[Verse 1: Paul Williams & The Temptations]
Baby, baby, it don't have to be this way
(It don't have to be this way)
Being alone like this
(Nope, it shouldn't be this way)
It don't have to be this way
(It don't have to be this way)
I need your loving, tender kiss
(Yeah, yeah, each and every day)
Sometime I get a little lonely
(Get lonely) Yeah (Get lonely)
Just when I need
(When I need you most of all)
It don't have to be this way
(It don't have to be this way)

[Interlude: Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks]
Boom, boom-buh-boom-boom (Doo, doo, doo, doo)

[Bridge: Paul Williams & The Temptations]
The love I have in my heart for you, baby
It is a true love, yeah (True love, doo-doo, doo-doo)
And I believe that everybody's somebody's fool
And I'm yours, yeah (I'm yours, I'm yours)

[Verse 2: Paul Williams & The Temptations]
You're my life, my joy, my all
(My life, my joy, my all)
And if ever you need me
(All you've got to do is call)
Sometime I get a little lonely
(Get lonely) Yeah (Get lonely)
Yeah (Get lonely), yeah (Get lonely)
You're just what I need
(When I need you most all)
It don't have to be this way
(It don't have to be this way)
[Bridge: Paul Williams & The Temptations]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)

[Verse 3: Paul Williams & The Temptations]
Yeah, you're my joy, my life, and my all
(My life, my joy, my all)
And honey, if ever you need me
(All you've got to do is call)
Sometime, yeah, sometime I get a little lonely now
(Get lonely) Yeah (Get lonely)
Yeah (Get lonely), yeah (Get lonely)
You're just what I need
(When I need you most all)
It don't have to be this way
(It don't have to be this way)

[Outro: Paul Williams & The Temptations]
It don't have to be this way, girl
(It don't have to be this way)
Come on home to me, it don't have to be like this
(It don't have to be this way)
A-come on, home
(It don't have to be this way)
I'm so lonely
(It don't have to be this way)