I Know What You Need
R. Kelly & Public Announcement Lyrics


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I know
Exactly what you need girl
I know

[Chorus]
(I know what you need, I know baby)
I know what you need girl
A little bit of me baby
(I know what you need, I know baby)
I know what you need
(I know what you need, I know baby)
I know what you need girl
A little bit of me baby
(I know what you need, I know baby)
I know what you need girl

Baby, take my hand.
I know what you need.
I wanna be your man baby.
Come on come on follow me.

(I know what you need, I know baby)
I know what you need baby.
Come on get this love.
(I know what you need, I know baby)
I know what you need.
A little bit of me baby

So you say ya never been in love, baby.
Well, Hear is your chance.
I wanna be the one you're always thinkin' of,
So come on come on darling follow me.

(I know what you need, I know baby)
I know what you need.
Baby, Come on get this love.
(I know what you need, I know baby)
Baby, Baby

You need a man who'll be patient
Or not cool the public
Arrest you or lovely respect you.
But who you are no what you was or
Will be, and the harder ya ever beaten
For you would kill me.
Never would've fall off ways for you
Calling me your real best





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In "I Know What You Need," R. Kelly & Public Announcement are singing to a woman with confidence, claiming that they know exactly what she needs. It appears that the woman in question has not experienced love before and the singer wants to be the one to show it to her. The lyrics suggest that the singer is offering himself as the answer to her needs, with lines like "Baby take my hand, I know what you need. I wanna be your man baby. Come on come on follow me." The chorus repeats the sentiment, "I know what you need girl, a little bit of me baby."


The song seems to be straightforward in its message but some of the lyrics allude to a more complex idea. For instance, "You need a man who'll be patient or not cool the public, Arrest you or lovely respect you" reveals that the singer knows the woman has been mistreated before and is offering himself as a safe and trustworthy partner. Another line, "But who you are no what you was or will be, and the harder ya ever beaten for you would kill me" can be interpreted as the singer being willing to fight for the woman's true self, regardless of what she has experienced in the past.


Overall, "I Know What You Need" is a self-assured love song that asserts the singer's knowledge of what the woman needs and his willingness to provide it.


Line by Line Meaning

I know
I am aware


Exactly what you need girl
I am certain about what satisfies you as a woman


I know
I am confident


I know what you need girl
I understand your desires, my lady


A little bit of me baby
A part of me is what you need to be happy


I know what you need
I am well-informed about what makes you content


I know what you need girl
I comprehend the things that make you feel good


A little bit of me baby
A portion of my presence is what you require


Baby, take my hand.
Honey, hold my hand


I know what you need.
I am insightful about your wants and needs


I wanna be your man baby.
I desire to be your significant other, my dear lady


Come on come on follow me.
Please come with me to where I'm leading you


I know what you need baby.
I am well-informed about your necessities, babe.


Come on get this love.
Please, accept my love


I know what you need.
I am knowledgeable about what satisfies you


A little bit of me baby
Only a part of me is what you need to complete your happiness


So you say ya never been in love, baby.
You claim that you've never been romantically involved, babe.


Well, Hear is your chance.
Here's your opportunity, my love.


I wanna be the one you're always thinkin' of,
My aspiration is to be the person that occupies your thoughts often,


So come on come on darling follow me.
Please move forward with me, sweetheart


Baby, Come on get this love.
Honey, please accept my affection.


Baby, Baby
My sweet lady, my sweet lady


You need a man who'll be patient
You require a man who is tolerant


Or not cool the public
Or unflustered by public opinion


Arrest you or lovely respect you.
Who'll take you into custody or treat you kindly


But who you are no what you was or
But someone who accepts you for the person you are, not the person you were in the past


Will be, and the harder ya ever beaten
Will be, even when the going gets rough


For you would kill me.
I would do anything for you


Never would've fall off ways for you
I will always be there for you and I won't abandon you


Calling me your real best
You will call me your true love, the only one that remains to you.


I know what you need girl
I know the things that satisfy you as a woman


A little bit of me baby
You require only a part of my presence to find happiness




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT S. KELLY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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