The band, fronted by Mary Davis, was initially famous for the post-disco hit "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" in 1979. In 1982, they joined forces with then-new production team Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, who went on to craft a string of R&B hits for the group, including "Just Be Good to Me", "Tell Me If You Still Care", "Feeling", and "Borrowed Love".
The Jam/Lewis produced SOS Band hits are notable for popularizing the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine (and its distinctive cowbell sound) in popular music. The group continues to tour and perform to this day.
In "The Finest" the male singer is no other than Alexander O'Neal.
Two Time Lover
S.O.S. Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To let me know you made it home
Don't want nothing to be wrong with part-time lover
If she isn't with me I'll blink the lights
To let you know tonight's the night
For me and you my part-time lover
Chasing love up against the sun
We are strangers by day, lovers by night
Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right
If I'm with friends and we should meet
Just pass me by, don't even speak
Know the word's "discreet" with part-time lovers
But if there's some emergency
Have a male friend to ask for me
So then she won't peek it's really you my part-time lover
We are undercover passion on the run
Chasing love up against the sun
We are strangers by day, lovers by night
Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right
We are undercover passion on the run
Chasing love up against the sun
We are strangers by day, lovers by night
Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right
We are undercover passion on the run
Chasing love up against the sun
We are strangers by day, lovers by night
Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right
I've got something that I must tell
Last night someone rang our doorbell
And it was not you my part-time lover
And then a man called our exchange
But didn't want to leave his name
I guess that two can play the game
Of part-time lovers
You and me, part-time lovers
But, she and he, part-time lovers
The S.O.S. Band's Two Time Lover is a song about the bittersweet experiences of a person who has been all around the world and has seen remarkable things, yet misses home and loved ones. The opening lines of the song express this feeling of amazement and wonder as the singer talks about the Northern Lights painting the sky in shades of green and the white daisies laying on mountain peaks. Despite being in awe of all these wonders, the singer's heart yearns for the comfort of home and the familiarity of the old wind song that marks its way. The refrain, "If I could only find how to be two places at one time," speaks to the universal human desire for the impossible.
As the song progresses, the singer touches upon the Oklahoma plains, Santa Rosa waves, and the giant silver screen of Hollywood. The song conveys that wide-eyed sense of adventure that comes with traveling to new places and discovering new cultures, yet it also acknowledges the sense of loneliness and yearning that can accompany it. The final few lines touch upon the singer's personal life and how difficult it is to reconcile the joys of the road with the pain of missing loved ones. The line "Meeting islands when I'm home, miss my family when I'm gone" encapsulates the push-pull dilemma at the heart of this song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen the Northern lights
Paint the sky in shades of green
And I've seen the daisy's dress of white
Laying on those mountain peaks
I have traveled to different places and witnessed breathtaking natural phenomena such as the Northern Lights and blooming white flowers that adorn mountain peaks.
And my heart knows a way back home
When the wind sings that old familiar song
Despite going to many different places, I know my way back home when I hear the familiar tune carried by the wind.
'Cause I've been all around the world
Seen things that no one would believe
Thought I was lookin' at a picture
In some fancy magazine
And out of everywhere I've been
Oh it kills me every time
If I could only find how to be 2 places at 1 time
2 places at 1 time
I have been to many fascinating locations and experienced things that people would not believe. There were moments when I thought that everything around me looked like it came out of a magazine. However, I always feel a sense of longing because I wish I could be in two places at once.
I've seen the sun spin weeds of gold
On those Oklahoma plains
I've seen the moon a million times
On those Santa Rosa waves
I have witnessed the sun setting on the vast plains of Oklahoma, creating a beautiful palette of golden hues on the weeds. I have also observed the moon reflecting off the waves of Santa Rosa countless times.
How can I keep what I got when I don't know what I'm missin'
Meeting islands when I home
Miss my family when I'm gone
I'm gone, gone, gone
Although I am fortunate to have all these life experiences, I still feel incomplete as I'm always searching for something more. It's like meeting islands when I'm already home. I miss my family when I'm away, feeling a sense of loss even after all the adventures I've had.
Never thought I'd move so many people
They gave this life to me
And out of everywhere I've been
Oh it kills me every time
Maybe I'd be satisfied if I could just divide
And be 2 places at 1 time
2 places at 1 time
2 places at 1 time
Despite my sense of longing, I'm grateful for the people who have been moved by my experiences and who have supported me in living this life. Nevertheless, the thought of being in two places at once still haunts me, and I cannot help but wonder if that would satisfy my yearnings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLAY HAMMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Winds Of Restoration
This is one of the best songs ever recorded, period!
Stephen Cabil
I never get tired of listening to this song
Derrick Shade
I love this song so much and the bass line is amazing
Donald B
I had to speak on this group. They have been my fav since I was 12 years old!. It's up to us to pass our music down to the next generation. Keep the Soul of SOS going. Peace to Muskogee. Oklahoma.
Walter Mosley
Donald B Agree was in Germany US Army great music for all generations
mike angel cortez
Great song. SOS sang a lot good songs. I never heard this one before.
Scott Thorstenson
I will always have these songs on my playlist. #WhenmusicWasMusic!!!
QUINTERO MACK
One Of My All Time Favorite S.O.S. BAND JAMS From The 1980's 🎷🎺🎸🪕🎻🪘🥁🪗🎤🎧📽️🎥✌🏾🤟🏽👋🏾🤎👍🏾🖤❤️🦜🏀⚾🏆⛹🏾⛹🏿⛹🏿♂️⛹🏾♀️⛹🏻♀️⛹🏾♀️🤾♀️💢💯
Mario Porto Carvalho Júnior
Muito louco esse som mano 👍
Mario Garcia
I knew who the SOS band was and happened to find this tape at Goodwill back when I was 16. I was quick to take it home and put it in my boombox and listened to it all the way through, late at night when I was drawing. When this song came on I lost it. The groove is so tight and that bass is so smooth I had never heard anything that could compare to it.