Released: September 5, 1974

Songwriter: Pam Sawyer Leon Ware

Producer: Hal Davis

[Intro: Jackson 5]
If I don't love you this way
If I don't love you this way

[Verse 1: Michael]
If I don't love you this way
Why do I say what I say? Yeah
If I don't need you this much, ooh
Why do I ache for your touch? Yeah

[Pre-Chorus]
With you it seems
I can reach the stars
With reckless hopes and dreams
But you it seems
Still don't believe
How valuble you are
I'm really loving you
Not pretending to

[Chorus]
If I don't love you this strong
Why do I beg to belong? Yeah
How can you doubt that I care, ooh
When I'm with you everywhere? Yeah

[Verse 2: Michael + (Jackson 5)]
With you I find (I find)
I can close my eyes (my eyes)
To the world surrounding me
And you create
The sweetest place (sweet place)
That I could ever be
I'm really loving you (loving you, loving you)
Not pretending to

[Chorus]
If I don't love you this way
Why do I say what I say? Yeah
If I don't need you this much. ooh
Why do I ache for your touch? Yeah

[Bridge]
You just have to smile
To make my life worthwhile
Doesn't that explain
That I'm playin' no game

[Chorus]
If I don't love you this way, ooh
Why do I say what I say? Yeah
If I don't need you this much, ooh
Why do I ache for your touch? Yeah

The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

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