Need To Belong To Somebody
Jerry Butler Lyrics


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Wo oh oh oh (need to belong) yeah, (to someone)
Mm hm hm hm (need to belong)hm hm hm hm hm (to someone)

I need to belong to someone
It hurts to be known as no one
Will ever some sweet girl
Bring love into my world, cause
I need to belong to someone (m hm hm hm hm hm hm)

I want to be kissed and held tight
Want to be missed on a cold lonely night
Somebody hear my plea and call out to me, cause
I need to belong to someone

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
No one cares for me, I've never known sympathy
I hide my needs from the world with a smile
But understand, I'm only a man and a man
(needs to belong) yes he does (to someone)
A man hates to be known as no one
Will ever some sweet girl, bring love into my world, because
I need to belong to someone

Oh, I hide my needs, from the world with a smile
But understand, I'm only a man, and a man needs (needs to belong)
To belong, (to someone) to someone
A man hates to be known, as no one
Oh send me a girl, to bring love into my world, cause
I need to belong to someone (need to belong) mm (to someone)

Mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
(need to belong to someone)
Well I want to belong (need to belong) to somebody (to someone)
Just like you (fade) (need to belong)




Someone I can tell (to someone)
My troubles to

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jerry Butler's song "Need To Belong To Somebody" express the desire for love and companionship. The first two lines, "wo oh oh oh, yeah (need to belong) / mm hm hm hm (need to belong) hm hm hm hm hm (to someone)" highlight the urgency and importance of needing someone to belong to. The following lines describe the pain of feeling like no one cares or sympathizes with the singer. He longs for a "sweet girl" to bring love into his world and to be kissed and held tight on cold, lonely nights. He feels like a "motherless child" and hides his needs from the world with a smile, but ultimately understands that a man needs to belong to someone.


The lyrics are relatable for anyone who has felt the longing for love and companionship. They highlight the vulnerability of the human experience and the universal desire to be loved and accepted. The repetition of "need to belong" emphasizes the importance of this human need and expresses the desperation of the singer.


Overall, "Need To Belong To Somebody" is a poignant and heartfelt song that beautifully expresses the universal desire for love and companionship.


Line by Line Meaning

Wo oh oh oh (need to belong) yeah, (to someone)
Expresses the immediate desire to belong to someone, which is a fundamental human need


Mm hm hm hm (need to belong)hm hm hm hm hm (to someone)
Repeats the first line, emphasizing the need to belong to someone


I need to belong to someone
The singer admits his need to feel a sense of belonging to someone, acknowledging that this feeling is essential to his wellbeing


It hurts to be known as no one
Being unrecognized is painful to the singer, as it makes him feel insignificant and unimportant


Will ever some sweet girl Bring love into my world, cause I need to belong to someone (m hm hm hm hm hm hm)
The singer hopes that a woman will come into his life and provide a sense of belonging, as he craves love and affection


I want to be kissed and held tight Want to be missed on a cold lonely night Somebody hear my plea and call out to me, cause I need to belong to someone
The singer yearns for physical intimacy and emotional support, and he begs for someone to come into his life and provide that for him


Sometimes I feel like a motherless child No one cares for me, I've never known sympathy I hide my needs from the world with a smile But understand, I'm only a man and a man (needs to belong) yes he does (to someone)
The singer feels lonely and forgotten, but he puts on a façade of happiness to hide his longing for companionship. He acknowledges that his need to belong to someone is inherent to his masculinity


A man hates to be known as no one Will ever some sweet girl, bring love into my world, because I need to belong to someone
The singer repeats his desire to be recognized and valued by a woman, as he believes that belonging to someone is crucial to his identity


Oh, I hide my needs, from the world with a smile But understand, I'm only a man, and a man needs (needs to belong) To belong, (to someone) to someone
The singer reiterates that he keeps his feelings hidden but he still craves a sense of belonging, which is a critical part of his masculinity


Oh send me a girl, to bring love into my world, cause I need to belong to someone (need to belong) mm (to someone)
The singer pleads for a woman to come into his life and fulfill his longing for companionship and belonging


Mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm (need to belong to someone)
Repeats the central line of the song, underscoring the need to belong to someone


Well I want to belong (need to belong) to somebody (to someone) Just like you (fade) (need to belong)
The singer declares his desire to belong to someone, just like every other person. The song ends with the repetition of the central line that emphasizes the need for belonging


Someone I can tell (to someone) My troubles to
The singer wants someone he can confide in, someone who will listen to his problems and offer comfort and support




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@timothythorne9464

Such a beautiful soulful recording from 1963, by the great Jerry Butler!

@leelee-uk6et

The Bell makes you want to play it all-night !!!!! Long!!!!, Makes me think of my Grandparents they Loved it. Can't help but shed a tear when I hear it.

@richiec.7637

Yea, that was genius

@jonshivers5020

This song provokes such feelings that are so hard to be shown to others. Love Jerry Butler.

@chess1458

Well said

@miroslavaacevedo1387

One of Curtis Mayfield's greatest compositions perfectly sung by the "The Iceman" Jerry Butler!

@Docmanman

The pure beauty of his voice is everything!! Thank You Sir for being on this Earth with this voice.

@jeanmitchell4486

This is the song that stands out forever ❤️❤️👍🏽

@hudsonpes

The blending of Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield. As great as it gets.

@tftkadawidalle6342

Curtis Mayfield: guitar, vocals, songwriter. Arrangements, delivery; production !

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