She's got papers 
But I've got the man 
The story that I'm about to tell you is very true 
You see, only the names have been changed to protect me 
and you 
Some day I'll have the papers and the man too 
And Betty, I'm addressin' this directly to you 
I know he many not be able to marry me 
'Cause it's gonna cost him too much to get free 
And I don't mind bein' his woman on the side 
'Cause I'm in love with him and he's in love with me, 
and I ain't got no pride 
And I'll let you be the one 
Who'll always have the papers on him 
While I'll be the one 
Who'll wind up with him in the end, oh, girl 
She's got papers 
But I've got the man 
She's got papers 
But I've got the man 
The reason why I'm always on his mind 
Is 'cause I give him what he needs and that's good 
lovin' all the time 
And girl, he can't help but call out my name 
'Cause when he was makin' love to you, I tell you he's 
doin' in me 
And I'll let you be the one 
Who'll always have the papers on him 
While I'll be the one 
Who'll wind up with him in the end, oh, girl 
She's got papers 
But I've got the man 
She's got papers 
But I've got the man 
You see, I've never been in position to give him any 
material things 
But then I've never demanded no promises, no papers, 
and no rings 
See, while you was always home, complain' and always 
demandin' 
I was there always so very patient and understanding 
And ladies, you need to take heed to this advice and 
think twice 
You see, every time your telephone rings and somebody 
hangs up 
Don't go accusin' that man, talkin' 'bout "I know that 
musta been your woman" 
'Cause in my case, we had spent the entire weekend 
together 
So then there wasn't no need for me to call 
Yes, and I'm always on his mind 
'Cause I give him plenty lovin' all the time 
Yeah, Dimples came and told me that you called me out 
of my name 
And now that he's mine, I'm woman enough to accept the 
blame 
You see, it's not so important for a woman to be 
married to a man on paper 
For it's more important to have the man's heart 
Which in my case, I had right from the start 
And I ain't tryin' to be smart 
You see, every time he leaves me, you know after we've 
made love 
Oh, I've been made love to 
By the time he gets home there ain't nothin' else he 
can do 
Girl, he's only one man, ain't no sense in us tryin' to 
split the man in two 
And you remember those last seven suits you bought and 
paid for 
Well, I've been seen with him in those suits 
Seven different places, seven different times, seven 
different days 
And I'm not gonna mention the seven different nights 
But that ain't none of your business 
You know and he always had a home away from home with 
me 
So there ain't no need for him to get comfortable, you 
was right 
You see, because I have his slippers, his bathrobe 
And the component set that you told him to take with 
him when he left 
Child, that's in my bedroom and me and him make love by 
that every night 
Look girl, let me tell you one thing 
Weren't that you that I bumped into the, when I was in 
the drugstore 
Seemed to me everything on you was out of place 
You see, I didn't get him by wearin' no war paint on my 
face 
I just give him what he wants when he wants 
And that's love 
I know he can't help but call out my name 
I hope he don't make a mistake and call you, me 
Listen, there's one more important thing that I must 
leave with you, Betty 
That is, whatever it'll cost him to get free he can get 
it from me 
She's got papers 
But I've got the man 
Do everything 
He and I can possibly can 
I'm the one 
Has all his fun with 
I'm the one 
Spends all his time I'm with 
She's got papers 
I ain't got no papers 
But I've got the man, I've got the man 
Give him all the lovin' he can possibly stand 
I don't need no ceremony 
'Cause he loves me, ooh 
I am the one 
I'm number one 
She's got the papers 
I've got the man