To Be A Lover

About To Be A Lover

"To Be a Lover" is a song notably covered by Billy Idol on his 1986 album Whiplash Smile. As the album's lead single, it became Idol's second top 10 hit in the US, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones, and originally performed by Bell as a soul ballad titled "I Forgot to Be Your Lover", released in late 1968 and hitting No. 45 on the Hot 100 and No. 10 on Billboard′s Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in early 1969. This version has since been sampled by Ludacris on his song "Growing Pains" from Word of Mouf, by Jaheim on "Put That Woman First" from Still Ghetto and by Dilated Peoples on the song "Worst Comes to Worst". Covered by Shenley Duffus And The Soul Avengers in 1972. Produced by Lee Perry In 1977, the song was covered as a more uptempo reggae number by the Jamaican singer George Faith under the amended title of "To Be a Lover (Have Mercy)" for his Lee "Scratch" Perry-produced album also called To Be a Lover. more »

Year:

1997

159 Views

Playlists:

#1

Have I told you
Lately that I love you
If I didn't, darlin'
You see, I'm so sorry
Didn't I reach out
And hold you
In these lovin' arms
Well, if I didn't, oh baby
Well, I'm so sorry

When I realized that you need love too
Gonna spend my life makin' love to you
Got to be a lover
Have mercy

Forgot to be a lover, babe (have mercy)
Forgot to be a lover (have mercy)
Forgot to be a lover
Make it on through to you somehow (have mercy, baby)
Got to be a lover, babe (forgot to be a lover)
Woo! Woo!

Well, did I ask you
Yes would you come and share
Oh, share
Oh, the burden and the task
That's at love's command
Didn't I say
All those lovin' special things
That you long to hear
To show how much I care

When I realized that you need love too
Gonna spend my life makin' love to you
Got to be a lover
Have mercy

Well, well, I worked all day
Hard as I can,
Worked all night, didn't make me a man
(Forgot to be a lover)
Have mercy, Oo,

When I realized
That you need love too
Gonna spend my life
Makin' love to you (forgot to be a lover)
Got to be a lover, babe
Oh, mercy (have mercy)
Have mercy, baby (have mercy, baby)

I'm gonna make it on through
To you somehow
So have mercy (Have mercy, have mercy, baby)

Have I told you
Yes, lately that I love you
If I didn't, oh baby
Yes, I'm so sorry
Ah, but you know I really love you, baby. (Love you baby)
I really love you baby (Love you baby)
I really need you baby (Need you baby)
I really want you baby (Want you baby)

When I realized
That you need love too
I'm gonna spend my life
Makin' love
Makin' love
Makin' love to you
Well, I worked all day
As hard as I can
Worked all night
It didn't make me a man, babe
(Forgot to be a lover) (Have mercy)
Oh, have mercy baby (Have mercy)
Have mercy baby (Have mercy)
Oh, have mercy baby (Have mercy baby)
Oh, make it on through

Well, when I realized that you need love too
I'm gonna spend my life
Gotta spend my life makin' love to you
(got, got to be a lover, have mercy, forgot to be a lover)

Billy Idol

William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X. He then embarked on a successful solo career, and was a member of the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States. A series of music videos for songs such as "White Wedding", "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face" made him one of the first MTV stars. Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens. more »

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