She's got papers 

But I've got the man 


The story that I'm about to tell you is very true 

You see, only the names have been changed to protect me 

and you 

Some day I'll have the papers and the man too 

And Betty, I'm addressin' this directly to you 


I know he many not be able to marry me 

'Cause it's gonna cost him too much to get free 

And I don't mind bein' his woman on the side 

'Cause I'm in love with him and he's in love with me, 

and I ain't got no pride 


And I'll let you be the one 

Who'll always have the papers on him 

While I'll be the one 

Who'll wind up with him in the end, oh, girl 


She's got papers 

But I've got the man 

She's got papers 

But I've got the man 


The reason why I'm always on his mind 

Is 'cause I give him what he needs and that's good 

lovin' all the time 

And girl, he can't help but call out my name 

'Cause when he was makin' love to you, I tell you he's 

doin' in me 


And I'll let you be the one 

Who'll always have the papers on him 

While I'll be the one 

Who'll wind up with him in the end, oh, girl 


She's got papers 

But I've got the man 

She's got papers 

But I've got the man 


You see, I've never been in position to give him any 

material things 

But then I've never demanded no promises, no papers, 

and no rings 

See, while you was always home, complain' and always 

demandin' 

I was there always so very patient and understanding 

And ladies, you need to take heed to this advice and 

think twice 

You see, every time your telephone rings and somebody 

hangs up 

Don't go accusin' that man, talkin' 'bout "I know that 

musta been your woman" 

'Cause in my case, we had spent the entire weekend 

together 

So then there wasn't no need for me to call 

Yes, and I'm always on his mind 

'Cause I give him plenty lovin' all the time 


Yeah, Dimples came and told me that you called me out 

of my name 

And now that he's mine, I'm woman enough to accept the 

blame 

You see, it's not so important for a woman to be 

married to a man on paper 

For it's more important to have the man's heart 

Which in my case, I had right from the start 

And I ain't tryin' to be smart 

You see, every time he leaves me, you know after we've 

made love 

Oh, I've been made love to 

By the time he gets home there ain't nothin' else he 

can do 

Girl, he's only one man, ain't no sense in us tryin' to 

split the man in two 

And you remember those last seven suits you bought and 

paid for 

Well, I've been seen with him in those suits 

Seven different places, seven different times, seven 

different days 

And I'm not gonna mention the seven different nights 

But that ain't none of your business 


You know and he always had a home away from home with 

me 

So there ain't no need for him to get comfortable, you 

was right 

You see, because I have his slippers, his bathrobe 

And the component set that you told him to take with 

him when he left 

Child, that's in my bedroom and me and him make love by 

that every night 


Look girl, let me tell you one thing 

Weren't that you that I bumped into the, when I was in 

the drugstore 

Seemed to me everything on you was out of place 

You see, I didn't get him by wearin' no war paint on my 

face 

I just give him what he wants when he wants 

And that's love 

I know he can't help but call out my name 

I hope he don't make a mistake and call you, me 

Listen, there's one more important thing that I must 

leave with you, Betty 

That is, whatever it'll cost him to get free he can get 

it from me 


She's got papers 

But I've got the man 

Do everything 

He and I can possibly can 


I'm the one 

Has all his fun with 

I'm the one 

Spends all his time I'm with 


She's got papers 

I ain't got no papers 

But I've got the man, I've got the man 

Give him all the lovin' he can possibly stand 


I don't need no ceremony 

'Cause he loves me, ooh 

I am the one 

I'm number one 


She's got the papers 

I've got the man