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