As a child I missed a lot of love I never had
And daddy he was distant
Never there to hold my hand
Never bought the things he'd always promise to give me
Mother made up for him always watching over me
Days would go by and we would never see his face
In my mind I'd wonder "Does he have another place ?"
If and when he'd come in he would always be upset
All the kids were scared his next syndrome would be a fret

Now that you are older and you begin to see
Family's important to be there if you need
Father never taught us these things mom said to me
Now the table's turned so tell me you need me

Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Just to me
You need me

Daddy daddy dearest, what is it you want from me (tell me)
I won't turn my back on you the way you did with me
Now you try to give and always faking not to cry
I'll give you what I can but I can't give what I don't have
Mother lends a shoulder to cry on if you need
But are you there for mother when she needs your company?

Father never taught us,these things mom said to me
Now the table's turned so tell me you need me

Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Say
You need me

If you realize we need each other, we will be a closer family
I need you, yeah
I need you and you know that
Say (tell me)
You need me

Now that you are older and you begin to see
Family's important to be there if you need
Father never taught us, no no never taught us
Just to me
You need me

Tell me that you need me (now that you are older)
Tell me that you love me (now that you are older)
Tell me that you need me (now that you are older)
Just to me
Say
You need me

Now that you are older and you begin to see
Family's important to be there if you need
Father never taught us these things mom said to me
Now the table's turned so tell me you need me

Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Say
You need me

Mother lends a shoulder to cry on if you need
But are you there for mother when she needs your company?
Are you there for mother?
Are you there for mother?
Are you there for mother?
Father never taught us these things mom said to me
Just to me
You need me

Written by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis

Produced by James Harris III and Terry Lewis