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
more tracks from the album

The 35th Anniversary Collection