I'd Rather Be Your Lover
Lyrics
I could be your sister
I could be your mother
We could be friends
I'd even be your brother
But I'd rather be your lover
That's right
I'd rather be your lover
I don't know where I stand with you
I never ever make any plans with you
I don't know what I mean to you
The only thing I know is I dream of you
And all that I know (all I know)
Is I just don't understand (just don't understand)
Why my mmmm happiness
Always lies in the palm of your hand but
I could be your sister
I could be your mother
We could be friends
I'd even be your brother
But I'd rather be your lover
That's right
I'd rather be your lover
Sometimes I know what you're thinking next
But wouldn't it be better if I loved you less
Sometimes I think that I made you up
But wouldn't it be better if I gave you up
And all that I know (all I know)
Is I just don't understand (just don't understand)
Why my mmmm happiness
Always lies in the palm of your hand
I could be your sister
I could be your mother
We could be friends
I'd even be your brother
But I'd rather be your lover
That's right
I'd rather be your lover
Are you surprised
(Me'Shell NdegéOcello:)
Tell me whatcha want, tell me whatcha need
Tell me whatcha want, tell me whatcha need
I I betcha I I give you whatcha need
Take a walk within me venture through the dark sea
Can't you see I need you beside me
Don't you see I want you to want me
And all that I know (all I know)
(Tell me whatcha want, tell me whatcha need)
Is I just don't understand (just don't understand)
Why my mmmm happiness
(Tell me whatcha want, tell me whatcha need)
Always lies in the palm of your hand
(Now sing the chorus)
I could be your sister
I could be your mother
We could be friends
I'd even be your brother
But I'd rather be your lover
That's right
I'd rather be your lover
I could be your sister
I could be your mother
We could be friends
I'd even be your brother
But I'd rather be your lover
That's right
I'd rather be your lover
Are you surprised
I could be your sister, 'cause
I could be your mother
We could be friends
I'd even be your brother
But I'd rather be your lover
That's right
I'd rather be your lover
Are you surprised
Are you
Credits
Written by Madonna, Dave Hall, Shep Pettibone, Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley and O'Kelly Isley
Produced by Madonna and Dave -Jam- Hall
Featuring Me'Shell NdegéOcello
I'd Rather Be Your Lover contains a sample of 'It's Your Thing', performed by Lou Donaldson
Madonna originally wrote a demo of this song with Shep Pettibone, but she abandoned the project and reworked the demo with Dave Hall. Pettibone isn't credited in the album booklet, but in recent years he has received credit for the song.
There exists a version of the song featuring the late rapper Tupac Shakur. It's commonly assumed that this was the original version but for certain reasons his lines were replaced by Maverick artist Me'Shell.
