I Want to Be Loved
Stevens & Foster Lyrics

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Standin' on the corner laughing
Acting cool after school
Lightin' up a cigarette
Braggin' while he's takin' bets
He walks into Maggies Market
Hides a beer down in his coat pocket
Looks around and wonders how
He's gonna make out the door

With something' he don't plan to buy
As he slips around back the whole gang hollers
Hey give me five

Everybody wants to be loved
Everybody wants to be someone
Everybody needs to be wanted
Everybody wants to be loved

Pulling out the drive waving him goodbye
Pressed for time
Mama left a note that said
Lock the door for you go to bed
Running to her second job
And wondering why she lives this life
Asking where the years have gone
And wishing she could find someone
To tell her everything gonna be all right
As she pulls into the parking lot turns off the car
And starts to cry

Sittin' in a bar down town
Wishing it had all worked out

A man poors his lonely heart out
And buys the house another round

Overall Meaning

The Stevens & Foster's song, "I Want to Be Loved" presents different life situations where people are seeking love and acceptance. In the first stanza, a young boy is trying to act cool and impress his friends by stealing from a store. However, he deeply craves the love and admiration of his friends and believes that impressing them through delinquent behavior is the only way to be accepted. The chorus shows that everyone has an innate desire to be loved and accepted for who they are, regardless of their flaws and inadequacies.

The second stanza portrays the life of a single mother who is working two jobs to provide for her family. She is overwhelmed with the difficulties of life, and she longs for someone to comfort and care for her. The verse emphasizes that everyone needs to feel wanted and that relationships are a vital component of human life. In the final part of the song, the focus shifts to an older man who is sitting in a bar, reflecting on his life. He is looking for solace and comfort from his loneliness, and he finds himself pouring out his heart while buying a round of drinks for himself and other patrons.

Line by Line Meaning

Standin' on the corner laughing
Laughing on the street corner

Acting cool after school
Trying to look cool after school

Lightin' up a cigarette
Lighting a cigarette

Braggin' while he's takin' bets
Boasting while taking bets

He walks into Maggies Market
He enters Maggie's Market

Hides a beer down in his coat pocket
Putting a beer in his coat pocket

Looks around and wonders how
Scanning the place and wondering

He's gonna make out the door
How he's gonna leave without buying anything

With something' he don't plan to buy
Stealing something he didn't plan to buy

As he slips around back the whole gang hollers
His friends shout as he sneaks out the back

Hey give me five
Asking for a high-five

Everybody wants to be loved
Everyone wants to feel loved

Everybody wants to be someone
Everyone wants to be somebody

Everybody needs to be wanted
Everyone wants to feel needed

Everybody wants to be loved
Everyone wants to feel loved

Pulling out the drive waving him goodbye
Driving away and waving goodbye

Pressed for time
In a hurry

Mama left a note that said
Mother left a note

Lock the door for you go to bed
Lock the door before going to sleep

Running to her second job
Hurrying to her other job

And wondering why she lives this life
Thinking about why she lives this way

Asking where the years have gone
Wondering about the lost years

And wishing she could find someone
Wishing for someone to be with

To tell her everything gonna be all right
To give her reassurance

As she pulls into the parking lot turns off the car
Parking and turning off the car

And starts to cry
Starting to cry

Sittin' in a bar down town
Sitting in a downtown bar

Wishing it had all worked out
Regretting how things turned out

A man poors his lonely heart out
A lonely man talks about his feelings

And buys the house another round
Buys another round of drinks

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Jeff Batson, Ray Stephenson, Steven Williams

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@kcht2363

8y↑24

my awesome cousin is still kicking the out today. She is very talented. And Brenda doing the music is awesome too. Love them both.

@marcusmagellan

8y↑2

Who was the lady playing drums and vocals, what was her name? What are they up to now? I love they're music, I knew them in Atlanta.

@davidharting6325

5y↑4

Thanks for posting your comments. Can you expand a little more on the ladies behind this awesome tune? Are they even aware that it's a classic on the UK underground soul scene?