I wanna tell you a true story
  the facts of life
  'Cause I know all about it,
  'cause I been through it a many times
  Ain't no substitute, there's no substitute,
  substitute for love
  
  When your woman gone,
  there's nothin' else can,
  can take her place
  But there's no substitute, substitute for love
  No, no
  
  Love will make you gamble
  Love will make you drink
  Make you stay out all night long,
  lookin' for love
  But there's no, no substitute,
  substitute, substitute for love
  
  I wanna tell you a story,
  true, true, true story about love
  Many times, many times, over 'n over, over in life,
  so many people have tried, tried, to get a substitute
  An' it just don't work, work on love
  
  You may not be good looking,
  you may not be so fine
  But love, love, love love, love, love,
  is a burning thing
  It's a burning thing
  I know, I know, I know, I know,
  I been down, down, in a ring of fire
  Lookin' for a love,
  I couldn't find, I couldn't find a substitute,
  uh, for love, for love, I cried, cried
  I cried, cried but it just wasn't there,
  just wasn't there