Born in Providence, RI, Jeffrey Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was constantly bombarded with music as he was growing up. He had five brothers and six sisters, some of whom went on to have music careers. His father, Clarence "Legs" Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, and died when Jeffrey was only 13. His mother, Wanita, is ancestored by a Pequot Indian sachem. His oldest brother, Clay Osborne, is a singer and pianist, and Billy, another brother, is a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles. But Osborne's father had the greatest influence on his musical career; Clarence "Legs" Osborne turned down many top band offers during his career to be with his family. It was only after receiving his mother's encouragement that Jeffrey left for Los Angeles to play with L.T.D. At the age of 15, he sat in with the O'Jays when the drummer was too tired to play, and went on to play with them for two weeks. It was at a Providence nightclub that fate brought him together with the band Love Men Ltd. in 1969.
Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay With Me Tonight, Aymuk, and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram, and scored an international hit with "On the Wings of Love" in 1982. Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy much of the time, but he also devotes some of his time to charity work.
Don't Stop
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Visiting for tea
You and her and I
And lady Di
The queen said, "I'm aghast"
Love never seem to last
However hard you try
That there are no more lovers left alive
No one has survived
So there are no more lovers left alive
And that's why my love has died
Yes, it's true
Look, it's happened
To me and you
The carriages arrived
We stood and said goodbye
Diana dried her eyes
And looked surprised
For I was in the nude
The old queen disapproved
But people laughed and asked
For autographs
That there are no more lovers left alive
No one has survived
So there are no more lovers left alive
And that's why my love has died
Yes, it's true
Look, it's happened
To me and you
I woke up in a sweat
Desolate
That there are no more lovers left alive
No one has survived
So there are no more lovers left alive
And that's why my love has died
Yes, it's true
Look, it's happened
To me and you
The lyrics to Jeffrey Osborne's song, Don't Stop, are quite intriguing and can be open to interpretation. The first verse appears to depict a dream sequence where the singer meets the queen and Princess Diana for tea. The queen seems to be jaded about love, as it never seems to last, no matter how hard one tries. Princess Diana responds, saying that there are no more lovers left alive, implying that love has lost its shine and nobody believes in it anymore. This sentiment is echoed throughout the song, with the chorus repeating that there are no more lovers left alive, and that is why the singer's love has died.
There are a few possible interpretations of these lyrics. One is that it represents a commentary on the state of the world and society's disillusionment with love. The singer could be a representation of the general public, who has lost faith in love due to the prevalence of failed relationships and divorces. The queen and princess could be seen as symbols of the establishment and the royal family, who appear to be going through their own struggles with love and relationships. The singer being in the nude could represent their vulnerability and honesty in showing themselves to the world, even if the queen disapproves.
Another interpretation is that the song is a commentary on the impact of fame and society's expectations on relationships. Princess Diana was famously in a tumultuous and ultimately doomed relationship with Prince Charles. The singer's dream sequence where they meet with the queen and princess could represent the pressures of fame and the public's scrutiny on their private lives. The line "people laughed and asked for autographs" could represent the absurdity of celebrity culture and how it impacts relationships.
Overall, the lyrics to Don't Stop leave plenty of room for interpretation, but it's clear that they present a disillusioned view of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Dreaming of the queen
Imagining meeting the monarchy
Visiting for tea
Having a casual conversation over tea
You and her and I
Me, my love interest, and the queen
And lady Di
And Princess Diana being a part of the group
The queen said, "I'm aghast"
The queen revealing surprise
Love never seem to last
Love doesn't seem to endure
However hard you try
Despite your best efforts
And Di replied
Princess Diana said
That there are no more lovers left alive
There are no longer any passionate couples
No one has survived
No pairs have endured
So there are no more lovers left alive
Passionate love is extinct
And that's why my love has died
This is why my love has faded
Yes, it's true
It's an actuality
Look, it's happened
Observe, it's taken place
To me and you
To us specifically
The carriages arrived
Horse-drawn vehicles appeared
We stood and said goodbye
We bid farewell, remaining stationary
Diana dried her eyes
Princess Diana wiped her tears
And looked surprised
And seemed astonished
For I was in the nude
Because I had no clothes on
The old queen disapproved
The elderly monarch was not pleased
But people laughed and asked
However, bystanders giggled and inquired
For autographs
For a signature on paper
I woke up in a sweat
I awoke feeling nervous
Desolate
Completely alone and miserable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DANNY SEMBELLO, DAVID HURST BATTEAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
coachurly
This song, like the artist, is criminally underrated!
Nancy R
I LOVE this song! What an awesome flashback! I have this album on tape! LOL
jayou521
I LOVE the guitar solo on this track at 2:10 =)
Faye Walker
OMG!! I remember making up a dance routine to this with my sister when it came out. I think we were 8. FAB!!!
centurymusic
Fantastic song from one of the most underrated artists!! Great production, am I right in thinking the analogue synthesizers were played by Patto & Haines?
piano77man77
Awesome song! Thanks for posting!!
Steve Silva
Thanks for posting this. I haven't heard this since it came out (1984). Jeffrey Osborne was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island (where I'm from).
Raymound Gunn
Thank you for putting this on! If I hadn't remembered Jeffrey Osborne's name I wouldn't have found this song! If you type in "Don't stop" it comes up with Journey!
Jerold Towber
George Duke produced this album. RIP George.
Like Phil Collins, Jeffrey was a drummer(in LTD) before stepping in as lead vocalist and then becoming a solo artist.
NtroVert
miss this song..great memories!