Stevie Wonder – Part-Time Lover: A Soulful Exploration of Deception and Desire
In the landscape of American music, Stevie Wonder stands as a titan. His virtuosity on the piano, coupled with his soulful vocals and poignant songwriting, have captivated audiences for over five decades.
Among his vast repertoire of hits, Part-Time Lover holds a unique place, a song that delves into the complexities of love, infidelity, and the yearning for honesty.
Background
Released in 1985 as the lead single from his album In Square Circle, “Part-Time Lover” marked a turning point in Wonder’s career.
While still rooted in his signature blend of soul, R&B, and funk, the song incorporated elements of the burgeoning synth-pop movement, showcasing Wonder’s willingness to experiment and adapt.
The song became a phenomenal success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B, dance, and adult contemporary charts, solidifying Wonder’s status as a musical innovator.
The narrative of “Part-Time Lover” unfolds through a man’s conflicted emotions. The lyrics, penned by Wonder himself, depict a scenario of infidelity, with the protagonist grappling with the secrecy and deception of a part-time relationship.
Wonder’s masterful storytelling allows listeners to empathize with the character’s internal struggle, capturing the pain of betrayal and the yearning for genuine connection.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Call up, ring once, hang up the phoneTo let me know you made it homeDon’t want nothing to be wrong with part-time loverIf she’s with me i’ll blink the lightsTo let you know tonight’s the nightFor me and you my part-time loverWe are undercover passion on the runChasing love up against the sunWe are strangers by day, lovers by nightKnowing it’s so wrong, but feeling so rightIf i’m with friends and we should meetJust pass me by, don’t even speakKnow the word’s “discreet” when part-time loversBut if there’s some emergencyHave a male friend to ask for meSo then she won’t peek its really you my part-time loverWe are undercover passion on the runChasing love up against the sunWe are strangers by day, lovers by nightKnowing it’s so wrong, but feeling so rightWe are undercover passion on the runChasing love up against the sunWe are strangers by day, lovers by nightKnowing it’s so wrong, but feeling so rightI’ve got something that I must tellLast night someone rang our doorbellAnd it was not you my part-time loverAnd then a man called our exchangeBut didn’t want to leave his nameI guess that two can play the gameOf part-time loversYou and me, part-time loversBut, she and he, part-time lovers
I first saw him at the Regal in Chicago I was 17 then in Oakland I was 71 Stevie the soundtrack of my life