Soul II Soul is a two-time Grammy winning act that emerged at the end of th… Read Full Bio ↴Soul II Soul is a two-time Grammy winning act that emerged at the end of the 1980s from London. The group initially attracted attention as a sound system, playing records at house and street parties (where their clothing style - dubbed "Funki Dred" - quickly made a splash, inspiring them to start a line of clothing). Founded by Jazzie B and featuring a changing roster of other musicians - notably Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, Phillip 'Daddae' Harvey and Caron Wheeler - Soul II Soul's experiments in music-making of their own resulted in the dub plate "Fairplay," which secured them a deal with Virgin Records. They had huge hits in 1989 with the singles "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)," both from their debut album Club Classics Vol. I. These songs (both featuring Wheeler on vocals) set the tone for early 90s mainstream dance music in the UK.

Their follow-up album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade, yielded the hits "Get a Life" and "A Dream's a Dream," the latter featuring operatic vocals by Victoria Wilson-James. While their U.S. following declined somewhat following its release, Soul II Soul continued to have hits in the UK, including 1992's #4 single, "Joy."

Soul II Soul reached Volume 5 of their series for Virgin in 1995, then released 2 more albums for Island Records.

Time
Soul II Soul Lyrics

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Open up your eyes
You can see me here
Open up your mind
I'm calling you here

In the heat of the night, I'm calling
Listen to the sound, I'm calling to you
Can you hear the beating of my heart?

It beats for you

Burning desire, burning inside
Burning desire, flame is alive
And I know that it's right
In the heat of the night

Relationships are hard to find
When they all ask to read your mind
Reach inside your mind
You know what's happening, tell me

In the heat of the night, I'm calling
Listen to the sound, I'm calling to you
Can you hear the beating of my heart?
It beats for you

Wiping the sweat from my brow
Ain't no way I can reach you now
I hear you calling, teardrops falling
All the pain and love's combined as one

We used to have fun
But the memories still unwind in my mind
Till the end of time, holding you tight, yeah
In the heat of the night

I'm calling
In the heat of the night
I'm calling, I'm calling
Listen to the sound

I'm calling
I am your love, your love
I'm calling
Your love, your love

I'm calling

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Soul II Soul's song "Time" are about a burning desire for a relationship and the struggle to find a connection with someone. The singer urges the listener to open their eyes and mind and listen to the beating of their heart. In the heat of the night, the singer feels a strong sense of longing and calls out to the person they desire. They wipe the sweat from their brow, feeling the pain and love of their unfulfilled longing, and reflect on memories of happier times. Ultimately, however, they remain determined to hold on to the hope of finding love, even if it takes a lifetime.

Line by Line Meaning

Open up your eyes
Pay attention to me and what I'm about to say

You can see me here
I want you to notice and acknowledge my presence

Open up your mind
Be receptive to my message and ideas

I'm calling you here
I am trying to communicate with you and connect on a deeper level

In the heat of the night, I'm calling
Even when we are physically apart, I am still making an effort to reach out to you

Listen to the sound, I'm calling to you
Pay attention to me and what I'm trying to say

Can you hear the beating of my heart?
I want you to know how much you mean to me and how deeply I care

It beats for you
You are the person I have these feelings for

Burning desire, burning inside
I have strong, intense feelings for you

Burning desire, flame is alive
My passion for you is still very much present

And I know that it's right
I am certain that my feelings for you are true and genuine

Relationships are hard to find
It can be difficult to form meaningful connections with others

When they all ask to read your mind
Sometimes it feels like people expect you to know exactly what they want or need without them having to say anything

Reach inside your mind
Take a moment to reflect on your thoughts and feelings

You know what's happening, tell me
You have insight into the situation, please share it with me

Wiping the sweat from my brow
I am feeling stressed or anxious

Ain't no way I can reach you now
I am struggling to connect with you

I hear you calling, teardrops falling
It is evident that you are hurting and need support

All the pain and love's combined as one
Feelings of love and pain are intertwined and difficult to separate

We used to have fun
Our relationship was once enjoyable and fulfilling

But the memories still unwind in my mind
I think about our shared experiences and feel nostalgic

Till the end of time, holding you tight, yeah
I will always love and cherish our time together

I am your love, your love
I represent your feelings of love and desire

Your love, your love
Your emotional connection and devotion to me

I'm calling
I want to connect with you on a deeper level