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LADY

from TIME

Written by Lionel Richie

“Lady” was a 1980 hit by the late country/pop superstar Kenny Rogers (1938-2020). Written and produced by Lionel Richie, “Lady” was the ballad that completed Rogers’ transition from country icon to international pop superstar. The song was originally written by Richie for his former group, The Commodores, but, after they turned it down, he offered “Lady” to Rogers who recorded it with terrific results.

“Lady” became a #1 smash on the Adult Contemporary chart, the Country chart and Billboard’s Hot 100. “Lady” was also ranked at #60 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Of All Time chart. “Lady” was Richie’s first work outside of The Commodores and the song’s huge success gave the gifted pop/R&B singer/songwriter the confidence to start his own triumphant solo career.

In the eighties, David Foster worked with Rogers and Richie co-writing and/or producing material for them including Rogers’ hits “We’ve Got Tonight” and “What About Me” or the beautiful ballad, “The Only One,” for Richie’s multi-platinum Can’t Slow Down album. Those collaborations with The Hitman kept going into the nineties. When Richie decided to record his own version of “Lady” for his 1998 Time album, Foster was the obvious choice to craft the song. This new recording of “Lady” sports an elegant, updated arrangement with every detail in the right place from Richie’s restrained yet effective performance, Foster’s tender piano and lush orchestra plus the all-star backing band featuring session giants John Robinson on drums, Michael Thompson on guitar and Nathan East on bass. Yet, that 1980 Rogers’ original take remains unsurpassed with the strength of its unique dramatic intensity and the trademark sounds of the early eighties.

On Time, Foster also produced a couple of wonderful ballads including “I Hear Your Voice,” co-written with Richie and Diane Warren plus Warren’s “The Closest Thing To Heaven.” Both ballads, plus the songs mentioned in the previous paragraph, have been reviewed here in the past.


Listen

 

  • Lead Vocals: Lionel Richie
  • Acoustic Piano & Keyboards: David Foster
  • Bass: Nathan East
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Guitar: Michael Thompson
  • Synthesizer Programming: Felipe Elgueta
  • Arranged by David Foster
  • Produced by Lionel Richie

Lyrics

Lady
I’m your knight in shining armor and I love you
You have made me what I am, and
I am yours
My love
There’s so many ways I want to say I love you
Let me hold you in my arms forever more
You have gone and made me such a fool
And I’m so lost in your love
And oh, we belong together
Won’t you believe in my song?
Lady
For so many years
I thought I’d never find you
You have come into my life and
Made me whole
Forever
Let me wake to see you each and every morning
Let me hear you whisper softly
In my ear
And in my eyes (In my eyes)
I see no one else but you (I see no one else but you)
There’s no other love like our love
And, oh, girl I’ll always want you near me
I’ve waited for you for so long
Lady
Your love’s the only love I need
Oh, and beside me is where
I want you to be (I want you to be)
‘Cause, my love
There’s somethin’ I want you to know
You’re the love of my life
You’re my lady