James Brown
You Can’t Love Me If You Don’t Respect Me
[Intro]
Bad
This is for everybody

[Chorus]
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
No more funny games

[Verse 1]
Mmm, lowdown, dirty, he don't mean no good
You're bringing women all in my face
Tellin' me I oughta stay in my place
Can you tell me how I oughta feel
When you're doing your dirt for some funky thrill?
This low down life is getting to me
Pulling out my hair that folks see right through me
Whole rotten thing is blowing my mind
Wearing me down and using up my time
Why don't ya, step back and set me free
'Cause you can't love me if you don't respect me
No more funny games
[Verse 2]
Nah, you don't mean no good
Treated you get most every day
Worked my fingers down to the bone
Waited up all night, but you wouldn't come home
If being used is where it's at
I'm telling you I won't have that
I follow your rules, it comes out the same
When the going's good you're playing funky games
Why don't ya, step back and set me free
'Cause you can't love me if you don't respect me
No more funny games

[Verse 3]
Yeah yeah, mmm, well
This lowdown life is getting to me
Pulling out my hair that folks see right through me
Whole rotten thing is blowing my mind
Wearing me down and using up my time
Why don't ya, step back and set me free
'Cause you can't love me if you don't respect me

[Chorus]
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me
No more funny games
[Verse 1 repeated]
Mmm, lowdown, dirty, he don't mean no good
You're bringing women all in my face
Tellin' me I oughta stay in my place
Can you tell me how I oughta feel
When you're doing your dirt for some funky thrill?
This low down life is getting to me
Pulling out my hair that folks see right through me
Whole rotten thing is blowing my mind
Wearing me down and using up my time
Why don't ya, step back and set me free
'Cause you can't love me if you don't respect me
No more funny games

[Verse 2 repeated]
Nah, you don't mean no good
You sit there, here's what I say
Treated you get most every day
Worked my fingers down to the bone
Waited up all night, but you wouldn't come home
If being used is where it's at
I'm telling you I won't have that
I follow your rules, it comes out the same
When the going's good you're playing funky games
Why don't ya, step back and set me free
'Cause you can't love me if you don't respect me
No more funny games
[Verse 3 repeated]
Yeah yeah, mmm, well
This lowdown life is getting to me
Pulling out my hair that folks can see right through me
Whole rotten thing is blowing my mind
Wearing me down and using up my time
Why don't ya, step back and set me free
'Cause you can't love me if you don't respect me

[Outro]
You can't love me if you don't respect me
Oh yeah, why don't ya, step back and set me free
'Cause you can't love me if you don't respect me
You can't love me if you don't respect me