[1][2] Inspired by the plot of Douglas Sirk's 1959 film Imitation of Life,[3] The Clan composed "I'm Livin' in Shame" as a sequel to the Supremes' number-one hit single, "Love Child."

The song explores the quest of the 'love child' to shun both her impoverished childhood and her mother, and pass herself off to her friends and new husband as the daughter of a rich family.

The woman's mother ends up dying without ever seeing her daughter as an adult, or ever meeting her two-year-old grandson, to the child's regret and chagrin.

The girl group debuted the single live on the Sunday, January 5, 1969 episode of the popular CBS variety program, The Ed Sullivan Show,[4] peaking at number 10 on the American pop chart and at 14 on the UK singles chart in late winter and early spring of 1969.

Cash Box described it as a "spectacular performance and another standout song" that continues the story of the Supremes earlier single "Love Child.