Released: August 28, 1989

Songwriter: Janet Jackson Terry Lewis Jimmy Jam

Producer: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

[Verse 1]
As a child I missed a lot of love I never had
And daddy he was distant
Never there to hold my hand
Never bought the things he'd always promise to give me
Mother made up for him always watching over me
Days would go by and we would never see his face
In my mind I'd wonder "Does he have another place?"
If and when he'd come in he would always be upset
All the kids were scared his next syndrome would be a fret

[Chorus]
Now that you are older and you begin to see
Family's important to be there if you need
Father never taught us these things mom said to me
Now the table's turned so tell me
You need me

[Post-Chorus]
Tell me
Just admit
You need me

[Verse 2]
Daddy daddy dearest, what is it you want from me
(Tell me)
I won't turn my back on you the way you did with me
Now you try to give, I'm always reaching out to grab
I'll give you what I can but I can't give what I don't have

[Chorus]
Mother lends a shoulder, to cry on if you need
But are you there for mother when she needs your company?
Father never taught us, these things mom said to me
Now the table's turned so tell me
You need me

[Breakdown]
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
Say
You need me

[Bridge]
If you realize we need each other, we will be a closer family
I need you, yeah
I need you
And you know that
Say
(Tell me)
You need me

[Chorus]
Now that you are older and you begin to see
Family's important to be there if you need
Father never taught us, no no never taught us
Just to me
You need me

[Breakdown]
Tell me that you need me
Tell me that you love me
Tell me that you need me
Just to me
Say
You need me

[Chorus]
Now that you are older and you begin to see
Family's important to be there if you need
Father never taught us these things mom said to me
Now the table's turned so tell me you need me
Mother lends a shoulder to cry on if you need
But are you there for mother when she needs your company?
Are you there for mother?
Are you there for mother?
Are you there for mother?
Father never taught us these things mom said to me
Just to me
You need me

Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an iconic R&B/pop artist who has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has amassed a number of awards in her illustrious music career.

Born in Gary, Indiana on May 16, 1966, Janet is the youngest of the Jackson family, who rose to prominence a few years after her birth when they signed with Motown Records. Janet joined the family business when she appeared on The Jacksons variety show in 1976, leading to her role as Penny Gordon in Season 5 of the CBS sitcom Good Times. She released two overlooked albums in the early 1980s—Janet Jackson (1982) and Dream Street (1984)—and continued to act during this time, appearing in Diff'rent Strokes and Fame.

The legend of Janet was created after she connected with the legendary Minneapolis production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to work on her seminal third album, Control. Control and her following album, 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814, featured several #1 pop hits and made her a worldwide superstar. The trio would go on work on Janet’s subsequent hit albums, including janet., The Velvet Rope, as well as her 2015 comeback album, Unbreakable.