The group had several hit singles in the early 1970s, including the socially conscious single "Message From A Black Man" in 1970 on A&I International, "Please Make The Love Go Away" also in 1970 but on Stang Records, and their biggest success "I’ll Erase Away Your Pain" in 1971. They performed with fellow Stang Records artists The Moments for the hit single "Girls" in 1974.
The Whatnauts' music has been sampled by numerous artists including their hit "I'll Erase Away Your Pain" in Kanye West's "Late" (2005); "Why Cant People Be Colors Too?" from 1974 sampled in "Oh My God" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Busta Rhymes (1993); and "Help Is on the Way" from 1981 in both "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" by De La Soul (1991), "Act Like You Know" by Fat Larry's Band (1982), "Sex With You" by Heavy D & the Boyz (1994), "Greatest Day" by Beverley Knight (1998) and "Ain't Leavin Without You" by Jaheim (2010).
One of the most consistent R&B aggregations of the '70s, the Moments enjoyed a string of major hits throughout the decade. The Hackensack, NJ, trio introduced themselves and the Stang label with "Not on the Outside" in 1968, and topped the R&B charts in 1970 with the gold-plated "Love on a Two-Way Street," produced by Sylvia Robinson (one half of Mickey & Sylvia). Other major soul smashes by the Moments included "If I Didn't Care" and "All I Have" in 1970, "Sexy Mama" in 1973, and another number one R&B item, "Look at Me (I'm in Love)," in 1975. Members Harry Ray, Al Goodman, and William Brown changed their billing to Ray, Goodman & Brown in 1978 and topped the soul lists the next year with the slickly harmonized "Special Lady" on Polydor. The renamed trio remained potent soul hitmakers through the '80s. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi
Friends by Day
The Whatnauts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We know we love each other (each other)
It′s a shame we have to hide
Every time we're this way
We′re friends (friends by day, lovers by night)
Friends by day lovers by night
We're friends (friends by day,)
Whoooeeee Whoooeeee girl (whooee girl)
Come back to make it stop
But then a feelin' overcame me
And I want you in my arms
Like I wanna do for some time
We just got to be
Friends by day, lovers by night (lovers by night)
Yes I do (friends by day, lovers by night)
Friends by day, lovers by night
Whoooo who
Aaw We′re friends, all together
You with him and she with me
Soon will arise as we′re carin'
′Cause we can't go on this way
There′ll never be anyone else for me
I don't want us to be
Friends by day, but lovers by night (but lovers by night)
Friends by day
Friends by day, lovers by night (lovers by night)
Friends by day
Friends by day, lovers by night (lovers by night)...
The lyrics to The Whatnauts' song Friends by Day describe a relationship between two people who are in love but are forced to hide their love during the day and can only express their true feelings at night. The repetition of the phrase "friends by day, lovers by night" throughout the song emphasizes the secrecy and the dual nature of their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the two people involved are not in a position to openly express their love for each other, possibly due to societal norms or obligations to other partners.
The chorus "We're friends but lovers by night" signifies the struggle of keeping their love hidden as they go about their daily life. The verse "You with him and she with me, soon will arise as we're carin'" suggests that the two are in relationships with other people, implying that their love is considered taboo or forbidden. However, the desire to be together cannot be contained, and they continue to sneak around to be with each other.
The song showcases the complexity of human relationships, highlighting the tension between societal expectations and individual desires. It also portrays the theme of secret love and the struggle to keep love under wraps.
Line by Line Meaning
How you and I (you and I)
We know each other very well
We know we love each other (each other)
We have strong feelings of love for each other
It's a shame we have to hide
It's unfortunate that we have to keep our feelings secret
Every time we're this way
Every time we feel this strong love for each other
We're friends (friends by day, lovers by night)
We claim to be just friends during the day, but secretly we're lovers at night
Whoooeeee Whoooeeee girl (whooee girl)
Expression of excitement upon seeing the girl
Come back to make it stop
Asking the girl to come back to stop the uncontrollable feelings
But then a feelin' overcame me
An intense feeling of love overpowered me
And I want you in my arms
I desire to hold and be closer to you
Like I wanna do for some time
I have wanted this for a long time
We just got to be
We need to accept and embrace our true feelings
Yes I do (friends by day, lovers by night)
Yes, we are friends during the day and lovers at night
Aaw We’re friends, all together
We all pretend to be just friends
You with him and she with me
You are with your partner and I am with mine
Soon will arise as we’re carin’
Our true feelings will become more evident as we care for each other
'Cause we can't go on this way
We cannot continue to hide our love for each other
There'll never be anyone else for me
I will always love and desire only you
I don't want us to be
I don't want to continue pretending to be just friends
Friends by day, but lovers by night (but lovers by night)
We want to openly acknowledge and embrace our romantic relationship
Friends by day
During the day, we continue to pretend to be just friends
Friends by day, lovers by night (lovers by night)
But at night, we are passionate lovers
Friends by day
We continue to outwardly present ourselves as mere friends
Friends by day, lovers by night (lovers by night)
But in reality, we are deeply in love and intimate with each other at night
Writer(s): George Kerr, Larry Andre Sanders
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.