Love Is The Thing You Need
Michael Jackson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Love is the thing you need)

Ooh, I know a fortune teller
A very freaky fella
How 'bout you like me to tell ya
(Love is the thing you need) Let me say now

A family physician
Gave me a prescription
For a nice disposition
(Love is the thing you need)

So, when all your frustrations
Don't receive no medication
How bad you feel
Oh, it's just unreal
Oh, you can't get no satisfaction
When your mind is overacting
And you don't give your self the love you need

(So get on up)
And get down, down, down
With some good ol' funky, funky love
(Love is the thing you need) Fellas
(Love is the thing you need) Ah, hit it,

Make you feel so good
Make your body shake like crazy
Give yourself a get and go, yeah
(Love is the thing you need) The midnight hour

(Love is the thing you need) (Love is the thing you need)
(Love is the thing you need) Sing it again
(Love is the thing you need) (Love is the thing you need)
When that somebody finds you down (Love is the thing you need)
Love comes up from underground (Love is the thing you need)

Oh, love (Oh, love)
Yeah, some people they don't know
That it's the only way to go
If you wanna live a happy, happy life yeah, yeah

Oh, there ain't no doubt about it
We just can't live without it
No we can't, no we can't
Sing it to me children

(Love is the thing you need) One more time, yeah
(Love is the thing you need) Sing it, yeah,
Once a day, twice a day, everyday
(Love is the thing you need) What you say now
Once a day, twice a day, good God, everyday
(Love is the thing you need) You gotta, gotta have love
You gotta, gotta have love
You gotta, gotta have love
Y'all know what I'm talkin' about (Love is the thing you need)
You gotta, gotta have love
You gotta, gotta have love




You gotta, gotta have love (Love is the thing you need)
Don't you stop, don't you stop

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michael Jackson's song "I Need You" emphasize the importance of love for a happy and fulfilling life. The song starts with the singer mentioning a fortune teller whom he wants to tell the listener that love is the thing they need. He goes on to mention a doctor who has given him a prescription for a nice disposition. The lyrics convey the idea that love is the cure for all the frustrations and problems, and without it, life is incomplete.


The song has a funky and groovy rhythm that complements the lyrics perfectly, giving the listener a sense of joy and happiness, which is what the singer is trying to convey in the lyrics. The chorus repeats the line, "Love is the thing you need," emphasizing its importance for the listener to hear. The song concludes by encouraging the listener to sing along and agree that love is, indeed, the thing they need.


In summary, Michael Jackson's "I Need You" is an upbeat and feel-good song that emphasizes the importance of love in our lives. The song encourages listeners to recognize the significance of love and to make it a part of their daily lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Ooh, I know a fortune teller
Michael knows someone with supernatural abilities


A very freaky fella
This person is unusual or strange


How 'bout you like me to tell ya
Michael offers to share information


(Love is the thing you need) Let me say now
The topic Michael wants to discuss is love


A family physician
Michael has also consulted a doctor, but a different kind


Gave me a prescription
The doctor provided Michael with a written order for treatment


For a nice disposition
The prescription is meant to improve Michael's mood or character


(Love is the thing you need)
But Michael believes that love is the ultimate cure-all


So, when all your frustrations
When things aren't going well for you


Don't receive no medication
When typical remedies don't help


How bad you feel
You feel very low or unhappy


Oh, it's just unreal
It's hard to describe how bad it is


Oh, you can't get no satisfaction
You can't find any relief or contentment


When your mind is overacting
When you are feeling too emotional or anxious


And you don't give yourself the love you need
You are neglecting your own emotional needs


(So get on up)
So, take action


And get down, down, down
Enjoy life to the fullest


With some good ol' funky, funky love
By embracing love, happiness, and joy


(Love is the thing you need) Fellas
Michael addresses his male fans


(Love is the thing you need) Ah, hit it,
Michael encourages them to join in and sing along


Make you feel so good
Love provides strong positive feelings


Make your body shake like crazy
Love can be exhilarating


Give yourself a get and go, yeah
Love can provide you with the motivation to succeed


(Love is the thing you need) The midnight hour
Love works at any time of day or night


(Love is the thing you need) (Love is the thing you need)
Michael repeats the central message of the song


Sing it again
Michael wants his fans to sing along once more


(Love is the thing you need) (Love is the thing you need)
Love is still the main topic


When that somebody finds you down (Love is the thing you need)
When you feel sad, love can uplift you


Love comes up from underground (Love is the thing you need)
Love can unexpectedly surface from surprising places


Oh, love (Oh, love)
Love is a powerful and positive force


Yeah, some people they don't know
Some individuals are unaware of the importance of love


That it's the only way to go
Love is the key to true happiness and success


If you wanna live a happy, happy life yeah, yeah
To be happy, you must have love in your life


Oh, there ain't no doubt about it
This is a undeniable fact


We just can't live without it
Love is a crucial part of our existence


No we can't, no we can't
We cannot exist without love


Sing it to me children
Michael addresses his younger fans


(Love is the thing you need) One more time, yeah
Michael invites everyone to sing along again


(Love is the thing you need) Sing it, yeah,
This time it's the audience's turn to sing


Once a day, twice a day, everyday
You need love every day, all the time


(Love is the thing you need) What you say now
Michael asks if everyone agrees that love is important


Once a day, twice a day, good God, everyday
The message is repeated for emphasis


(Love is the thing you need) You gotta, gotta have love
Love is a must-have


Y'all know what I'm talkin' about (Love is the thing you need)
Michael's message resonates with his audience and they understand what he means


You gotta, gotta have love
Love is vital for a happy life


You gotta, gotta have love
Love is essential to existence


You gotta, gotta have love (Love is the thing you need)
And Michael reiterates that love is the key to everything


Don't you stop, don't you stop
Michael encourages his listeners to keep going and never give up




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALPHONSO MIZELL, ALPHONSO J MIZELL, LARRY MIZELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@WNB_Guy912

Michael Jackson Timeline

1958 - Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana
1964 - Michael joins the Jackson 5
1969 - “I Want You Back” is released as The Jackson 5’s first hit song
1970 - “ABC” and “The Love You Save” were released and became instant hits.
1972 - Michael’s first solo album was released, with “Ben” holding the top spot on the chart for a week
1979 - “Rock With You” released along with “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough”
1980 - Became a No.1 hit on the charts
1981 - Performed “Rock With You” live for the second time
1982 - Thriller was released with seven hits, “Wanna Be Startin’ Something,” “The Girl Is Mine,” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing),” “Baby Be Mine,” and “The Lady In My Life”
1983 - Michael performed at Motown 25, popularizing the Moonwalk with his hit song: “Billie Jean”
1984 - Micheal performed with the now: “The Jacksons” in the Victory Tour
1987 - Micheal released “Bad” with the hit songs: “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Another Part Of Me,” “Man in The Mirror,” “Dirty Diana,” and “Smooth Criminal”
1988 - The Famous “Bad Tour” commenced, along with music videos for multiple songs in the Bad album.
1989 - The Bad Tour ends
1991 - The album “Dangerous” releases with a few hits, including: “Heal The World,” “In The Closet,” “Black or White,” “Jam,” and “Remember The Time”
1992 - The Dangerous Tour commences, featuring the first appearance of the famous “Dynamite Throwers” leading up to the gravity defying lean.
1995 - The HIStory album was made, featuring new songs, and a few oldies.
1996 - The HIStory tours commences, having a whole animated sequence at the beginning, with a large spaceship (with Michael inside) that travels through various timelines and albums, until eventually crashing on stage.
1997 - The HIStory tours ends, and the mix album “Blood on The Dance floor” is released.
2001 - The Invincible Album is released, costing a whopping 2 million dollars to produce.
2002 - The Invincible Tour is cancelled.
2007 - Thriller 25 is released as a 25th year anniversary album, featuring unreleased songs from the self-proclaimed “Best-Selling album of all time”
2009 - The concert movie, “This Is It” is released along with its own album. That year, the tour was planned for the album, only to have Michael die a few days prior of the performance.
2012 - Bad 25 is also released as a 25th anniversary to the Bad album, featuring even more unreleased songs
2022 - Thriller 40 is finally released, adding even more unreleased songs to the pile of vocal amazement
2024 - We still celebrate Michael Joseph Jackson as one of the greatest and life-changing artists in world history.
2042 - Thriller 50 will be released, but who knows what songs will be featured there?
THE FUTURE - Who knows what else will happen in the world of Michael Jackson? Nobody knows! We hope for the best, and the legacy of the King Of Pop to continue.



All comments from YouTube:

@just_a_badb819

If your 16 and yonger and your listening to this I salute you! ✌️🔥

@masterwayne420

Thanks

@anchovies_au

i'm 15 and i love this song

@Jacko6791

🙌🏼

@yourlocalanimesimp7393

Thanks

@Apronika

I'm 12.

696 More Replies...

@h_jm4721

Its impossible to not bop and move your body to this song

@h_jm4721

@@svg3 yeah! youre aswell? 💜

@bobarlanda1592

Im army to (:

@Sam-hf7tj

Challenge accepted... Never mind you win

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