Mary J. Blige

Released: November 29, 1994

Songwriter: Mary J. Blige Faith Evans Chucky Thompson Diddy Herb Middleton Big Bub

Producer: Herb Middleton Chucky Thompson Diddy

“Bodyrock” was the song both of my managers tried to get me to take off the record. They thought it was really tacky. They thought it sounded like a Fatboy Slim ripoff — which I guess it kind of did. I like it because the hip-hop sample was off the first mixtape I ever got, maybe in 1981, off of the Mr. Magic Show on WBLS. The guitar is directly inspired by “What We All Want” by Gang of Four. And I thought it was kind of funny to have an orchestral chorus on what is essentially a hip-hip song”. (c) Moby, RollingStone.com Read more on Last.fm.

Length: 3:35

[Intro: Mary J. Blige]
Can't live without you (Can't live without you)
Can't live without you, baby (Ohh)
Can't live without you

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
I never wanna live without you, baby (No, I can't)
I wanna be your lady
Your love is so amazing (I don't wanna live without you)
I never wanna live without you, baby (No)
I wanna be your lady
Your love is so amazing

[Verse 1: Mary J. Blige & (Faith Evans)]
What is this feeling?
I can't sleep at night
Just thinking 'bout being without you
Work 'til I'm tired
And I can't eat a bite (Can't eat a bite)
'Cause I know someday you're going away

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady (I don't wanna live)
Your love is so amazing
(Don't wanna be without you)
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady (No, no, no, no, no)
Your love is so amazing

[Verse 2: Mary J. Blige & (Faith Evans)]
I have the man that I want
I prayed so many nights for you (Down on my knees)
And then my prayers came true of you
Now that I have the answer
I'll be wishing on a star
I'll follow you where you are

[Pre-Chorus: Mary J. Blige & (Faith Evans)]
I don't wanna be alone
So baby, let's stay together (Stay together)
Through any kind of weather, yeah
Let's make a happy home (Make a happy home)
Because you mean so much to me, baby
That's why I wanna be your lady

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady (I don't want to live)
Your love is so amazing
(Don't wanna live without you)
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady
Your love is so amazing
(I can't live my life without you)
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady
(I said I don't want... I don't wanna live)
Your love is so amazing
(I don't know; no, I don't know, no, no)
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady
Your love is so amazing

[Pre-Chorus: Mary J. Blige & (Faith Evans)]
I don't wanna be alone
So baby, let's stay together (Stay together)
Through any kind of weather
Let's make this a happy home (Make a happy home)
Because you mean so much to me, baby
That's why I wanna be your lady

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady
(I wanna be your lady)
Your love is so amazing
(I wanna be your lady)
I never wanna live without you, baby
I wanna be your lady
Your love is so amazing
(I can't live my life without you)

[Outro: Faith Evans & (Mary J. Blige)]
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while?
(Baby, won't you stay?)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while? Don't leave
(Stay with me for a little while)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while?
(All I wanna know is...)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while? Don't leave
(...Can you stay? Oh, why...)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while?
(...Won't you stay with me?)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while? Don't leave
(I need you)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while?
(Oh, I need you
I need your warm embrace)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while? Don't leave
(I need your sweet, sweet taste, baby; C'mon, c'mon)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while?
(C'mon, c'mon
Stay with me)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while? Don't leave
(Stay, stay...)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while?
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while? Don't leave
(Please stay)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while?
(Don't you go nowhere)
Baby, won't you stay with me a little while? Don't leave

Mary Jane Blige (b. Jan 11 1971) grew up in the projects of Yonkers, New York. A random decision to record a cover of “Caught Up in the Rapture” by Anita Baker in a pop-up recording booth at a mall led MJB to getting signed by Uptown Entertainment. After providing background vocals on Father MC’s hit single “I’ll Do 4 U” in 1990, a young intern at Uptown named Sean “Puffy” Combs ended up executive producing Mary’s 1992 debut album What’s The 411?. Fusing hip-hop beats with Mary’s soulful voice earned her the nickname “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul”.

She followed up her debut with a string of critically acclaimed albums, including 1994’s My Life and 1997’s Share My World, as well as hit singles such as “Not Gon' Cry,” “Family Affair,” “Be Without You,” and “Just Fine.”

She also collaborated with rappers on a number of tracks, including Jay-Z’s “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” Ghostface Killah’s “All That I Got is You,” Wyclef’s “911,” Common’s “Come Close,” and Method Man’s “I’ll Be There for You/All I Need to Get By,” which was a platinum hit and won the two of them a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group.

more tracks from the album

My Life

From the album

My Life (1994)

Mary J. Blige popular songs

I Never Wanna Live Without YouMary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige

My Life