Songwriter: J. Leslie McFarland

Producer: John Hammond

[Intro]
Now, listen here, girls
I’m going to tell you what I want right now

[Verse 1]
I want a rough lover
I want a man
I want a rough, tough lover
And I’ll find him if I can
He’s got to bite nails
Fight bears
And if I get sassy
Be a man who dares
To shut me up and kiss me so I know he cares
I want a man

[Verse 2]
Don’t want a mean daddy
I want a boss
I want a mean, sweet daddy
Who the devil wouldn't cross
He’s got to spit fire
Chew iron
Get mad and start roaring like a mountain lion
Then whisper that he loves me so I know he’s mine
I want a man

[Bridge]
I’m looking for a guy who’s brave and strong
But weak for me
I’m looking for a guy who’ll ride around
But never, never set me free

[Verse 3]
I want a rough lover
I want a man
I want a rough, tough lover
With a sentimental plan
So he can kiss nice
Hug tight
He’s got to be sweet and gentle
Day and night
But mean enough to make me wanna to treat him right
I want a man, oh yeah

[Bridge]
I’m looking for a guy who’s brave and strong
But weak for me
I’m looking for a guy who’ll ride around
But never, never set me free

[Verse 4]
I want a rough lover
I want a man
I want a rough, tough lover
With a sentimental plan
So he can kiss nice
Hug tight
He’s got to be sweet and gentle
Day and night
But mean enough to make me wanna to treat him right
I want a man

[Outro]
I want a man
I don’t want no cream puff, baby
I don’t want no butterfly
I want a man
Oh, yes, I do
Oh, yes, I do

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.