Michael Jackson – I Wanna Be Where You Are

Produced by Hal Davis
Composed by T-Boy Ross and Leon Ware

Recorded by Michael for his debut solo album, Got To Be There, released in January 1972 in the US and May 1972 in the UK.

It was written by Leon Ware and Arthur ‘T-Boy’ Ross – Diana’s younger brother.

Issued as a single in the USA, where it achieved no.2 on the R&B singles chart and no.16 on the Hot 100. Also issued as the B-side of Ain’t No Sunshine in the UK.

It featured in the ‘Michael White’ episode of the new Jackson 5 cartoon series in 1971.

Numerous covers were recorded, including those by Marvin Gaye and the Fugees.

I Wanna Be Where You Are – Lyrics

Can it be I stayed away too long
Did I leave your mind
When I was gone
It’s not my thing
Tryin’ to get back
But this time let me tell where I’m at

You don’t have to worry
’Cause I’m comin’ back
To where I should have always stayed
And now I’ve learned the meaning
To your story
And it’s enough love for me to stay

Can it be I stayed away too long
Did I leave your mind
When I was gone
Well, it’s not my thing
Tryin’ to get back
But this time let me tell where I’m at

I wanna, wanna be where you are, o-oh
Anywhere you are, o-oh
I wanna, wanna be where you are, o-oh
Anywhere you are, o-oh

Please don’t close the door
To our future
There’s so many things
We haven’t tried
I will love you better
Than I used to
And give you all the love
I have inside

I wanna, wanna be where you are, o-oh
Any, any, any, anywhere you are, o-oh
I wanna, wanna be where you are, o-oh
I gotta, gotta be where you are, o-oh
I wanna be, I wanna be, oh
Yeah, yeah, baby now
I wanna be, I wanna be, oh
I wanna be, I wanna be, oh