About The Song
“To Be a Lover” is a song written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones originally as “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”, but best known as a cover by Billy Idol on his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). As the album’s lead single, it became Idol’s second top ten hit in the US, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1986, the track was reworked and became the second high-profile cover version Billy Idol released as a single, after 1981’s “Mony Mony”. Billy Idol was introduced to the song by the George Faith reggae version—he initially was unaware of the original William Bell release, and so retained the truncated title “To Be a Lover”. He more radically transformed the song, adding a more rockabilly feel and danceable beat to its soulful underpinnings.
The single was backed by Whiplash Smile album track “All Summer Single”. Two different 12″ singles were also released worldwide (one in the UK and one in Australia), featuring the aforementioned track and two extended remixes of “To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)” (6:45) and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Mix” (Australia and New Zealand only). The “Mother of Mercy Mix” differs quite significantly from the single version; it is a harder sounding song, with a prominent heavy guitar riff by Steve Stevens dominating most of the track and an interlude with distorted female groans. It is this version that is featured on the 1987 US and 1988 Japan editions of the remix compilation album Vital Idol (1985). The UK 12″ was also released as a limited-edition picture disc. A music video was also released, which was popular on MTV.
Video
Lyrics
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 my 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 (have mercy, baby)
Make it on through to you somehow
Got to be a lover, babe (forgot to be your lover)
Whoo, yeah, yeah
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
Well, an I realized that you need love too
Gonna spend my life makin’ love to you
I got to be a lover
Have mercy
Well, well, I worked all day as hard as I can
Worked all night, didn’t make me a man (forgot to be a lover)
Have mercy, ooh
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
Ooh, have 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, well, 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)
I forgot to be a lover (have mercy)
Oh, have mercy, baby (have mercy)
Have mercy, baby (have mercy)
Ooh, have mercy, baby (have mercy, baby)
Oh, make it on through (forgot to be a lover)
Well, I realized that you need love too (got to, got to be your lover)
I’m gonna spend my life (got to, got to be your lover, have mercy)
Gotta spend my life makin’ love to you (have mercy)
(Forgot to be your lover)
(Got to, got to be your lover)
(Have mercy)
(Have mercy)
(Have mercy, baby)
(Have mercy, baby)
(Got to be your lover)