Mickey "Guitar" Baker was a music instructor, and Sylvia Robinson was one of his pupils. His guitar stylings, especially the insane soloing on "Love Is Strange", inspired a plethora of guitarists, including Sterling Morrison of the Velvet Underground.
Mickey & Sylvia had a hit with "Love Is Strange" in 1957. They continued to record together until 1965. After that, Mickey had a successful career as a studio musician. Sylvia had a huge hit (#1 R&B, #3 Pop) in 1973 with the song "Pillow Talk", and later assisted in the formation of the Sugar Hill rap label.
"Love Is Strange" appeared on the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing.
anytime
Mickey & Sylvia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
I go in early, come home late
Trying to get over you
But I keep thinking more of you
My friends say that I'll forget
[Incomprehensible] that’s a losing bet
If I could just turn love to hate
Anytime, anyplace
In someone else's eyes I still see your face
Anyplace, anytime
Anywhere I am you're on my mind
You'll always be a memory
That time can never re-arrange
Anytime, anytime, anyplace
Every night when I get home
It's just another TV dinner alone
With thoughts of you inside my head
I fall into my lonely bed
Then I turn the radio on
Ah but every DJ plays our song
And I'll just lie there restlessly
Wishing you were next to me
Anytime, anyplace
In someone else's eyes I still see your face
Anyplace, anytime
Anywhere I am you're on my mind
You'll always be a memory
That time can never re-arrange
Anytime, anytime, anyplace
Anytime, anyplace
In someone else's eyes I still see your face
Anyplace, anytime
Anywhere I am you're on my mind
Anytime, anyplace
In someone else's eyes I still see your face
Anyplace
The lyrics of Mickey & Sylvia's song "Anytime" express a deep sense of longing and heartache following a breakup. The singer is depicted as working hard, trying to distract themselves and move on from the pain of a lost love. Despite their efforts, they find it difficult to forget the person they once cared for deeply. The repetition of "I keep thinking more of you" emphasizes the hold that memories of the past relationship have over the singer's mind.
The singer's friends offer advice, suggesting that they will eventually forget about the person they've lost. However, the singer sees this as a "losing bet," indicating their skepticism about being able to truly move on. They express a desire to turn their love into hate as a means of freeing themselves from the emotional burden, highlighting the complexity of their feelings and the struggle to let go.
Loneliness and longing are prominent themes throughout the song, with references to coming home to a solitary TV dinner and wishing for the company of the person they miss. The radio playing their song serves as a bittersweet reminder of the shared moments and connection they once had, intensifying their feelings of restlessness and yearning for the past. The imagery of lying in bed, thinking of the person and wishing they were there, conveys a sense of unfulfilled longing and emotional emptiness.
The repeated refrain of "Anytime, anyplace" underscores the omnipresence of the memories of the lost love in the singer's life. The lyrics suggest that no matter where they are or what they do, thoughts of the person they miss are always present. Despite the passage of time, the memory of the past relationship remains unchanged and continues to affect the singer deeply. The song captures the universal experience of heartbreak and the enduring impact of lost love on our hearts and minds, resonating with listeners who have also grappled with similar feelings of yearning and nostalgia.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY STEFAN HARRISON, KENT M. ROBBINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind