[Verse 1: James DeBarge]
Baby, you are my love, and I don't want you to go, no, no, no
I know you are the one that I really need now

[Pre-Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
(Don't go, don't go)
Don't go away, just because you're not my girl don't mean that I
Can't be your friend
(But if you go)
Then let me say, you can rest assured that I'll be right here

[Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
When you need somebody
(Need somebody)
When you need a friend, yeah yeah
(You need a friend)
Someone to hold onto
(Need somebody, yeah)
On who you can depend
(You need a friend)

[Verse 2: James DeBarge]
Let me tell you, girl, baby, if you need love
You don't have to go far
My arms will hold you tight
Right here where you are

[Pre-Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
(Don't go, don't go)
Don't go away, just because you're not my girl, don't mean
I can't be your friend
(But if you go)
Then let me say, you can rest assured that I'll be right here

[Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
When you need somebody
(Need somebody, yeah)
When you need a friend
(You need a friend)
Someone to hold onto
(Need somebody, yeah)
On me, can depend, yeah
(You need a friend)

[Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
Let me tell you, girl, yeah baby
(Need somebody, yeah)
Yeah yeah, baby
(You need a friend)
Someone to hold onto
(Need somebody, yeah)
Girl, you need a friend
(You need a friend)

[Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
When you need somebody
When you need a friend
Someone to hold onto
On me you can depend, yeah

[Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
Let me tell you, girl, yeah, yeah, baby
(Need somebody, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
(You need a friend)
Someone to hold onto
(Need somebody)
On me, you can depend, yeah yeah
(You need a friend)

[Chorus: James DeBarge, DeBarge]
Ah, ah-ya-eee-ya, yeah
(Need somebody, yeah)
Ah, ah-ya-eee-ya, yeah, alright
(You need a friend)
Ah, ah-ya-eee-ya, yeah
(Need somebody, yeah)
Ah, girl, you need love, bring it
(You need a friend)

[Outro: James DeBarge]
I know you need somebody, baby, I know you need a friend
Someone you can depend on until the very end
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah