In 1964, at the age of 11, Khan formed her first musical group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells; a few years later, she adopted the African name Chaka Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program. After quitting high school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, the Babysitters — neither was on the fast track to success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fisher to form Rufus.
Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC label, Rufus was among the preeminent funk groups of the decade. Distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals, the group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums.
While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and solo, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".
Our Love
Chaka Khan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our love's in danger
If you don't hurry home
I might
Give it to a stranger
I never wanted you to go
I told you many times before
I get so tired when you're far away
You got me staring at the ceiling
Better come quick
You can't make it too soon
I never want to do you wrong
But you been gone away so long
I don't know what you expect of me
That's what I'm trying so hard to be
Don't force me into another's arms
Our love
Our love
Our love
Get the picture, I'm here all alone
Ain't you worried
About your happy home
What I'm thinking
Makes me feels ashamed
Tell me who's to blame
Tell me what to do about the
Strangers coming from everywhere
Strangers calling my name
Just don't know what to do about it
The lyrics of Chaka Khan's song Our Love tell a story of a narrator who is desperately waiting for her lover to come back home. She confesses that their love is in danger, and if her lover doesn't return home, she might give it to a stranger. She pleads with her lover to come quick since she needs his love day to day, and she gets tired when he's far away. The singer is struggling with her emotions, feeling ashamed and telling her lover that she doesn't want to do him wrong, but he's been gone for so long, and she doesn't know what he expects from her. The song ends with the singer asking her lover what to do with the strangers who are coming from everywhere, calling her name. She doesn't know what to do about it, and she needs his guidance.
The lyrics of Our Love are a poignant reflection of the struggles that couples go through in relationships, especially when one partner is away for prolonged periods. The singer's plea to her lover to come home is a clear indication of how important his presence is in her life. Despite the challenges they face, she is willing to fight for their love and not give in to the temptation of giving it to a stranger. The song's chorus, "Our love, our love," emphasizes the importance of their relationship and the desire to protect what they have built.
Line by Line Meaning
Our love
This is a song about two people in love.
Our love's in danger
Their love is at risk of falling apart due to one partner's absence.
If you don't hurry home
The other partner is pleading for the absent partner to return home soon.
I might
If the absent partner does not return soon, the other partner may be tempted to cheat.
Give it to a stranger
They might cheat with someone they don't know well.
I never wanted you to go
The other partner did not want the absent partner to leave.
I told you many times before
The other partner had expressed their desire for the absent partner to stay.
I need your loving day to day
The other partner needs constant affection from their lover to feel secure.
I get so tired when you're far away
The absence of their lover makes the other partner feel lonely and exhausted.
You got me staring at the ceiling
The other partner is lying awake at night, unable to sleep due to their lover's absence.
Better come quick
The other partner is urging their lover to return home soon.
You can't make it too soon
The other partner wants their lover to return as soon as possible.
I never want to do you wrong
The other partner does not want to cheat on their lover, but is struggling with their absence.
But you been gone away so long
The absent partner has been away for a considerable amount of time.
I don't know what you expect of me
The other partner is unsure of how to cope with their lover's absence.
That's what I'm trying so hard to be
They are doing their best to be faithful and patient while waiting for their lover to return.
Don't force me into another's arms
The other partner is pleading for their lover to return before they are tempted to cheat.
Get the picture, I'm here all alone
The other partner is alone and struggling without their lover.
Ain't you worried
The other partner is questioning why their lover has not returned home yet.
About your happy home
They are worried about the state of their relationship if their lover does not return soon.
What I'm thinking
The other partner is thinking about cheating due to their loneliness.
Makes me feels ashamed
They feel guilty for even thinking about cheating on their lover.
Tell me who's to blame
They are questioning who is responsible for the current state of their relationship.
Tell me what to do about the
The other partner is asking their lover for advice on how to handle the situation.
Strangers coming from everywhere
Other people are trying to tempt the other partner into cheating.
Strangers calling my name
Other people are actively pursuing the other partner, even though they are already in a committed relationship.
Just don't know what to do about it
The other partner is struggling with how to handle the temptation to cheat.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BIGbails
Whitney and Cissy Houston, Luther Vandross, and Mark Stevens did the AMAZING backrounds for this timeless classic!!! I love it!!!
Charlo Crossley
I am also on this track! What a great session and this was before Whitney made her debut!! Her mom Cissy and I had done several sessions over the years in NYC! She said, “Charlo, My baby’s going to make her Debut and Clive Davis is taking her under his wing!” That was in 1979. Wow
Donovan Robinson
@Charlo Crossley yall sang yall butts off!!! The harmony was so tight only experienced and well trained voices could handle this.
Terrence Stith
I tell people all the time that this album is a spectacular masterpiece. The musicianship and vocals are a pure rush the whole way through. This was right before the synthetic 80s sound kicked in and the Musicians were right in the pocket with the funk disco groove. Chaka...just wow
Manny Mac
Yo, I am in love with this song. Repeat, repeat, and repeat FOREVER!
TheKoolkanadian
THIS is the song where young Whitney joined Mom Cissy & others for some background vocals with Ms Chaka! :)
gerald deyounge
a very robust song w/ great background singers, cheering the greatest
Tyjah Khan
The Brilliance of Musical Genius at work!!!
TRAVEL
CHAKA WAS "SHOW-IN OUT" ON THIS TRACK...
Raúl Vargas
This song is too short. I can’t get enough of it.