Released: July 10, 1969
Songwriter: Terry Johnson Smokey Robinson
Producer: Terry Johnson
[Chorus]
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you (I have to love you)
Ah, once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you (I have to love you)
[Verse 1]
Nothing to write home about
To write a song or poem about
If you're gonna go by looks
Oh baby, cute in a peculiar way
I sneak up on you, fool your way
And before you know, you're hooked
Ah, beauty beyond the skin
Way deep down within
[Pre-Chorus]
All of a sudden, one day, it hit me (It hit me)
If it was a snake, it would've bit me (Would've bit me)
I seem to see you for the very first time
One magic moment, I became aware
Of the happiness of your being there, ooh
[Chorus]
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you, baby
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you (Baby)
[Verse 2]
So easy for me to love
So why can't it be true love
That another man could feel or say?
Love's a game of give and take
So if some guy is on the make (If he's on the make)
I can understand and I can't blame
I know how you rule a guy
Who felt the soul, even though you don't try
[Bridge]
Oh baby, you started out as my friend
I don't know just where, I don't know just when
This feeling in me began to begin
(Once I got to know you)
And started echoing to be brought out from within
(Couldn't help, ooh)
Five will sure get you ten
(Once I got to know you)
But I am not the only man on the mend
(Couldn't help, ooh)
[Pre-Chorus]
Who would love you if they knew what you were all about
In my mind, there's no room for doubt, ooh
[Chorus]
Once they got to know you
Couldn't help but love you, baby
Once they got to know you
Couldn't help but love you, oh yeah
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you (I have to love you)
Ah, once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you (I have to love you)
[Verse 1]
Nothing to write home about
To write a song or poem about
If you're gonna go by looks
Oh baby, cute in a peculiar way
I sneak up on you, fool your way
And before you know, you're hooked
Ah, beauty beyond the skin
Way deep down within
[Pre-Chorus]
All of a sudden, one day, it hit me (It hit me)
If it was a snake, it would've bit me (Would've bit me)
I seem to see you for the very first time
One magic moment, I became aware
Of the happiness of your being there, ooh
[Chorus]
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you, baby
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love you (Baby)
[Verse 2]
So easy for me to love
So why can't it be true love
That another man could feel or say?
Love's a game of give and take
So if some guy is on the make (If he's on the make)
I can understand and I can't blame
I know how you rule a guy
Who felt the soul, even though you don't try
[Bridge]
Oh baby, you started out as my friend
I don't know just where, I don't know just when
This feeling in me began to begin
(Once I got to know you)
And started echoing to be brought out from within
(Couldn't help, ooh)
Five will sure get you ten
(Once I got to know you)
But I am not the only man on the mend
(Couldn't help, ooh)
[Pre-Chorus]
Who would love you if they knew what you were all about
In my mind, there's no room for doubt, ooh
[Chorus]
Once they got to know you
Couldn't help but love you, baby
Once they got to know you
Couldn't help but love you, oh yeah
Once I got to know you
Couldn't help but love
more tracks from the album
The 35th Anniversary Collection
- Bad Girl
- That’s the Way I Feel
- Come Spy With Me
- I’ve Been Good to You
- I Care About Detroit
- Determination
- Oh Be My Love
- Save Me
- You Never Miss a Good Thing
- Satisfaction
- Who’s Lovin’ You
- After All
- Shop Around (national version)
- A Love She Can Count On
- That’s What Love Is Made Of
- One Heartbeat
- Quiet Storm
- Sweet Harmony
- Being with You
- Happy Landing
- I Gotta Thing For You
- It
- He Don’t Care About Me
- If Your Mother Only Knew
- You Only Build Me Up to Tear Me Down
- I Cry
- All I Want Is You
- I Had To Cry
- The Day You Take One (You Have To Take The Other)
- I’m Stuck On You
- What Love Has Joined Together
- The Composer
- The Feeling Is So Fine
- Whatever Makes You Happy
- Heartbreak Road
- You’re So Fine and Sweet
- All That’s Good
- Crazy About the La La La
- It’s a Good Feeling
- Once I Got to Know You (Couldn’t Help But Love You)
- Here I Go Again (Live)
- The Tears of a Clown
- You Must Be Love
- (You Can’t Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You
- I Don’t Blame You at All
- Abraham, Martin and John
- Going to a Go-Go
- Choosey Beggar
- The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage
- Here I Go Again
- A Fork in the Road
- Doggone Right
- I Second That Emotion
- Ooo Baby Baby
- Cruisin’
- The Tracks of My Tears
- My Business, Your Pleasure
- Promise Me
- There’s A Sad Story Here
- You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
- After You Put Back the Pieces (I’ll Still Have a Broken Heart)
- Point It Out
- My Girl Has Gone
- Mighty Good Lovin’
- Baby Don’t You Go
- (You Can) Depend on Me
- Just to See Her
- Ain’t It Baby
- What’s So Good About Goodbye
- Broken Hearted
- I Like It Like That
- Way Over There
- Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues
- When the Words From Your Heart Get Caught Up in Your Throat
- More Love
- Baby, Baby Don’t Cry
- Special Occasion
- Yester Love
- If You Can Want
- Shop Around (Regional Version)
- Got a Job
- I’ll Try Something New
From the albums
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles popular songs
- The Tears of a Clown
- Ooo Baby Baby
- The Tracks of My Tears
- I Second That Emotion
- Much Better Off
- A Fork in the Road
- My Business, Your Pleasure
- My Love Is Your Love (Forever)
- Promise Me
- There’s A Sad Story Here
- Yes, No, Maybe So
- I’m on the Outside (Looking in)
- Doggone Right
- You Must Be Love
- I Don’t Blame You at All
- Abraham, Martin and John
- Going to a Go-Go
- Choosey Beggar
- It’s Christmas Time
- My Girl
- The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage
- Here I Go Again
- Point It Out (single version) (Mono)
- After You Put Back the Pieces (I’ll Still Have a Broken Heart)