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 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 at eleven 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.