Secret love
Vandross Lyrics

A kiss in the dark
A secret, private kiss that is intended to be hidden from the public and kept a secret from everyone else

A certain time I can call you
A specific time has been set for communication between two people, but the time needs to be kept a secret from other people

A letter of love
A written message expressing deep affection and devotion towards someone

But no name did you sign
The writer deliberately chose not to reveal their identity by keeping their name hidden or not signing the letter

Pretending to all
Acting as if there is nothing more than friendship between the two people, even though their feelings go much deeper than that

That we were just friends when I saw you
Giving the impression to others that the two people are nothing more than friends, even though they have a secret romantic connection

I didn't know that you wanted me to be
The singer was unaware of the other person's desire to be in a relationship with them

Your secret love
The other person is the artist's secret lover, whom they cannot publicly express their love for

Why can't we tell somebody
The artist is expressing their desire to make their relationship public, but the other person is hesitant to reveal their secret love

'Cause secret loves
Relationships that must be kept hidden from others cannot withstand the pressures of society and the stress of enduring such a situation

Never last as long
Secret loves are often short-lived due to the stress and negativity that come with trying to keep them hidden

Will never be your true love
The artist believes that their secret lover will never be able to fully embrace their love because they cannot accept the relative public exposure that being in a true relationship requires

I can't be no secret baby
The singer is revealing that they cannot continue to be the person's secret lover any longer

It's breakin' my heart (heart, heart)
The situation is causing the singer so much pain that they use repetitive heart metaphors to emphasize their emotions

You should've let me know
The singer expresses their pain and regret at having wasted so much love and time on a situation that could have been avoided had the other person been more honest with them

From the first time baby
The artist wishes that the other person had been honest with them from the start of their relationship

That you were not, were not free to love
The other person was not emotionally available enough to openly express their love towards the artist

How could you wait so long
The singer is frustrated at the amount of time they have invested in the relationship, only to have it end due to issues that could have been resolved upfront

Oh, what a waste of love, baby
The singer feels as though they have invested a lot of time, energy and emotions in the relationship, only to have nothing to show for it and a heartbreak to deal with

I won't be you secret love
The artist is determined to no longer be the other person's lover if the relationship cannot be out in the open

'Cause it's just a waste of my love
It is not fair to the artist to invest so much love in a relationship that cannot be openly expressed, and they see no point in a relationship that can never be made public

I'm tellin' you from the start
The artist is being very clear and upfront in their communication, so as to avoid any further misunderstandings

I won't be the one who gives you love
The singer declares that they won't be the one giving the other person their love and affection anymore

When your other guy ain't givin' you none
The artist feels as if the other person has another lover who is not meeting all of their emotional and romantic needs, and explains that they will not be the one standing in the gap anymore

Don't come now, wait for a while
The singer wants to avoid seeing the other person and has requested that they do not attempt to see them for a while

Let's meet at the place downtown
If they are supposed to meet up, the singer suggests a location in the downtown area

It's a shame it has to be like this
The singer is expressing their sadness that the relationship has gotten to this point where it has to be hidden, and that they cannot find a way to overcome that

But I really miss you baby
Despite the difficulties and challenges they have had in the relationship, the artist admits that they miss the other person and are still drawn to them

Your secret love
The artist is reminded once again of the fact that their relationship must be kept secret and cannot be publicly acknowledged