Introduction
“Be Without You” is a song by American singer Mary J Blige. It was released in 2005 as the first single from her seventh studio album, “The Breakthrough”. The song was a huge commercial success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. The song’s lyrics are about a woman who cannot imagine life without her lover.
Verse 1
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you
(Oh, oh, oh)
The first verse of the song establishes the singer’s desire to be with her lover. She repeats the phrase “I wanna be with you, gotta be with you, need to be with you” three times to emphasize her point.
Chorus
I gotta have you, gotta hold you, need you, oh
Yes I do (I need you, I need you)
I need you, I need you (I need you, I need you)
I gotta have you, gotta hold you, need you, oh
Yes I do (I need you, I need you)
The chorus of the song reiterates the singer’s need for her lover. She sings that she has to have him, hold him, and that she needs him.
Verse 2
Some people search their whole lives
Lookin’ for somebody like you
Oh, we were meant to be together
Forever, wanna spend my life with you (Uh huh, uh huh)
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that some people spend their whole lives searching for someone like her lover. She believes that they were meant to be together forever and wants to spend her life with him.
Chorus (x2)
I gotta have you, gotta hold you, need you, oh
Yes I do (I need you, I need you)
I need you, I need you (I need you, I need you)
I gotta have you, gotta hold you, need you, oh
Yes I do (I need you, I need you)
The chorus is repeated twice in the song to emphasize the singer’s need for her lover.
Bridge
Can’t be without you, baby (Be without you)
Oh, oh, oh (Be without you)
I can’t be without you, baby (Be without you)
Oh, oh (Be without you)
The bridge of the song is a repetition of the title of the song, “Be Without You”. The singer cannot imagine life without her lover and repeats the phrase “Can’t be without you, baby” multiple times.
Chorus (x2)
I gotta have you, gotta hold you, need you, oh
Yes I do (I need you, I need you)
I need you, I need you (I need you, I need you)
I gotta have you, gotta hold you, need you, oh
Yes I do (I need you, I need you)
The chorus is repeated twice more before the song ends.
Conclusion
“Be Without You” is a powerful love song that showcases Mary J Blige’s soulful voice. The song’s lyrics are about a woman who cannot imagine life without her lover. The song was a commercial success and remains one of Mary J Blige’s most popular songs to date.
