"Love, Need and Want You" is a song recorded by Patti LaBelle, released in 1984 as the second single from her album, I'm in Love Again. The song is a mid-tempo R&B number written for LaBelle by accomplished musician Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble. Following the success of her breakthrough R&B hit, "If Only You Knew", the song peaked at no. 10 on the R&B chart. Like "If Only You Knew", the song features LaBelle singing the song at her mid-range whereas in previous songs prior to 1983, LaBelle mostly sung in a straightforward soprano voice.
"Love, Need and Want You" was first sampled by rapper Flesh-n-Bone for his hit "World So Cruel" (from the 1996 album T.H.U.G.S.), which featured rapper Rev. Run of the legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC. It was famously sampled by rap singer Nelly and R&B singer Kelly Rowland (formerly of Destiny's Child) on their Grammy-winning hit, "Dilemma". Big Boi of the group Outkast released the hit song, "Ghettomusick" from the Outkast album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and parts of the song sampled "Love, Need and Want You". A re-recorded version and a video of the song would feature LaBelle, who was also in the video to "Dilemma" as Rowland's mother. R&B singer Lloyd sampled it for his hit song, "Lay It Down". Responding to its success, Patti LaBelle was called to add in vocals for a remixed version of the song, released as "Lay It Down II: A Tribute to the Legends", which was dedicated to the late Teena Marie and a then-ailing Aretha Franklin. Singer Jaguar Wright covered the song for her debut album, Denials, Delusions and Decisions.
Oooooooh
Yeaah yeaah
Can I talk to you
This might take a little while
We've been so confused
We need to work this out
I've been away from you
And I know its been some time
It's not fair to you
So I need to break it down
I could be stuck in L.A
You might get a late call from New York
I try to send a kiss to where you are
But it just seems too far
I could be off to Tokyo
ATL then Paris and back home
So I just can't be where you are
And it's breaking my heart
I don't wanna want you
Keep tellin myself that I don't want you
But I can't have you
It's crazy
It's gettin so hard to stay away from you
But I still miss you
I don't wanna want you
Keep tellin myself that I don't want you
But I wanna call you
Say you're sorry
But I can't be the one for you
Cos I can't be with you
We may not survive
This justs gets a little hard
We lead two different lives
And spend most of it a-part
Tell me what to do
To make it up to you
Maybe we should stop
Before this goes to far
I could be stuck in L.A
You might get a late call from New York
I try to send a kiss to where you are
But it just seems too far
I could be off to Tokyo
ATL then Paris and back home
So I just can't be where you are
And it's breaking my heart
I don't wanna want you
Keep tellin myself that I don't want you
But I can't have you
It's crazy
It's gettin so hard to stay away from you
But I still miss you
I don't wanna want you
Keep tellin myself that I don't want you
But I wanna call you
Say you're sorry
But I can't be the one for you
Cos I can't be with you
Maybe we'd be better off
Not that it gets too serious
I can't give you what you want
No....
Maybe we should break it off
I don't wanna call it back
Help me figure out
I don't wanna want you
Keep tellin myself that I don't want you
But I can't have you
It's crazy
It's gettin so hard to stay away from you
But I still miss you
I don't wanna want you
Keep tellin myself that I don't want you
But I wanna call you
Say you're sorry
But I can't be the one for you
Cos I can't be with you (x2)
Want You...(Yeahh) [Repeat]