Here we are, just the two of us together
Takin' this crazy chance to be all alone
We both know that we should not be together
'Cause if we're found out, it could mess up
Both our happy homes
I hate to think about us all meetin' up together
'Cause as soon as I look at you it will show on my face, yeah
Then they'll know that we've been loving each other
We can't let 'em know, no, no, no
We can't leave a trace
Secret lovers, yeah, that's what we are
We shouldn't be together
But we can't let go, no, no
'Cause we love each other so
Ooh-ooh
Sittin' at home, I do nothin' all day
But I think about you and hope that you're okay
Hopin' you'll call before anyone gets home
I wait anxiously alone by the phone
How could something so wrong be so right
I wish we didn't have to keep our love out of sight, yeah
Livin' two lives just ain't easy at all
But we gotta hang on in there or fall
Secret lovers, yeah, that's what we are
Tryin' so hard to hide the way we feel
'Cause we both belong to someone else
But we can't let go
'Cause what we feel is, oh, so real
So real, so real
You and me, are we fair?
Is this cruel or do we care?
Can they tell what's in our minds?
Maybe they've had secret loves all of the time
In the middle of makin' love we notice the time
We both get nervous 'cause it's way after nine
Even though we hate it, we know it's time that we go
We gotta be careful so that no one will know
Secret lovers, yeah, that's what we are
Tryin' so hard to hide the way we feel
'Cause we both belong to someone else
But we can't let it go
'Cause what we feel is, oh, so real
So real, so real
So real, so real
About This Song
"Secret Lovers" is a deeply conflicted ballad that explores the moral complexity and emotional turmoil of an extramarital affair, capturing both the intoxicating passion and crushing guilt that define forbidden relationships. The song delves into the psychological strain of maintaining a double life, where stolen moments of intimacy are constantly shadowed by the fear of discovery and the weight of betraying committed partners. Atlantic Starr's smooth, sophisticated R&B production features lush synthesizers, a steady mid-tempo groove, and layered harmonies that create an atmosphere of both romance and tension, perfectly mirroring the song's emotional duality. The vocals convey genuine anguish rather than celebration, acknowledging that this love, however real, comes at an enormous cost to everyone involved. What makes the track particularly powerful is its unflinching honesty about the contradictions of human desire-the protagonists know their relationship is wrong yet find themselves unable to resist its pull. The song resonated with listeners because it gave voice to a taboo subject with remarkable emotional authenticity, avoiding both moral judgment and romantic idealization. Rather than glorifying infidelity, it presents the affair as a source of both ecstasy and torment, capturing the very real human experience of being torn between duty and desire. This nuanced approach helped establish "Secret Lovers" as one of the most mature and psychologically complex love songs of the 1980s R&B era.
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