Album: In Square Circle (1985)

Charted: 3 1

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• Call up, ring once, hang up the phone
  To let me know you made it home
  Don't want nothing to be wrong with part-time lover
  If she's with me I'll blink the lights
  To let you know tonight's the night
  For me and you, my part-time lover
  
  We are undercover passion on the run
  Chasing love up against the sun
  We are strangers by day, lovers by night
  Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right
  
  If I'm with friends and we should meet
  Just pass me by, don't even speak
  Know the word's "discreet" when part-time lovers
  But if there's some emergency
  Have a male friend to ask for me
  So then she won't peek, its really you my part-time lover
  
  We are undercover passion on the run
  Chasing love up against the sun
  We are strangers by day, lovers by night
  Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right
  
  We are undercover passion on the run
  Chasing love up against the sun
  We are strangers by day, lovers by night
  Knowing it's so wrong, but feeling so right
  
  I've got something that I must tell
  Last night someone rang our doorbell
  And it was not you, my part-time lover
  And then a man called our exchange
  But didn't want to leave his name
  I guess that two can play the game
  Of part-time lovers
  You and me, part-time lovers
  But, she and he, part-time lovers Writer/s: Stevie Wonder
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Steveazo from San Mateo, CaAm I misunderstanding your Songfacts comment about Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover" being the "next" #1 song he had after "Fingertips (Part 2)"? Your exact Songfacts observation is 'Stevie Wonder was 12 years old when he released his first #1 hit, "Fingertips (Part 2)." He had to wait 22 years for his next one: "Part Time Lover."' But his true NEXT #1 hit after "Fingertips (Part 2)" came only 9 years later when "Superstition" hit the top spot in early 1973. So either your wording is incorrect/confusing or you're misinterpreting the Songfact above: '"Part-Time Lover" went to #1 22 years and three months after his first hit, "Fingertips (Part 2)." At the time, this was the longest span between first and last #1s.' In between "Fingertips (Part 2)" and "Part-Time Lover," Stevie actually had 7 #1 songs, giving him 9 total #1's in his career.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThe background beat always sounded like Hall and Oates's "Maneater" to me.
• Tina from Norcross, GaSyreeta Wright may well have sung background on Part-Time Lover, but she was NOT married to Stevie Wonder at the time this record was released. They married in 1970 and divorced in 1972. Part-Time Lover was released in 1984, twelve years AFTER their divorce.
• John from Nashville, TnThis song was sung as a duet between Wonder and Boy George on the Emmy-winning MOTOWN RETURNS TO THE APOLLO tv special three months before it was released as a single.
• Rick from Columbus, GaOh, she was a part time lover and a part time maid
  She had nothing to complain about, I mean, she got paid.
  
  Man, the lyrics are great.
• Douglas from Portland, OrThis has a great beat, melody and lyrics. One of my Stevie Wonder favorites.

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