Have I told you
Lately that I love you?
If I didn't, darlin'
You see, I'm so sorry
Didn't I reach out and hold you in my lovin' arms?
Well, if I didn't, oh baby
Well, I'm so sorry

When I realized that you need love too
Gonna spend my life makin' love to you
Got to be a lover
Have mercy
Forgot to be a lover, babe (have mercy)
Forgot to be a lover (have mercy)
Forgot to be a lover (have mercy, baby)
Make it on through to you somehow
Got to be a lover, babe (forgot to be your lover)
Whoo, yeah, yeah

Well, did I ask you
Yes, would you come and share
Oh, share, oh, the burden and the task
That's at love's command
Didn't I say all those lovin' special things
That you long to hear
To show how much I care

Well, an I realized that you need love too
Gonna spend my life makin' love to you
I got to be a lover
Have mercy
Well, well, I worked all day as hard as I can
Worked all night, didn't make me a man (forgot to be a lover)
Have mercy, ooh
When I realized that you need love too
Gonna spend my life makin' love to you (forgot to be a lover)
Got to be a lover, babe
Ooh, have mercy (have mercy)
Have mercy, baby (have mercy, baby)

I'm gonna make it on through to you somehow
So have mercy (have mercy, have mercy, baby)

Have I told you
Yes, lately that I love you?
If I didn't, oh baby
Yes, I'm so sorry
Ah, but you know I really love you, baby (love you, baby)
I really love you, baby (love you, baby)
I really need you, baby (need you, baby)
I really want you, baby (want you, baby)

When I realized, well, that you need love too
I'm gonna spend my life
Makin' love, makin' love, makin' love to you
Well, I worked all day as hard as I can
Worked all night, it didn't make me a man, babe (forgot to be a lover)
I forgot to be a lover (have mercy)
Oh, have mercy, baby (have mercy)
Have mercy, baby (have mercy)
Ooh, have mercy, baby (have mercy, baby)
Oh, make it on through (forgot to be a lover)

Well, I realized that you need love too (got to, got to be your lover)
I'm gonna spend my life (got to, got to be your lover, have mercy)
Gotta spend my life makin' love to you (have mercy)
(Forgot to be your lover)
(Got to, got to be your lover)
(Have mercy)
(Have mercy)
(Have mercy, baby)
(Have mercy, baby)
(Got to be your lover)

Copyright: Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer(s): Booker T. Jones Jr., William Bell