The week of March 29, 1986, found two very 80s hits atop the Billboard Hot 100 in Falco’s ‘Rock Me Amadeus‘ and Heart’s ‘These Dreams,’ both of which have already been featured on the blog.
Just behind those tracks that week was R&B band Atlantic Starr’s hit ‘Secret Lovers,’ which peaked at #3. It’s a sign of my lifelong blindspot for R&B music that I can confidently say I’ve never heard this song before.
‘Secret Lovers’ is one of those dubious tunes about people unapologetically having an affair. “If we’re found out, it could mess up both our happy homes,” sing Barbara Weathers and David Lewis, and I can’t help but think their homes can’t be too happy if they’re regularly sleeping with somebody else.
It’s funny to read the YouTube comments on this one and see half of them nostalgically reminiscing about a song they loved in the 80s while another half seem to be realizing what the song is actually about.
Here’s one of my favorites: “My mama used to play the shit out of this song…i got some questions now 😂😂”
Here we are
The two of us together
Taking 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
[Verse 2]
I hate to think about us
All meeting up together
‘Cause soon as I looked at you
It would show on my face
Then they’ll know that
We’ve been loving each other
They can never know
No, no, no
We can’t leave a trace
[Chorus]
Secret lovers, yeah
That’s what we are
We shouldn’t be together
But we can’t let it go, no no
‘Cause we love each other so
[Verse 3]
Sitting at home
I do nothing all day
But think about you
And hope that you’re okay
Hoping you’ll call
Before anyone gets home
I’ll wait anxiously
Alone by the phone
[Verse 4]
How could something so wrong
Be so right?
I wish we didn’t have to
Keep our love out of sight, yeah
Living two lives
Just ain’t easy at all
But we gotta hang on in there
Or fall
[Chorus]
Secret lovers, yeah
That’s what we are
Trying so hard to hide the way we feel
Because 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
[Bridge]
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 lovers
All of the time
[Verse 5]
In the middle of making love
We notice the time
We both get nervous
‘Cause it’s way after 9:00
Even though we hate it
We know it’s time that we go
We gotta be careful
So that no one will know
[Chorus Outro]
Secret lovers, yeah
That’s what we are
We shouldn’t be together
But we can’t let it go
‘Cause what we feel
Is, oh, so real
So real, so real
So real, so real
Meet Me In Montauk 