"To Be a Lover" is a song written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones originally as "I Forgot to Be Your Lover", but best known as a cover by Billy Idol on his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). As the album's lead single, it became Idol's second top ten hit in the US, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100^[2] and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.^[3]

The song was written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones, and originally performed by Bell as a soul ballad titled "I Forgot to Be Your Lover". It was released in late 1968 and hitting No. 45 on the Hot 100 and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in early 1969.

The Mad Lads released a lush orchestral soul version of the song on their 1973 album A New Beginning, also released by Stax/Volt.

The Black Keys released a version of the song on their 2024 album Ohio Players

In 1971, Lee "Scratch" Perry produced an early reggae version of the song, performed in an uptempo style by Shenley Duffus with Perry's studio band the Upsetters, with the title shortened to "To Be a Lover". In 1977, Perry again produced the song, this time for George Faith.^{[4][lower-alpha 1]} This version, also called simply "To Be a Lover",^{[lower-alpha 2]} was heavily shaped by Perry's Black Ark sound and effects and featured backing vocals from the Meditations and Mighty Diamonds.^[4] It appeared on Faith's album Super Eight, which was released as To Be a Lover in the UK.^[4]

In 1986, the track was reworked and became the second high-profile cover version Billy Idol released as a single, after 1981's "Mony Mony". Billy Idol was introduced to the song by the George Faith reggae version—he initially was unaware of the original William Bell release,^[5] and so retained the truncated title "To Be a Lover". He more radically transformed the song, adding a more rockabilly feel and danceable beat to its soulful underpinnings.^[5]

The single was backed by Whiplash Smile album track "All Summer Single". Two different 12" singles were also released worldwide (one in the UK and one in Australia), featuring the aforementioned track and two extended remixes of "To Be a Lover (Mother of Mercy Mix)" (6:45) and "Rock 'n' Roll Mix" (Australia and New Zealand only). The "Mother of Mercy Mix" differs quite significantly from the single version; it is a harder sounding song, with a prominent heavy guitar riff by Steve Stevens dominating most of the track and an interlude with distorted female groans. It is this version that is featured on the 1987 US and 1988 Japan editions of the remix compilation album Vital Idol (1985). The UK 12" was also released as a limited-edition picture disc.^[6] A music video was also released, which was popular on MTV. ^[7]

Bruce Springsteen recorded the song for his twenty-first studio album, Only the Strong Survive (2022).