englishRock

To Be a Lover Lyrics

by Billy Idol

17 views • Published on Oct 3, 2026

To Be a Lover Lyrics

Have I told you Lately that I love you If I din'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 Well, when I realize That you need love too, Gonna spend my life Makin' love to you Forgot 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. Oo, 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) Oo, have mercy baby (Have mercy) Have mercy baby (Have mercy) Oo, have mercy baby (Have mercy baby) Oo, make it through. Well, when I realized that you need love too, I'm gonna spend my life, Gotta spend my life makin' love to you.

Meaning of To Be a Lover

Have I told you lately that I love you? Billy Idol’s “To Be a Lover” is a raw and urgent plea for connection, driven by a feeling of having drifted away from the core of love. The song expresses deep remorse – "Didn't I reach out and hold you?" – revealing a lapse in attention and affection. It’s about recognizing a partner’s need for love and commitment, promising to dedicate his life to fulfilling that desire. There’s a frantic energy throughout, fueled by the repeated “Forgot to be a lover,” highlighting a critical self-awareness and desperate attempt to course correct. The lyrics reveal a man grappling with feeling incomplete without love, admitting "Worked all day, didn't make me a man," suggesting love is essential for his identity. Ultimately, it’s an impassioned declaration of devotion – “Gonna spend my life makin’ love to you” – punctuated by a repeated, almost pleading, “Have mercy.”

Tags:

to be a lover lyricsbilly idol lyricsto be a lover billy idol lyricsbilly idol songs

Related Lyrics