do you like the things that life is showing you?
  Where are you going to?
  Do you know?
  
  Do you get what you're hoping for?
  When you look behind you, there's no open doors
  What are you hoping for?
  Do you know?
  
  Once we were standing still in time
  Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds
  You knew how I loved you, but my spirit was free
  Laughing at the questions that you once asked of me
  
  Do you know where you're going to?
  Do you like the things that life is showing you?
  Where are you going to?
  Do you know?
  
  Now looking back at all we planned
  We let so many dreams just slip through our hands
  Why must we wait so long before we see
  How sad the answers to those questions can be?
  
  Do you know where you're going to?
  Do you like the things that life is showing you?
  Where are you going to?
  Do you know?
  
  Do you get what you're hoping for?
  When you look behind you, there's no open doors
  What are you hoping for?
  Do you know? Writer/s: Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser
  Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 13

• Wendy from TennesseeI remember watching her sing this song on the Oscars that night! Mom and Dad let me stay up later to see it!
• Beemish from Denville, NjAccording to the liner notes of the 2012 reissue of the "Diana Ross" album, this song was originally intended for Motown label mate, Thelma Houston but quickly reassigned to Ross as it fit the mood of the movie so well. Ross played Tracey Chambers in the movie and was nick-named "Mahogany" by her photographer.
• David from Birmingham, AlAccording to the Don Kirsher bio "The Man with the Golden Ear" the writer of this song, Gerry Goffin says it was written about his ex-wife, Carole King.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis song was nominated for Best Song at the 1975 Academy Awards {Lost to "I'm Easy" from the movie "Nashville"}!!!
• John from Nashville, TnThe song almost did not get nominated for an Oscar because it was not written for the movie. It was released as a single two years earlier by Motown artist Thelma Houston (Motown single #1260). However, music industry big wig Clive Davis spearheaded a campaign to get the song nominated. Due to this effort, the Academy committee bended the rules.
• John from Nashville, Tn"Do You Know Where You're Going To" was originally recorded by Motown artist Thelma Houston in 1973. Her version was released as Motown single #1260.
• Kristin from Bessemer, AlAT THE TIME when this song was released, and Berry Gordy and Diana Ross were in Italy filming "Mahogany", former Supreme Florence Ballard was living in poverty, riding the public bus system because she did not have a car, and applying for welfare to support herself and her three children.
• Madalina from Azuga, RomaniaI think that somebody gave her up for someone else, or rather for being free, for a career or because his dreams didn't involve her too. And now he's probably realising what he gave up to, and she feels quite sorry for him, though being a little ironic reminding him about all their plans, and suggesting how happy they could have been together. Or at least this is what I understand from this song.
• Mike from Santa Barbara, CaA beautiful theme song to a poor movie.
• Donald from Seattle, WaSimply put, my favorite song. (or one of them) The title asks the best question: where is your life taking you? what does your life mean? and another great quote "we've let so many dreams just slip thru our hands". It is a good warning not to waste your life just pursuing making a living. I enjoy the vocal and the violin music is heavenly
• Mike from Knoxville, TnFor the record: the song's proper title is "THEME FROM MAHOGANY". I clearly remember hearing this song for the first time while sunbathing on Miami Beach with family in 1975. I recall the dj (at WHYI or WQAM) saying something goofy like "MAHOGANY had the longest ending of any top 40 song in history". Those were his words.
• Spencer from Bronx, NyI find this to be a very melancholy song. Is it about a woman who preferred to be free and flighty when she was younger and passed up a chance to be with somebody who loved her?
• Candice from Vancouver, CanadaMariah Carey did a remake of this.

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