Released: May 23, 1972

Songwriter: The Corporation

Producer: Hal Davis The Corporation

[Chorus: Michael + Jackson 5]
Don't let your baby catch you
Don't let your baby catch you
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around
You just might lose the best thing you ever found
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around

[Verse 1: Michael + (Jackson 5)]
Oh, the nights are lonely, twice as cold
Without my baby's hand to hold
My happiness is fading away (fading, it's fading away)
Just like a thief, I tried to steal a kiss
From another pretty miss
My baby was the price that I paid

[Pre-Chorus: Michael + (Jackson 5)]
Now listen, fellas
(Think twice)
Think twice if you have cheating on your mind
(Watch your step)
Remember, the punishment will fit your crime

[Chorus: Michael + Jackson 5]
Don't let your baby catch you
Don't let your baby catch you
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around
You just might lose the best thing you ever found
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around

[Verse 2: Michael]
Oh, I hope that now you let me be
Do right not wrong in full indeed
I'm gonna crawl back all the way on my knees
And if that's no use I'd get to move
And settle down and come to her
Oh, before I even say please
If I get one more chance
My life would be as good as new
And I would not forget the days
The sun would not shine through

[Chorus: Michael]
Don't let your baby catch you
Don't let your baby catch you
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around
Hey, hey, oh no
Take me back, take me back, take me back, 'maine

[Bridge]
[Jermaine]
Oh, don't let her, your baby catch you
You might lose the best thing that you ever found
Tell about it, Mike

[Michael]
If you're crazy about your baby
And she's crazy about you
Just think of what you'd do to her
If she was untrue

[Chorus: Michael + (Jackson 5)]
Don't let your baby catch you (Don't)
Don't let your baby catch you (Say don't)
Don't let your baby catch you
Hey, hey, all right
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around
You just might lose the best thing you ever found
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around

Hey, hey, don't let her, don't let her, don't let her
Stop, stop, stop

Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around
You just might lose the best thing that you ever found
Don't let your baby catch you
Fooling around
Hey, hey...

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.