Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Tell me, lady

Whatcha gonna do when you wanna be loved

Tell me, listen

Said I would tell nobody

Would try and keep it all to myself, yes, I did

And now you're leavin' me for certain

And I'm stuck on a shelf all by myself

But what goes up must come down

And if you pass this way again, little girl

I'll still be around

Tell me whatcha gonna do, baby

When you wanna be loved

Oh, tell me, tell

The last time I heard you talkin' on the telephone

Rappin' about your new man

Bringin' his whole paycheck home

Got you a new apartment in your own name

I heard he tried to make love to you

But it just wasn't the same

But remember when I said you're gonna kiss him instead

But when you love him down, I'll be nowhere 'round

Tell me whatcha gonna do, baby

When you wanna be loved (tell me)

Oh, tell me, tell

When we started out, you said, "I'm willing to wait"

Confident and sure that faith

Would never bring another love your way

But now that things aren't comin' up roses

And the going is gettin' a little rough

You seem to have it all figured out now

That my lovin' you just ain't enough

But remember when I said you're gonna kiss him instead

When you love him down, I'll be nowhere 'round

Tell me whatcha gonna do, baby

When you wanna be loved (tell me)

Tell me, tell me, girl (won't you tell me, tell me)

When you break down, mmm, and cry like a baby

I'll play the role of a fool

And have too much pride instead

When you pick up your telephone

And dial my number, girl

And stand there prayin', oh, that I'll still be there

Tell me whatcha gonna do, baby

When you wanna be loved

Tell me, girl, yeah, yeah

Who you gonna run to and cry like a baby? (Tell me whatcha gonna do, baby)

'Cause he won't love you half as much as I do (tell me whatcha gonna do, baby)

And he won't squeeze you, baby (tell me whatcha gonna do, baby)

Never, never like I do, 'cause I know how to love you (tell me whatcha gonna do, baby)

I know how to please you, please (tell me whatcha gonna do, baby)

I love you, baby (tell me whatcha gonna do, baby)

But you just gotta tell me when you need someone