Whether you’re an avid Lionel Richie fan or just someone who appreciates a good ballad, you’re probably familiar with the hit song “Penny Lover”.
This timeless piece is more than just a pleasant tune—it’s a story about love, longing, and the complex feelings that come with relationships.
In this analysis, we’re going to dive deeper into the song, shedding light on its background, its presence in pop culture, and of course, the meaning behind those memorable lyrics.
Table of Contents
Lyrics Interpretation
Before we delve into the story behind this song, let’s take a closer look at each verse of the lyrics.
Verse 1
“Penny lover, don’t walk on by
Penny lover, don’t you make me cry
Can’t you see girl who my heart’s beating for?
You’re the only girl that I adore
The first time I saw you
Oh, you looked so fine
And I had a feeling
One day you’d be mine”
The opening verse of “Penny Lover” by Lionel Richie is a heartfelt plea to a love interest. The lyrics convey a profound sense of infatuation, depicting the singer’s intense longing and admiration for a woman referred to as “Penny lover”. This moniker is intriguing as it isn’t a common term of endearment.
Its use could possibly denote a priceless yet humble nature of love he sees in her, much like a penny may be overlooked but still holds value. The verse continues to recall the moment he first saw her, setting a romantic tone to the song with his hopeful aspirations of one day winning her affection.
Chorus
“Honey you came along and captured my heart
Now my love is somewhere lost in your kiss
When I’m all alone it’s you that I miss
Girl a love like yours is hard to resist
Oh, Oh, Ooh, Ooh, Oh”
The chorus of “Penny Lover” continues with the theme of longing. Richie expresses how she captivated him and how her absence leaves him in a state of longing.
The line “my love is somewhere lost in your kiss” could be interpreted as an indication of his complete surrender to his feelings for her. His profound connection with her makes it difficult for him to resist her love, further emphasizing his infatuation.
Verse 2
“Penny lover, my love’s on fire
Penny lover, you’re my one desire
Tell me baby could this be true
That I could need someone, like I need you
Nights warm and tender
Lying next to you
Girl I surrender
Oh, what more can I do”
The second verse of the song further intensifies the passion conveyed earlier. Here, Richie openly declares his burning love and desire for “Penny lover”. His vulnerable questioning of the reality of his intense need for her shows his disbelief at the depths of his feelings. His surrender to her love and the warmth he feels when he’s with her exudes a sense of intimacy and a yearning for permanence in their relationship.
Bridge and Final Chorus
“I don’t understand it, oh what’s come over me
But I’m not gonna worry, no not anymore
‘Cause when a man’s in love, he’s only got one story
That’s why my love is somewhere lost in your kiss
When I’m lost and alone it’s you that I miss
With a love like yours, it’s hard to resist
Ooh, Ooh, Oh (I wanna sing this part)
Penny lover, don’t you walk on by (don’t you walk on by)
Penny lover, don’t you make me cry (don’t you make me cry baby)”
In the bridge of the song, Lionel Richie voices his confusion about the profound change in him caused by his love. Regardless, he resolves to stop worrying about it, accepting his intense emotions as a natural part of being in love. The repeated plea to “Penny lover” not to walk on by and not to make him cry conveys an underlying fear of losing her and his desire for their relationship to continue.
True Meaning Behind “Penny Lover”
Lionel Richie’s hit “Penny Lover” is a love-soaked ballad that will send you straight back to the good old 80s, full of nostalgia and heartfelt emotions. It’s all about Richie reminiscing the early days with his lover and keeping his fingers crossed that she doesn’t leave him.
And here’s a fun fact: Richie didn’t pen this song alone. He had a co-writer and guess who? His then-wife Brenda Harvey-Richie. Talk about a power couple! This makes “Penny Lover” even more special, as it was Richie’s first solo #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart where he actually credited a co-writer.
You might be wondering, “Where did the Penny in ‘Penny Lover’ come from?” That’s where the music video comes in. The video, directed by Bob Giraldi who also directed Richie’s hit “Hello”, stars Richie as a nightclub owner who is stuck in his memories of an affair with a cocktail waitress named Penny. Spoiler alert: Penny doesn’t stay. She leaves Richie for her assertive boyfriend. So, the song kind of turns into a beautiful but melancholic recount of lost love.
“Penny Lover” didn’t just make waves on the Adult Contemporary chart, it also claimed the #8 spot on the R&B chart. That’s some serious cross-genre success, showcasing Richie’s smooth ability to blend elements of both genres.
Then, a couple of decades later, “Penny Lover” got a country makeover. The Band Perry performed a country version of the song in 2012 for the televised concert ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert. Talk about timeless – this song really can do it all!
And you movie buffs out there might recognize “Penny Lover” from the 1985 Rob Reiner movie, The Sure Thing, starring a young John Cusack. Because nothing says “80s rom-com” quite like a Lionel Richie soundtrack.
Conclusion
“Penny Lover” is a song drenched in longing, reminiscence, and a hint of heartache. And it’s these very real, raw emotions, wrapped up in Richie’s silky vocals and catchy melodies, that have ensured this song’s place in our hearts and playlists for all these years.