Lover Man
Sarah Vaughan/Count Basie Lyrics
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I long to try something I never had
Never had no kissin'
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
The night is cold and I'm so alone
I'd give my soul just to call you my own
But no one to love me
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
I've heard it said
That the thrill of romance
Can be like a heavenly dream
I go to bed with a prayer
That you'll make love to me
Strange as it seems
Someday we'll meet
And you'll dry all my tears
Then whisper sweet
Little things in my ear
Hugging and a-kissing
Oh, what I've been missing
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
The song “Lover Man” by Sarah Vaughan and Count Basie is a melancholy ballad about longing for love. The opening lines “I don't know why but I'm feeling so sad, I long to try something I never had” set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is filled with sadness and is yearning for something she has never experienced before. She has never had any kissing which has left her feeling empty and unfulfilled. She then begs for the lover man to show himself, asking “Lover man, oh where can you be?”
The second verse continues to illustrate her loneliness. Despite the presence of the moon above her, she is all alone and wishes for someone to love her. She has heard that romance can be like a heavenly dream, but she has not yet had the opportunity to experience this for herself. She states that she prays for the lover man to come and make love to her, which seems to be the only way to fill the void in her life. The final verse is filled with hope, as the singer seems to believe that someday the lover man will find her and bring her the love she so desperately craves. This ballad is emotionally charged and expresses the yearning for love in a poignant way.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know why but I'm feeling so sad
I am experiencing a heartfelt despondency and cannot discern the cause of it
I long to try something I never had
I am yearning to experiment with something novel that I have not encountered before
Never had no kissin'
I have never experienced any romantic kissing in my life
Oh, what I've been missin'
I have been missing the physical intimacy of a romantic relationship
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
Oh, my dear lover, where are you hiding from me?
The night is cold and I'm so alone
I find myself solitary and chilly during this evening
I'd give my soul just to call you my own
I am willing to make a tremendous sacrifice so that you may be mine
Got a moon above me
The celestial orb is present in the atmosphere
But no one to love me
However, I am without a significant other to cherish me
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
Oh, my dear lover, where are you hiding from me?
I've heard it said
I have heard others espouse the notion
That the thrill of romance
That the excitement of a romantic relationship
Can be like a heavenly dream
Can resemble something divinely beautiful and marvelous
I go to bed with a prayer
As I retire to bed at night, I offer up a supplication
That you'll make love to me
I pray that you will demonstrate your love for me in a physical manner
Strange as it seems
Though it may appear peculiar
Someday we'll meet
In the future, it is probable that we shall cross paths
And you'll dry all my tears
When we do meet, you will alleviate my sorrow and distress
Then whisper sweet
At that juncture, you will softly murmur tender words
Little things in my ear
Into my ear, you will speak amorous and affectionate endearments
Hugging and a-kissing
We will embrace and partake in tender kisses
Oh, what I've been missing
How deprived I have been in terms of affectionate physical contact
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
Oh, my dear lover, where are you hiding from me?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., S.A. MUSIC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind