Atlantic Starr was among the top urban contemporary acts of the '80s and fa… Read Full Bio ↴Atlantic Starr was among the top urban contemporary acts of the '80s and fared well in the adult contemporary market as well, but their roots were '70s soul and funk. The East Coast outfit was formed in White Plains, NY, in 1976 by three brothers: lead singer/guitarist David Lewis, lead singer/keyboardist Wayne Lewis, and trombonist/percussionist Jonathan Lewis. After the Lewis Brothers hired lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth, saxophonist Damon Rentie (who was replaced by Koran Daniels in 1981), bassist Clifford Archer, drummer Porter Carroll, Jr., and percussionist/flutist Joseph Phillips, Atlantic Starr's original nine-person lineup was in place. Influenced by '70s funk/soul bands like Earth, Wind & Fire, the Commodores, New Birth, and L.T.D., Atlantic Starr started playing around the northeastern U.S. They had only been together for about two years when they signed with A&M and started working with Bobby Eli, a well-respected producer/songwriter from Philadelphia. Produced by Eli in 1978, Atlantic Starr's self-titled debut album wasn't a mega-platinum blockbuster but did reasonably well and contained the funk hit "Stand Up" (which made it to number 16 on Billboard's R&B singles chart). Eli went on to produce the band's second album, Straight to the Point; while that 1979 release did OK, A&M knew that Atlantic Starr could be bigger. So in 1981, the band changed producers and enlisted James Carmichael for their third album, Radiance. It was a wise move; Radiance and its hit single "When Love Calls" established Atlantic Starr as a supergroup in the R&B market. It was on Radiance that the charismatic Bryant (who was featured on "When Love Calls") really blossomed as a singer and her lead vocals played a major role in the band's success. Carmichael went on to produce 1982's "Brilliance" (which contained the number two R&B single "Circles") and 1983's Yours Forever; the latter includes "Touch a Four Leaf Clover," another major hit featuring Bryant.

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.

Unconditional Love
Atlantic Starr Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Unconditional Love
Atlantic Starr
David Lewis

"Unconditional Love"
Who knows such a love made of
Can any one give
"Unconditional Love"

- Man -
I love you truely
And that's all I want
You do, do for me

- Woman -
Open that door, please
Is all, that I ever ask you,
To be

- Man & Woman -
But there, is just one mistake
I'm not sure that I can take
And that's giving your love away

{Chorus)
Unconditional love
Who knows, what such a love is made of
Can anyone give,
Unconditional love
Ohhhhh...

- Woman -
I want you, to be,
The man, that you
Feel, you need to be

- Man -
I would never keep you,
Under lock and key
Cause I believe, that a soul,
Should be set, free

- Man & Woman -
But just as long, as you live
Promise me, you'ld never give
Your heart, to anyone, no

{Chorus}

- Woman -
I can be, understanding,
About anything,
Anything you need
Just don't careful with our love
I beg of you, I plead

- Man -
Unconditional Love
Is there such a thing?
(I don't know) - Woman's Voice
All I can do,
Give my heart to you
Cause I'm only human
And tha's all

- Woman -
Boy, I'll never keep you
Under lock and key
(Thank you, baby) - Man's Voice
Cause truely, I believe
That a soul, should be set free
(Thank you, baby) - Man's Voice

"Unconditional"

- Woman -
Boy, you know I love ya,
And I do anything for ya

"Unconditinal Love"

Ohhhh... I want you to be,
Is it true to me

"Unconditinal"

- Man -
Ohhhh., baby, I'm holding on
To you, for dear life,

"Unconditiona Love"

And as long as you don't
Give it up, to anyone else
I'm gonna make you my wife
Make you my wife

"Unconditional"

Lets' pray together - (Woman)
Lets' pray together - (Man)
And we'll stay together - (Woman)

"Unconditional Love"

We'll be together - (Woman)
Together, Forever - (Man & Woman)
We'll be together

"Unconditional "

Ohhhhh... Hohhhhh... (Woman)

Girl, l really do love ya - (Man)
I love you too, boy - (Woman)

"Unconditional Love"

- Man -
I'm not sure, how to give
Uncoditinal love
All I know is my love
For you is true, wooo...

"Unconditional"

I said it, my love for you, Is true - (Man)
My love for you is true - (Woman))
My love for you is true - (Man)
My love for you is true - (Woman)

"Unconditional Love"

Ohhh... I'm gonna try - (Man)
I'm gonna try - (Woman)
All my life, to do for you,
I'm gonna try - (Woman)
All the things, you want me - (Man)
To do
Hey... Yeh... - (Woman)

"Unconditional"

Ohhh... - (Man)

- Woman -
Ohhhh... Baby...

"Unconditional Love"

As long as we
Keep on loving hope
We'll never have any
Reason to roam
No... No... No... No... No...

"Unconditional"

Ohhh... Lets' pray together - (Man)
Lets' pray together - (Woman)
Lets stay together - (Man)

"Unconditional Love"

Lets' stay together - (Woman)
Toegther forever - (Man & Woman)
We'll be together

"Unconditional"

Ohhhh... - (Man)
Ohhhh... - (Woman)
I really love you - (Man)
I love you... Too... - (Woman)

"Unconditional Love"

I want to stick around - (Man)
I wanna stick around - (Woman)
I want to do all the things -(Man)
You want me to do... Baby...
I love you - (Man & Woman)
I need you

"What is unconditional love?"
"Only God knows for sure."

He know for sure... Hey... (Fade)

Overall Meaning

The song “Unconditional Love” by Atlantic Starr is a poignant conversation between a man and a woman discussing their fears, hopes, and dreams for their relationship. They both yearn for a love that is pure and unconditional, with no strings attached or barriers holding them back. The woman says she wants him to be who he feels he needs to be, and she never wants to restrict him in any way. However, there is just one thing she asks of him - to never give his love away to anyone else. The man reassures her that his love for her is true, and though he may not know how to give unconditional love, he is willing to try his whole life to give her everything she wants and needs. Together, they vow to pray and stay together, loving each other unconditionally.

The lyrics of “Unconditional Love” convey the message that love, when it is unconditional, has the power to transform and heal relationships. It enables two people to be true to themselves and to each other, while also respecting each other’s freedom and choices. The song touches upon the fears and doubts that come with being in a relationship, such as the fear of losing oneself or the fear of being hurt. However, it also shows that with trust, understanding, and commitment, these fears can be overcome, and a love that is truly unconditional can be attained.

Line by Line Meaning

"Unconditional Love" Who knows such a love made of Can any one give "Unconditional Love"
The song starts by asking if anyone can truly give unconditional love and what it really means.

I love you truely And that's all I want You do, do for me
The man expresses his love for the woman and doesn't ask for anything more than her love in return.

Open that door, please Is all, that I ever ask you, To be
The woman just wants the man to be open and honest with her in their relationship.

But there, is just one mistake I'm not sure that I can take And that's giving your love away
The man is afraid of the woman giving her love away to someone else.

Unconditional love Who knows, what such a love is made of Can anyone give, Unconditional love Ohhhhh...
This is the chorus, expressing the question of what unconditional love really is and if anyone can give it.

I want you, to be, The man, that you Feel, you need to be
The woman wants the man to be true to himself and be the man he wants to be.

I would never keep you, Under lock and key Cause I believe, that a soul, Should be set, free
The man doesn't want to control the woman and believes that freedom is important.

But just as long, as you live Promise me, you'ld never give Your heart, to anyone, no
The man wants the woman to only give her heart to him, and no one else.

I can be, understanding, About anything, Anything you need Just don't careful with our love I beg of you, I plead
The woman promises understanding and support, but also begs the man to be careful with their love.

Unconditional Love Is there such a thing? (I don't know) - Woman's Voice All I can do, Give my heart to you Cause I'm only human And tha's all
Both the man and woman wonder if unconditional love is real but the woman says she will still give her heart to him because she's only human.

Boy, I'll never keep you Under lock and key (Thank you, baby) - Man's Voice Cause truely, I believe That a soul, should be set free (Thank you, baby) - Man's Voice
The woman doesn't want to control the man and thanks him for understanding her belief in freedom.

"Unconditional" Boy, you know I love ya, And I do anything for ya
The woman repeats her love for the man and how she'll do anything for him.

Ohhhh... I want you to be, Is it true to me "Unconditinal"
The woman wants the man to be truthful with her and questions the true meaning of unconditional love.

Ohhhh., baby, I'm holding on To you, for dear life, "Unconditiona Love" And as long as you don't Give it up, to anyone else I'm gonna make you my wife Make you my wife
The man loves the woman deeply and doesn't want her to give up their love for anyone else. He wants to make her his wife.

"Unconditional" Lets' pray together - (Woman) Lets' pray together - (Man) And we'll stay together - (Woman)
The couple prays together and promises to stay together.

"Unconditional Love" We'll be together - (Woman) Together, Forever - (Man & Woman) We'll be together
They will be together forever in unconditional love.

"Unconditional " Ohhhhh... Hohhhhh... (Woman) Girl, l really do love ya - (Man) I love you too, boy - (Woman)
The couple expresses their love for each other and the woman adds an ad-lib to the song.

"Unconditional Love" I'm not sure, how to give Uncoditinal love All I know is my love For you is true, wooo...
The man admits he's not sure how to give unconditional love but knows his love for the woman is true.

"Unconditional" I said it, my love for you, Is true - (Man) My love for you is true - (Woman)) My love for you is true - (Man) My love for you is true - (Woman)
Both the man and woman confirm their love for each other.

"Unconditional Love" Ohhh... I'm gonna try - (Man) I'm gonna try - (Woman) All my life, to do for you, I'm gonna try - (Woman) All the things, you want me - (Man) To do Hey... Yeh... - (Woman)
The couple promises to try their best to do everything for each other.

"Unconditional" Ohhh... - (Man) - Woman - Ohhhh... Baby...
The couple expresses their emotions towards each other.

"Unconditional Love" As long as we Keep on loving hope We'll never have any Reason to roam No... No... No... No... No...
As long as they keep their love strong, they will never have a reason to stray or separate from each other.

"Unconditional" Ohhh... Lets' pray together - (Man) Lets' pray together - (Woman) Lets stay together - (Man)
The couple prays together again and promises to stay together.

"Unconditional Love" Lets' stay together - (Woman) Toegther forever - (Man & Woman) We'll be together
They will be together forever in unconditional love.

"Unconditional" Ohhhh... - (Man) Ohhhh... - (Woman) I really love you - (Man) I love you... Too... - (Woman)
The song ends with the couple expressing their love for each other.

"What is unconditional love?" "Only God knows for sure." He know for sure... Hey... (Fade)
The song ends with the question of what is unconditional love and the answer that only God knows for sure.

Contributed by Blake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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