Chart performance:
| Week | Position | Movement | Comments |
| 09-Nov-86 | 17* | New | |
| 16-Nov-86 | 17 | 0 | |
| 23-Nov-86 | 15 | +2 | |
| 30-Nov-86 | 9 | +6 | Star rater |
| 07-Dec-86 | 8 | +1 | |
| 14-Dec-86 | 6 | +2 | |
| 21-Dec-86 | 5 | +1 | Peak |
| 28-Dec-86 | 5 | 0 | Peak |
| 04-Jan-87 | 5 | 0 | Peak |
| 11-Jan-87 | 6 | -1 | |
| 18-Jan-87 | 7 | -1 | |
| 25-Jan-87 | 8 | -1 | |
| 01-Feb-87 | 11 | -3 | |
| 08-Feb-87 | 9 | +2 | |
| 15-Feb-87 | 13 | -4 | |
| 22-Feb-87 | 18 | -5 | Biggest faller |
| 01-Mar-87 | 19 | -1 | |
| 08-Mar-87 | 26 | -7 | Biggest faller |
* This would be the highest debut position in the top 30 era.
Written by: William Bell & Booker Jones
Produced by: Keith Forsey
South African record label (unless otherwise stated): Chrysalis
| Hit number for artist | 1 |
| Peak position | 5 |
| Weeks | 18 |
| Biggest climber awards | 0 |
| Star rater climbs | 1 |
| Biggest faller awards | 2 |
| Top 20 points | 179 |
| Overall Top 20 points ranking | =511 |
| Top 20 points ranking for the artist | 2 |
| Top 30 Points | 354 |
| Overall Top 30 points ranking | =402 |
| Top 30 points ranking for the artist | 2 |
Annual ranking:
| 1986 | 63 |
| 1987 | 52 |
Other chart success:
| Australia | 3 |
| Canada | 7 |
| Germany | 28 |
| Italy | 18 |
| New Zealand | 2 |
| Sweden | 8 |
| Switzerland | 7 |
| UK | 22 |
| US | 6 |
| Zimbabwe | 9 |
SA Radio charts:
| Capital 604 | 7 |
| Radio 5 | 3 |
| Radio 702 | 3 |
The song was originally recorded as ‘I Forgot To Be Your Lover’ in 1968 by William Bell, who co-wrote the track with Booker T & The MG’s Booker T Jones. That version would get to 45 in the US. A number of reggae covers were recorded in the 1970’s, truncating the title to ‘To Be A Lover’ and it was George Faith’s 1977 reggae version that Idol first heard. He was initially unaware of the original by William Bell.
Video:
Artist link: Billy Idol
SA Singles Charts 