Told that I was supposed to fail
I wouldn't amount to much of nothin'
Yes, I pray
There was days I wondered if you really loved me
But, baby, you feel pain
Mama would say when I felt like runnin' away
I couldn't take it
I, soon, hit ten, angry with all of the world
I couldn't keep friends, just wishin' you'd come back and see
My difficult times being an adolescent
And like so many just like me, without a shoulder to lean

I needed you
When I needed a father figure
I needed you
To stop me from makin' a wrong decision
At seventeen, when the cold of the world had my back up against the wall

I need, I needed you
I need, I needed you

Told that I was supposed to fail
I wouldn't amount to much of nothin'
Yes, I pray
There was days I wondered if you really loved me
But, baby, you feel pain
Mama would say when I felt like runnin' away
I couldn't take it
I, soon, hit ten, angry with all of the world
I couldn't keep friends, just wishin' you'd come back and see
My difficult times being an adolescent
And like so many just like me, without a shoulder to lean

I needed you
When I needed a father figure
I needed you
To stop me from makin' the wrong decisions
At seventeen, when the cold of the world had my back up against the wall
When temptation was calling me, didn't know which way to go
I needed you
I need, I needed you
I needed you
I need, I need you
Seventeen when the cold of the world had my back up against the wall
When temptation was calling me, didn't know which way to go

Mama had no financial help
And thoughts of breakin' the law came
Seen her tryna hold down two jobs was tearin' up on me had a way (had a way)
All my friends was gettin' in it
It came time for me to get that dough
Wrong or right I had to go for what I know

I needed you
When I needed a father figure
I needed you
To stop me from makin' the wrong decisions
At seventeen, when the cold of the world had my back up against the wall
When temptation was calling me, didn't know which way to go
I needed you
I need, I needed you
I needed you
I need, I need you
Seventeen when the cold of the world had my back up against the wall
When temptation was calling me, didn't know which way to go

Lord I pray
Give me strength to forgive them and not all the I hate I got
Even though the pain of this was too heavy
Lord I pray
Show me all brothers growin' up without a father
Had a turn with a day adolescent to a legacy
Lord I pray

From the knowledge I ain't get
God, you gave me
And temptation was callin' me, didn't know which way to go

I needed you
When I needed a father figure
I needed you
To stop me from makin' the wrong decisions
At seventeen, when the cold of the world had my back up against the wall
When temptation was calling me, didn't know which way to go