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.
One Lover At A Time
Atlantic Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know if I'm coming or going
Got my heart spread too thin
Lately the strain has been showing
I need a new direction
Don't wanna share my affection
That's enough for me
One lover, one lover at a time
You're all I need
One lover
One lover
One lover
Hoo, hoo, hoo
My phone is ringing off the wall
Get confused which lover is calling
I can't take this anymore
I saw you and I started falling
You are my new direction
Gonna give you all my affection
One lover, one lover at a time
Not two, not three, not four
One lover, one lover at a time
I don't need anymore
One lover
One lover
One lover
Hoo, hoo, hoo
One lover
Just one lover
One lover
Hoo, hoo, hoo
From now on safety
In numbers won't do
If you'll be there for me
I'll be there for you
One lover
One lover
One lover
Hoo, hoo, hoo
One lover, one lover at a time
That's enough for me
One lover, one lover at a time
You're all I need
One lover
One lover
One lover
Hoo, hoo, hoo
One lover, one lover at a time
Not two, not three, not four
Just one lover, one lover at a time
I don't need anymore
One lover
One lover
One lover
Hoo, hoo, hoo
One lover
Just one lover
One lover
Hoo, hoo, hoo...
The lyrics of Atlantic Starr's song "One Lover At A Time" is about the struggle of being with multiple partners and realizing that it can be overwhelming and confusing. The singer is admitting to being in a mess and feeling the strain of having their heart spread too thin among multiple lovers. The singer wants a new direction and to not share their affection anymore. They believe that having one lover at a time is enough for them and that they don't want anymore. The lyrics show a realization that having numerous lovers isn't fulfilling and that they want to choose just one person to love.
The repetition of "one lover" emphasizes the singer's desire for monogamy and wanting to focus on loving one person at a time. The line "safety in numbers won't do" shows that the singer doesn't want to keep up with multiple lovers and that they want the safety of a committed relationship. In the end, the singer finds someone that they want to give all their affection to and that person is all they need.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't believe this mess I'm in
I'm in a state of disbelief regarding my current romantic affairs
Don't know if I'm coming or going
I'm uncertain about the direction of my romantic life
Got my heart spread too thin
I've spread myself too thin by being involved with too many lovers
Lately the strain has been showing
The negative effects of my actions are becoming evident
I need a new direction
I need to change my romantic habits
Don't wanna share my affection
I don't want to divide my love and attention among multiple partners
One lover, one lover at a time
I am committed to having only one lover at a time
That's enough for me
Having only one lover satisfies my emotional needs
You're all I need
My current lover is the only one I need
My phone is ringing off the wall
I am being contacted by too many different lovers
Get confused which lover is calling
I am unable to keep track of which lover is contacting me
I can't take this anymore
The situation has become unbearable
You are my new direction
I am focusing my romantic attention on my current lover
Gonna give you all my affection
I am committed to giving all of my love and attention to my current lover
Not two, not three, not four
I am limiting my partners to only one at a time
I don't need anymore
Having multiple partners no longer satisfies me
From now on safety
I will ensure my emotional well-being
In numbers won't do
Having multiple partners will not support my emotional well-being
If you'll be there for me
If my current lover is committed to me
I'll be there for you
I will reciprocate that commitment
Just one lover
I am committed to only having one lover
Contributed by Kayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
has2bhector70
Ah the 80's will always be the greatest music era of all time...๐
MITZI THOMPSON
Forever!!!!๐
Robert S550stang
90's too.... but thats where it ends !!!!!!
MITZI THOMPSON
4 ever๐ฅโค๐ฏ
malcolm warena
This is what great music from the 80's era sounded like crisp and clear with no bad words but this band like so many , had a uniqueness about them either be it style or sound they had cant beat the 80's peeps !!!!
Trent Davis
Haven't heard this in a serious minute....80s all day, baby!!
Kayla Pierre
Loving it
RฮฃMIXใ
musica TOP demais !!!
Nicolus Perez
cool jam. heard it on the movie "Can't Buy Me Love".
Janel Cornejo
Same ๐ the cheerleading practice scene!