Although Bryant was never Atlantic Starr's only lead singer -- Wayne and David Lewis also provided their share of lead vocals -- she was a major asset. So it came as quite a disappointment when she left Atlantic Starr in 1984 to pursue a solo career. But all was not lost. The talented Barbara Weathers was hired as a replacement and 1985's As the Band Turns -- Atlantic Starr's first post-Bryant album and sixth album overall -- found the outfit unveiling a smaller lineup that consisted of Weathers, the Lewis Brothers, and Phillips. Sudderth, Daniels, Archer, and Carroll were all gone, but despite those personnel changes, Atlantic Starr was still distinctive and recognizable. As the Band Turns, which contained the major hit "Secret Lovers," turned out to be Atlantic Starr's last album for A&M; in 1987, they moved to Warner Bros. and fared well with the album All in the Name of Love and the smash hit "Always." A syrupy adult contemporary ballad, "Always" reflected the Lewis Brothers' desire to have the type of crossover success that Whitney Houston and Lionel Ritchie had been enjoying in the '80s; they got their wish when "Always" soared to number one on both the pop and R&B charts.
After All in the Name of Love, Weathers left the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Porscha Martin, who was featured on 1988's We're Movin' Up. Martin was around for a few years before being replaced by Rachel Oliver (Atlantic Starr's fourth female vocalist) in the early '90s. Atlantic Starr's relationship with Warner Bros. ended after 1991's Love Crazy, and in 1994, the band recorded one album for Arista: Time. That album was a commercial disappointment and the single "I'll Remember You" only made it to the fifties on Billboard's R&B and pop singles charts. Time (which was David Lewis' last album with the band) found a fifth female singer, Aisha Tanner, replacing Oliver. And when 1999's Legacy was distributed by the small, independent Street Solid label, Atlantic Starr unveiled yet another lineup -- one that consisted of two Lewis Brothers (Wayne and Jonathan) as well as Oliver (who had returned and replaced Tanner) and a new male singer named DeWayne Woods. Although Legacy received very little attention, Atlantic Starr hung in there and was still performing for die-hard fans when the 21st century arrived.
If Your Heart Isn
Atlantic Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It could fall apart at any time
And none would be the wiser
Except you and I
It seems that we stopped talkin'
Like we're afraid to disagree
And after all we've been through
[Chorus]
If your heart isn't in it
Why can't you tell me so?
If my heart wasn't in it
I'd have gone long ago
If your heart isn't in it
Why keep me hangin' on?
Just tell me and I'll be gone
From your life
You treat me like a stranger
As if I wasn't there
Oh baby, I waited for a miracle
To make you show that you care
[Chorus]
If your heart isn't in it
Why can't you tell me so?
I can't go through the motions
I have to know
If your heart isn't in it
Why can't you tell me so?
I can't go to the limit
I have to know
If your heart
Ooh, can't you tell me so?
I have to know
If your heart isn't it
Why keep me hangin' on?
Just tell me and I'll be gone
Don't keep me hangin' on
For dear life
The song If Your Heart Isn't In It by Atlantic Starr tells the tale of a fragile situation between two people who seem to have stopped communicating effectively. The lyrics express the feeling of being in a relationship where one person's heart isn't in it anymore and the other person is left in confusion and uncertainty about the future of their relationship. The song conveys the message that honesty is the key to any relationship and it's better to know the truth than keep someone hanging on for dear life.
The opening lines "It's a fragile situation, it could fall apart at any time" set the tone for the overall mood of the song, which is one of vulnerability and uncertainty. The line "And after all we've been through can we still be that naive?" expresses the disappointment of realizing that the couple has lost the magic and connection they once had.
The chorus hits home with the plea of the singer for the other person to be honest with them about their feelings. The line "If your heart isn't in it, why keep me hanging on?" showcases the frustration and anger that come with being in a relationship with someone who is not emotionally invested. The song ends with the singer begging for the truth and promising to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a fragile situation
Our relationship is in a delicate state.
It could fall apart at any time
Our relationship is so unstable that it could collapse without warning.
And none would be the wiser
No one else would notice if we broke up because we've been distant from others.
Except you and I
Only we are aware of the true state of our relationship.
It seems that we stopped talkin'
Our communication has deteriorated to the point of almost non-existence.
Like we're afraid to disagree
We avoid disagreeing because we don't want to damage what little remains of our relationship.
And after all we've been through
Despite all the trials and tribulations we have faced in our relationship,
Can we still be that naive?
Are we still ignorant and hopeful that things will get better without any real effort?
If your heart isn't in it
If you're not fully invested in our relationship,
Why can't you tell me so?
Why won't you be honest and upfront about your feelings?
If my heart wasn't in it
If I wasn't fully invested in our relationship,
I'd have gone long ago
I would have ended things a while back.
Why keep me hangin' on?
Why are you keeping me around when you're not invested?
Just tell me and I'll be gone
If you are honest about your feelings, I will leave the relationship.
You treat me like a stranger
You act like you don't know me anymore.
As if I wasn't there
You ignore me as if I'm invisible or unimportant.
Oh baby, I waited for a miracle
I have been waiting for something to change, as if by a miracle, to make our relationship better.
To make you show that you care
I want to see that you actually care about our relationship and making it work.
I can't go through the motions
I can't pretend that everything is okay and continue in a passionless relationship.
I have to know
I need to understand your true feelings for our relationship to move forward.
I can't go to the limit
I can't keep investing in a relationship that isn't reciprocated.
If your heart
If you're not invested in our relationship,
Ooh, can't you tell me so?
Why can't you communicate honestly and openly with me?
Don't keep me hangin' on
Don't continue stringing me along in a relationship that is going nowhere.
For dear life
I don't want to hang on to this relationship for fear of being alone or without you.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAMISH STUART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gummislayer1969
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Just hearing "I can get my OWN damn steak!!!" tells me how far we've fallen as a people (needing each other!!!).
We are better TOGETHER!!!
Men Lead...
Women And Children Follow...
One Love...
π€΄πΎπ€π
@maureenholder7510
The female singer has a very unique voice. Great song !
@bonganimasina5569
How I love her, her name is Barbara Weathers β€β€β€
@NoNewfriends4087
Alright whereβs all my 70βs & 80βs babies at?
@MichaelScott-uv1bt
70s baby right here
@malikastone
the fact that this song has at least TEN key changes/modulations all in the last 90 seconds!! SICKENING...I love this damn song so much. Heartbreakingly beautiful. Nobody and I mean NOBODY is making this kind of music anymore. It's just so...precise. My God!
@user-mn6rb6ms4i
I love this song so much it is so timing n in tune it's a wow
@tonshaad1230
It's really only three modulations; specifically only two because it goes back from the original key of Bb major to G major, then back to Bb major.
@dawnsmith1639
Absolutely SICK... Shit what an emotional piece... Live itππ
@nathanielanderson2654
My favorite part, "Just tell me and I'll be gone!" That's it baby! Just tell me and I'm OUT!!!
@tinateeteehill7398
Got this song on repeat when Iβm sipping and in my feelings π€£π€¦πΎββοΈπ€·π½ββοΈβ€